1. SAFER SUNSCREEN TIPS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP - EWG

http://cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/toptips.php

**Clothing And Exposure: Sunscreen is just one part of a sun-healthy lifestyle. Limiting sun exposure and wearing protective clothing are even more important. Cover up and avoid midday sun. SPECIAL TIP NOTE: Your faithful rain umbrella magically transforms to a sun parasol - simply by opening it in the sunshine! Believe it or not, people don’t gape - they compliment you on a good idea! And it really works to avoid heat and sunburn.

**Age Considerations: The AAP recommends that you avoid using sunscreen on children younger than 6 months unless protective shade and clothing are not available - then apply a minimal amount to exposed skin.

**Avoid Sunscreen Products With Bug Repellant. You don't typically need them at the same time of day, and the mixture of ingredients leads to greater amounts of the pesticide soaking through the skin.

TIP NOTE: Also avoid fragrance and parabens.

2. TIP SELECTIONS FROM EWG TOP TEN RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS OF POPULAR BRANDS*

http://cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/brandranks.php Based on our knowledge of these companies and the relative apparent toxic ingredients, we are guessing that these options are probably better than others. All are signers of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. California Baby Sunscreen Lotion: No Fragrance & Sunblock Stick No Fragrance (SPF 30 ), Jason Natural Cosmetics, Sunbrellas Mineral-Based Physical Sunblock, (SPF 30+), Kiss My Face Face Factor Paraben- Free & 100% Paraben-Free Sunscreen with Oat Protein (SPF 30)

INSECT REPELLENTS

1. DON’T ATTRACT THE BUGS! THEY LOVE FRAGRANCE!

2. SHAKLEE BASIC H: Insect repellent has turned out to be the toughest thing to find in a fragrance-free formula. There is a great deal of word-of-mouth endorsement of the off-label use of Shaklee Basic H as a bug repellent - many swear by it. However, it is not registered for that purpose (although even a few Shaklee distributors mention it). You can get it from a local Shaklee dealer rather quickly, if inclined. One RI Independent Distributor we have found helpful and knowledgeable: Jeff Whittaker, 401-732-2526, or E-Mail: Jeffrey@ourhealthierworld.com.

3. BITE AWAY RECOMMENDATION FROM A “CANARY” (Chemically sensitive person) ON THE TIP WEBSITE:

www.toxicsinfo.org/canary/Last%20Minute%20Insect%20Repellent%20Comments.htm “Highly recommend my favorite bug repellent, Bite Away. It is GREAT and has ZERO fragrance. It is made from, as I recall, soybean oil. It actually works. It has no DEET or any other pesticides. It has no scented essential oils. One bottle lasts a long time…. This is the best solution I have found so far. I live in a very bug-heavy area and my PCAs have also worn it while working outdoors here, and they have commented on how effective it is”. Bite Away™ Insect Repellent claims to be non-toxic and “made from purified water, citrus concentrate and other food-grade ingredients, this SCENT-FREE FORMULA protects for up to four hours without irritation. Over 95% effective on black flies, ticks, chiggers, no-see-ums and gnats.” TIP has had some experience with its use, and it seems reasonably effective. It is sold online as: Bite Away for Humans (16-oz. or 2-oz. bottle) • Bite Away for Pets (32-oz) ORDER FROM ALONOVO.COM TO LET YOUR PURCHASE BENEFIT TIP: www.alonovo.com/community/affiliate/98 Select Outdoor Living in the Search engine, then Bite Away Insect Repellent.

4. TRY STRAIGHT SOY OIL: It's an ingredient in a bug repellent that tested well against DEET. A friend tells us that she uses this, straight from the food grade soy oil bottle - and it works for several hours. The Sierra Club of Canada agrees - see: www.sierraclubchinook.org/Pesticides/Print/PrintDEETAlternatives.html4 .

5. CO2 TRAP: Optimally, outdoor use of a trap which emits carbon dioxide (that is what draws the skeeters to people, our exhaled air high in CO2) will draw all of them to that unoccupied corner of the property.

6. HOLD THE CITRONELLA! Don’t burn citronella since it is an aldehyde (as in formaldehyde) and therefore toxic.

7. DANGERS OF DEET - THOUGHTS ON DEET & LYME DISEASE: www.toxicsinfo.org/pests/lyme_deet.htm:

Consumer Reports printed an article entitled “Protection at a Price-DEET’S DOWNSIDE”. (July 1993, pg. 453) It points out that: "DEET is readily absorbed into the bloodstream, and medical reports have shown that absorption of DEET sometimes has serious consequences.” Among the most dramatic instances: Six girls under age nine developed toxic encephalopathy, a swelling of the brain that can cause disorientation, convulsions, and death. An ABC PrimeTime Live segment reported the stories of Tim Christiansen, who at 26 years old, died after using DEET twice one summer day in 1994; and of Elijah Harrison, an 8-year-old boy whose mother sprayed him with a 25% DEET product once a day for two days – he still suffers from seizure.

Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist Mohammed Abou-Donia has been doing extensive research on DEET. He says that children in particular are at risk for subtle brain changes caused by chemicals in the environment, because their skin more readily absorbs them, and chemicals more potently affect their developing nervous systems. Commonly used preparations like insecticide-based lice-killing shampoos and insect repellents are assumed to be safe because severe consequences are rare in the medical literature. Yet subtle symptoms -- such as muscle weakness, fatigue or memory lapses -- might be attributed erroneously to other causes, according to Abou-Donia.

DEODORANTS

1. MANY PEOPLE DON’T NEED THEM! At least, only on the hottest days. Don’t believe the advertising clamor. Unless you are one who sweats a lot, you are probably fine most of the time.

2. SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE: Baking soda absorbs both moisture and odor. You can use it alone or in various combinations with water, pat on or spray.

3. SOMEWHAT SAFER COMMERCIAL DEODORANTS EXIST: Look for those that are fragrance-free and don’t contain aluminum or lots of questionable synthetic chemical ingredients. Unfortunately, the best products in the EWG Skin Deep database are not widely available. The compromise - some that aren’t perfect but far better than most, and buyable locally. EXAMPLES: Kiss My Face Liquid Rock or Active Enzyme Fragrance-Free or Jason Natural Fragrance Free Deodorant Stick (Both sold at Target) or Tom’s of Maine Unscented.

SWIMMING

CAUTION ABOUT CHLORINATED POOLS: A new European study has found that infants who were regularly exposed to the chlorinated air of indoor swimming pools were more at risk for developing asthma than were infants who didn't swim indoors. NOTE: Chlorine was developed as a nerve gas during World War I.

1. BEST OPTIONS: Don’t use indoor pools treated with chlorine. Swim outdoors, use alternative sanitation for your own pool. (Contact TIP for info on that)

2. AT A MINIMUM: IF YOU SENSE A STRONG ODOR OF CHLORINE IN ANY POOL, AVOID IT!

PESTICIDE-FREE PLAY AREAS

There’s not space to cover this important topic in this issue - but be aware that MANY health effects and chronic conditions in children have been associated with pesticide use, in the home and elsewhere. Avoid pesticided parks and athletic fields as much as possible, especially when recently applied.. Ask! More on this in our September column, which will focus on a variety of back-to-school considerations.

Liberty Goodwin is Director of the Providence-based Toxics Information Project (TIP). Contact her at: 401-351-9193 or liberty@toxicsinfo.org to submit a query or a TIP about healthier household choices. Visit TIP’s website: www.toxicsinfo.org for a wealth of info on keeping healthy in a toxic world. © 2008 Liberty Goodwin