TIP TALKS
The
Newsletter of the Toxics Information Project (TIP)
Autumn
2004
Director’s
Message
REJOICING IN THE WORK – AND DREAMS FOR THE
FUTURE
Most of you have received our very first membership mailing
with preliminary information about our plans for 2005. More than ever before,
we hope to involve you in satisfying and fruitful actions to make the earth
safer for humans and other living beings.
We’ll have much more to tell you in the Winter newsletter. For now, I’ll give a final nod to our 2004 accomplishments
- and offer our annual suggestions for a safer, healthier and joyous
holiday. First, a look
at the year just past. We’re proud of
our part in the following 20 events!
JANUARY: National Association of Retired
Federal Employees (NARFE), Central
Baptist Church, Apponaug. Talk.
FEBRUARY: RI Flower & Garden Show, RI Convention Center, Providence. Exhibit.
“Healthy Lawns & Creative Alternatives” & “How to Keep A
Pet-Safe Yard” Talks:
MARCH: Clean Water Festival, Rhode Island College. Exhibit.
RI Land
& Water Conservation Summit, North Kingstown H.S. Exhibit.
APRIL: North Kingstown
Environmental Fair, North
Kingstown H.S. Exhibit.
Earth Day Celebration,
Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence. Exhibit.
Less Toxic
Landscaping Campaign Info Table, Eastside Marketplace, Providence.
Earth Day Lobbying,
State House, Providence
Earth Day Celebration,
Audubon Environmental Center, Bristol. Exhibit.
MAY: Less Toxic
Community Gardening Fair (A TIP Event), Rochambeau Library, Hope Street,
Providence. Exhibits, talks, garden tours.
Compass
School Eco-Fair, South Kingstown High School. Exhibit.
JUNE: RI Sustainable
Living Festival, Apeiron Institute for Environmental Living, Coventry, “Healthy Homes, Healthy People: TIPs Toward A Less Toxic
Life Style” Seminar.
Bioblitz, URI Alton
Jones Campus. Exhibit.
JULY: “The Why & How of Less Toxic
Living” & “Canary Concerns:
Protecting the Most Vulnerable”at FGC (Friends General Conference)
Gathering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Interest Groups.
“The Why
& How of Less Toxic Landscaping”, RI Soapbox Cable TV Show
Environmental
Awareness Day, Narragansett Beach.
Exhibit.
AUGUST: “The Why & How of Less
Toxic Living”, New England Yearly Meeting of Friends, Bryant
College. Workshop.
SEPTEMBER: NBC 10 HealthFit Expo, RI
Convention Center. Exhibit.
URI Greenshares Field Day, North
Kingstown. Exhibit.
OCTOBER: Less Toxic Landscaping Contest Awards
Dinner (TIP Event), Rochambeau Library, Providence.
We also
participated in/attended the planning committees for SLF 2004 & 2005; ECRI
(Environment Council of RI) monthly meetings (became a member org. in April);
the RI DEM Environment Roundtables; Miriam Hospital landscape meetings; Summit
Neighborhood Assoc. and Oak Hill Neighborhood Assoc. meetings; New England
Grassroots Environment Fund & RI Foundation seminars; an Indoor Air Quality
Conference at the Marriott, Providence; a Factory Farming talk at URI; Brown
University Earth Day; a call-in to the Garden Guys radio show; Beyond Pesticides’
Strategy Summit in Washington, D.C.; meetings of the RI Minority Asthma
Collaborative & Housing Committees of the RI Asthma Control Coalition.
Banning and/or Restricting
Some of the Worst Toxics. Following
the example of the European Union and Canada, getting some real protection for
the public by getting rid of damaging chemicals before 20 years of damage have
gone by.
Breathing Free in Public
Facilities. Asthmatics and other
“canaries” who are vulnerable to toxic chemicals in products such as cleaning
materials, fragrances, and pesticides, able to go to a hospital, health care
facility, nursing home without fear.
Fragrance free protocols the norm – as it used to be! (Older nurses have told me this).
Children Safe at Play &
At School. No child exposed to toxic
pesticides or herbicides while romping in the yard or rolling on the grass, at
home, on the soccer field, school yard, public park. No more kids who go to school healthy and come home chronically
ill from exposure to pesticides. No
risk of ADD or asthma from sick buildings.
Freedom to Fly. Being able to visit my grandchildren in California without the
risk of being trapped next to someone reeking with perfume, leaving me dizzy
and with splitting headache. The right
to ask for a volunteer to switch seats so I can escape from such fumes. The simple courtesy of airline personnel
being themselves fragrance free. No
longer needing to wear an uncomfortable mask within which I can neither eat nor
drink.
