***************************IN THIS ISSUE**************************LIB TALKS: More on “Safety” of Low Chemical Doses, MCS Recognition Rises, A Bit of Attention to the Plastic Problem, Saving the Family Farm - & the Bees, Clever Consumer Info of the Month, Why Wild Plants?**RHODE ISLAND/CT/MA AREA RESOURCE: RI Wild Plant Society (RIWPS)
**USEFUL
RESEARCH: Are Some
Chemicals More Dangerous at Low Doses? Parabens in Personal Care Products
Dangerous Even at Low Levels, MCS on the Rise as Research Exposes Its Dangers
**ACTIONS: Support the Food & Farm Act, Tell RI Governor to Ban Bee-Killing Pesticides in the State**CLEVER CONSUMER CAMPAIGN:: Carpet Concerns**RESOURCES: Six Questions & EWG’s Guide on Cell Phone Use**********************************************LIB TALKS************************************************
ARE
THERE REALLY “SAFE” & “LOW” LEVELS OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES? Last month we shared: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2003066
“Low-level
toxicity of chemicals: No acceptable levels?” Published: 12-19-2017 PLOS
Biology. Today’s TIP TALKS includes two
more articles from respected sources on
this question: (There are many more
examples of this info out there.) The
bottom line is that many health conditions are related to long-term exposure to
environmental toxins.
**”MCS” IS
REAL - & GROWING! Along with a
general lack of awareness of the problems with plasticizer contamination, most
people aren’t knowledgeable about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Some of us are far more susceptible to the
toxins around us. Like the canaries
brought down into coal mines, who sickened when toxic fumes were present,
humans with MCS warn us that we could be next to react. Today’s TIP TALKS
includes info on a study about the large increase in MCS sufferers.
**GOOD NEWS IN EUROPE: Finally, a move against the ubiquitous plastic that contaminates our food, lives & planet. See excerpts in this