Knowledge of Risks & of
Healthy Alternatives for Everyone.
Materials about the health effects of fragrance, lawn pesticides, air
fresheners, dry cleaning, residues in foods, etc. made available to whoever
will hear – including those who speak other languages, such as Spanish.
Labels on Personal Care
& Household Products That Fully Disclose What’s Inside.
Legislation introduced in
California would accomplish this, and allow consumers to identify chemicals to
which they might react – could we have it in Rhode Island and around the
country?
Recognition by Health Care
Professionals of Common Chemicals Health Effects.
Doctors and nurses telling
their patients how to protect themselves from toxic products, and correctly
diagnosing chronic conditions caused by exposure to them.
Blessings to All of You –
May You Have a Joyous & Healthy Year Ahead!
Liberty Goodwin, Director,
Toxics Information Project (TIP)
******************************************************************************
CANARY
CORNER
Christmas and holiday gatherings are, unfortunately,
a challenging, even scary time for folks who react to fragrance chemicals. Below, two articles about accessibility at
that holiday worship – we hope that worshippers will speak to their priests and
pastors about incense and scented candle concerns, and will also remember to
leave off the perfume! Maybe even a
fragrance-free worship service?
Parish Offers Incense-Free Christmas Mass
http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/nation/7564905.htm
MAPLEWOOD,
Minn. - Associated
Press,
posted on Wed, Dec. 24, 2003
Following requests from parishioners, a Catholic parish is holding incense-free
Masses. One Mass on Dec. 24 and another
Christmas Day at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church will be
"incense-free." At least one parishioner has already sent a thank-you
note because of the change. "I
have asthma and so does my son," Kristi Otto said. "I get physically
ill from the smell of it. There have been so many times when I've gone to
church and I've had to leave and sit in the car and wait for my family."
Frankincense was widely used
for centuries, in part because of its medicinal use as an anti-inflammatory,
antiseptic and calming fragrance. The
incense - resin scraped from the root of the frankincense tree found in eastern
Africa and the Arabian Peninsula - was even touted as beneficial to those with
asthma. But those such as Otto, her
7-year-old son, and people with certain perfume allergies are sensitive to the
smell. "We've had a number of people
in the parish call because they find it difficult to go to Mass on high
holidays, as much as they'd like to go," said Mary Bothwell, an
administrative assistant at Presentation.
Churches with traditional
"high liturgy" - such as Catholics, Orthodox and Anglicans - often
burn incense during worship, especially on holy days such as Christmas and
Easter. "It is a symbol of our
prayers rising to the heavens, as described in the Psalms," said Steve
Klein, an administrator at Presentation.
It also makes worship a full sensory experience, said Tom Paulus of St.
Patrick's Guild, which sells liturgical incense to many parishes in the Twin
Cities. "We use all the physical
senses in worship - music appeals to sound, and incense draws in the sense of
smell - to remind us Jesus actually took the form of a human being,"
Paulus said. "We are a physical church."
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No More Christmas Candles? Church Air Poses Risk
Mon Nov 22, 9:36 AM ET AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A visit to church may be good for the soul
but not so good for the lungs, a new study shows. Scientists from Maastricht University found that burning candles
and incense in church can release dangerous levels of potentially carcinogenic
particles, according to research published this week in the European
Respiratory Journal. "After a day
of candle burning we found about 20 times as much as by a busy road," Theo
de Kok, the author of the study, told Reuters.
"These levels were so unbelievably high we thought we should report
it to the public." The air at a
Maastricht basilica contained 20 times the European Union limit of PM10
particles after a simulated mass ceremony.
Tiny PM10 particles can be inhaled and are therefore
a potential hazard. The scientists also
found high levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as well as
some unknown types of free radicals released from burning candles and incense.
Free radical atoms act as starters and promoters of cancer tumors. "The exposures are worrisome, not so
much for the occasional church-goer, but priests, choirs and other people
working in churches may have significant exposure," he said.
De Kok said priests at the
church in Maastricht had tried to improve ventilation after the study. He also
noted some churches had stopped using real candles to protect artwork and
delicate interiors. "It could be an alternative to use fewer
candles, better candles, use electric candles or improve ventilation," he
said. De Kok called for research into whether
priests, monks and others who work in churches were more prone to lung
disease. "Particle pollution,
whether it be in an outdoor or indoor environment, can be a danger to lung
health and cause respiratory diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis,"
said Richard Russell of the British Thoracic Society (BTS).
2004
HEALTHIER GIFT IDEAS
We all want to please those we
love with gifts they will appreciate and enjoy. It’s not too hard and very satisfying to make sure that what we
give is also healthy for them as well – or at least not harmful. We present this list of gift options to get
you thinking about happy and healthy goodies!
SOMETHING
DIFFERENT
JUMPING HORSE, TRICK DOG, PUTTING
PROS. Bits & Pieces is one of our
favorite catalogs, the source of our TIP cast iron mechanical lighthouse bank. This year, you can get one of their fun
banks in the form of a horse jumping over a fence ($27.99) or a dog jumping
through a hoop ($14.99), to drop a coin into the bank opening. The golfer you love will appreciate a
gentleman using his club to putt the coin into the hole of another bank
($27.99). No batteries – you just push a lever to start the action. Also at B & P are Brass Desktop
Kaleidoscopes ($29.99) and an changeable kaleidoscope with an antique map
design outside and 4 rotating ends:
hearts and gem findings, stained glass with flowers, floating liquid
rainbow, and a teleidocope lens ($14.99).
We also like their Cactus Garden Greenhouse Kit ($12.99). Go to www.bits&pieces.com
or call 800-544-7297.
BALLOON or PROPELLER CAR
KITS. For schools or individual kids,
these alternative energy model cars are fun and educational. The propeller car uses a rubber band; you
actually blow into the balloon. They
also have some neat model planes and gliders.
Call 800-535-846i9 or see www.kelvin.com
WOOL & WORMS FOR XMAS? – Yes,
indeed! The Worm Ladies of Charlestown
have a unique variety of gifts for the dedicated gardener on your list,
including gardening gloves, books, and gorgeous gift packages with any of their
products, including coupons for worms and/or worm castings with a future
mailing date. For those who appreciate
soft fabrics and knitting, the worm ladies actually have another persona – they
raise happy rabbits and offer angora yarn and patterns for berets, boas,
headbands, mittens, shawls, scarves, lap robes, and vests. Call 888-917 9593 or visit their website: http://www.angoraandworms.com/specialty_gifts_for_the_gardener.htm.
WINTER SILKS. We just got this in the mail, and think that
this natural fabric could be a pleaser for some. Silk turtlenecks are featured at $24.95. For more, call 800-645-7455 or see www.WinterSilks.com
PORTABLE AIR HOCKEY GAME. From Bed, Bath & Beyond. It fixes to any surface, meant for age 8 and
up. www.bedbathandbeyond.com or
800-462-3966.
NO WRAP, NO
SHIP GOODIES!
SUBSCRIPTIONS/MEMBERSHIPS: E/The Environment Magazine: ORDER THROUGH TIP for only $18, and some of
the cost helps our work. Coop
America – Gives a free copy of the National Green Pages with each
subscription. www.coopamerica.com or
202-872-5307. UTNE Magazine: “The best of the alternative press”. Call 800-736-UTNE or go to www.utne.com .
GIFT CERTIFICATES: Everybody has them! Choose any great restaurant or event or
activity or class then let your friend or family member enjoy! If you aren’t sure exactly what they’d like,
try giving a multiple offerings discount coupon book, or let them choose from a
healthy products catalog. All That
Matters in Wakefield offers a gift certificate for classes, workshops,
store items or health services. Call
782-2126 or see www.allthatmatters.com
HOUSEHOLD
BASICS & OTHER POSSIBILITIES
TABLEWARE & COOKWARE. To keep it healthy, avoid plastic, aluminum
and non-stick coatings. Products made
from ceramic and glass, stainless steel and cast iron make great gifts! Look for newly popular glass covers on the
cookware. (We’ve found reasonably
priced ones at Ocean State Job Lot).
ORGANIC KNIT SHEETS. Full size or fitted, made in an Israeli
kibbutz, and on sale for $29.95. Also
consider organic cotton pillows or a cotton exercise mat. Call 800-526-4237 or go to www.janices.com
PICTURE THIS. Find frames for the special photos you’ve
taken of special people, memorable moments or places. Or, get a custom mirror.
Call 273-7263 or 789-6200, or www.picturethisgalleries.com
MISSION SOLAR LIGHTS. Attractive, cordless, maintenance free. Try the Harmony Catalog,
800-869-3446, or check out www.gaiam.com for this and much more.
BIRD HOUSES. Made from recycled materials, and a blessing
to your local feathered friends. Order
from Lifekind Products, 800-284-4983 or www.lifekind.com
.
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TIPS FOR A
SAFER & HEALTHIER HOLIDAY
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EU BANS SOME PHTHALATES IN TOYS AND CHILD CARE PRODUCTS
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/8240/8240notw8.html
Chemical & Engineering News, October 4, 2004, Volume 82, Number 40 p. 11 European Union nations have agreed unanimously to place permanent restrictions on some phthalates used in children’s toys and child care products. Phthalates are often used as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride products to make them soft, rather than rigid. New legislation would essentially ban DEHP [di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate], DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate), and BBP (butyl benzyl phthalate) from all toys and child care articles. And it would basically ban the phthalates DINP (diisononyl phthalate), DIDP (diisodecyl phthalate), and DNOP (di-n-octyl phthalate) in toys for children under three years of age that could be placed in their mouths.
“The compromise reached today is an important step forward in helping reduce the risks to children from certain phthalates in toys and child care articles,” says Olli Rehn, EU commissioner for enterprise and information society. In 1999, the EU placed temporary bans on these phthalates in toys and child care articles. At that time the European Chemicals Bureau began risk assessments on each of the phthalates. The assessments found some reproductive risks from DEHP, DBP, and BBP, but essentially none from DINP. According to the European Council for Plasticisers & Intermediates, DINP is the only phthalate still used very much in toys, and the risk assessment on DINP shows that it is safe at any level to which children could be exposed. “We are faced with a purely political decision, ignoring the scientific risk assessment,” says Tim Edgar, deputy director of ECPI. The legislation on phthalates must be approved by the European Parliament.
European toys may be safer than the U.S. variety - Consider buying imports for the little ones?
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FLOWER POWER: With an Entrepreneur’s Jump Start, the
Organic Market Blossoms
From E/The Environment Magazine: http://www.emagazine.com/view/?2108
Read the article above about some efforts to encourage less pesticided flowers,
and check out the offerings at Organic Bouquet.com, http://www.organicbouquet.com
They have a special Christmas Collection, Wreaths and Gourmet Gift Boxes.
The latter include packets of organic chocolate and coffee, as well as lavender sachet
and soap. Prices range from $22 to $49. Phone orders or info: (888) 899-2468
Flowers are Heavily Pesticided, and Cause Serious Illness in the Workers That Provide Them
Consider Looking for the New Organic Label, Veriflora, & for Organically Grown Floral Sources.
Also, you might contact the Society of American Florists to urge them to go organic: 800-336-4743
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Beauty Parlors Have Some Ugly Fumes - Reconsider that Holiday Dye Job or Perm??
CANCER MORTALITY PATTERNS
AMONG HAIRDRESSERS & BARBERS
Cancer mortality patterns were
evaluated among hairdressers and barbers, coded on 7.2 million death certificates
in 24 states from 1984 to 1995. Of the 38,721 deaths among white and black
hairdressers and barbers of both sexes, 9,495 were from malignant
neoplasms. Among black and white female hairdressers, mortality odds ratios
were significantly elevated for all malignant neoplasms, lung cancer, and all
lymphatic and hemopoietic cancers. White female hairdressers showed significant
excess mortality from cancers of the stomach, colon, breast, pancreas, bladder
and from non Hodgkins lymphoma and lymphoid leukemia. These cancers were also
elevated among black female hairdressers. -Excerpted from AChemical Health and
Safety@ vol. 8, no. 5
If you really love your
stylist, but want to avoid the unhealthy chemicals in the salon air – try
arranging your appointment in early morning, before the spray really gets
going. Also, consider checking out your
local health food store or Whole Foods Market for healthier beauty products.
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PLUG-IN DEODORIZERS MAY BE HAZARDOUS
http://reg.venturacountystar.com/vcs/web/loginForm?from=www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/county_news/article/0,1375,VCS_226_3079986,00.html
By Terri Thomas, August 1, 2004, Ventura County
Star
From
dinner gone wrong to pets gone unwashed, there's no shortage of odors in the
modern home. No wonder that air-freshener sales in the United States
increased 7.3 percent in 2002, to $1.67 billion. These products cover up
odorous offenses with little fuss. Unfortunately, air fresheners may pose health hazards, as a
new study has found, when the chemicals in these products react with common
indoor air pollutants. The study was
conducted at the Environmental Protection Agency's National Risk Management
Research Laboratory and published in the May 15 edition of Environmental
Science and Technology. Researchers
tested air-freshening units that plug into electrical sockets and automatically
release aromatic compounds over time. The compounds included substances called
pinene and limonene. Scientists
found that pinene and limonene easily react with ozone, a common air pollutant,
to create formaldehyde and a variety of related chemicals that have been linked
to respiratory conditions.
Ozone a pollutant at ground level
While ozone is a valuable component
of the upper atmosphere, where it shields the Earth's surface from harmful solar
radiation, at ground level it's considered a pollutant. Scientists testing air fresheners
in a room-sized chamber found the formaldehyde-forming reactions could occur
when ozone levels reach that of a room whose windows have been opened on a
high-ozone day. Mixing
air-freshener chemicals and ozone at typical levels resulted in a concentration
of particles of formaldehyde-related compounds of about 50 micrograms per cubic
meter of air. For comparison, a smoky room contains 100 micrograms or more of
particles per cubic meter. Scientists
believe that every 10-microgram increase in atmospheric levels of particles
results in a 1 percent increase in deaths from respiratory conditions like
asthma. The
50-microgram level reported in the study is close to the EPA's outdoor particle
limit and is one researchers equated to the kind of volatile exposure that
might occur after painting a room. But
they noted that painting a room is a one-time event. Plug-in air fresheners, on the other hand, are constantly releasing
their deodorizing agents. In general,
air fresheners and room deodorizers use chemicals to cover up odors, and in
some cases even reduce the ability of the nose to smell. Since they do nothing
to remove the source of offensive odors, air fresheners often must be reapplied
frequently, which increases exposure risk to the chemicals.
Safe ways to freshen the air
Instead, keep your home smelling
fresh by identifying and removing the sources of bad odors. Use natural minerals like baking
soda and borax to control common odor sources like trash cans and to deodorize
when you clean. Keep windows open as
much as possible to let bad air out and good air in. If odors are still troubling, consider investing in an air
purifier with activated carbon filtration. To scent indoor air, place a drop of a natural essential
oil, like lavender or mint, on a light bulb, or add a dozen drops to a bowl of
water placed on a radiator. You can
also boil fragrant dried herbs in a pot of water to release a fresh smell. A natural mineral called zeolite will absorb
odors when hung in problem areas like musty basements and closets. You can also
make your own sprays from essential oils and other safe, natural ingredients.
Copyright 2004, Ventura County Star. All Rights Reserved.
This article was provided by
Terri Thomas, an environmental resource analyst for Ventura County; and Seventh
Generation, which makes nontoxic, environmentally safe household products.
Government or nonprofit agencies that would like to submit an article on an
environmental topic for this column can contact Thomas at 289-3117 or
terri.thomas@mail.co.ventura.ca.us.
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HEALTHIER
PRODUCT INFO: VOLATILE-FREE GERMICIDE?
Virox
Technologies. Canadian source for
Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide based products.
http://www.virox.com/info.asp It has long been known that hydrogen peroxide
can kill germs without being harmful to the user or environment. However, up to now, this remarkable chemical
has not been considered stable enough to be practical as the foundation for a
system of commercial cleaners and disinfectants. Virox scientists have developed a way to put this chemical to
work. Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP) is a Patented, colorless and volatile
free liquid cleaning and disinfecting solution developed by Virox Technologies
Inc. AHP is a synergistic blend of
commonly used, safe ingredients that when combined with low levels of hydrogen
peroxide dramatically increase its germicidal potency and cleaning
performance. AHP contains only those
ingredients listed on the U.S.A. EPA inert listing and the GRAS listing
(Generally Regarded As Safe) published by the EPA which contribute to an
unsurpassed health, safety and environmental profile.
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GOOD
NEWS: STUDENTS CHOOSING SALAD BAR OVER
PIZZA
Under pressure from decreased
state and federal funding, many schools are discovering that providing a salad
bar option to the standard pizza/corndog/burger hotlunch is more affordable,
more nutritious, and more popular among students. With a cost of roughly 40
cents less per student, salad bar meals are growing in popularity and are now
available at 10% of the nation's schools. Districts are reporting that more
students are choosing the salad bar over the hot lunch. Stocked with fresh
fruits, vegetables, nuts, dairy and meats, the salad bar gives students the
freedom of choice. "I always get salad bar because they have good stuff
like oranges, pickles, yogurt," said 7-year-old Oscar Sibrian of Frances
Willard Elementary School in California. "And you can make up your own
choice." Some schools are also sourcing their salad bar produce from local
and organic farms. Learn more.
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TIP TALKS Autumn Issue 2004
MEMBERSHIPS/DONATIONS
Ann Morrill, Madeleine
Paiva, Kathryn Fanning
THANK YOU:
Gourmet Take-And-Bake, India Restaurants, Carol Julien, Little Tree Farm
& Gardens, Ocean State Job Lot
TOXICS INFORMATION PROJECT (TIP)
P.O. Box 40572, Providence, RI 02940
Telephone (401) 351-9193
E-Mail: TIPTALKS@toxicinfo.org
Web: www.toxicsinfo.org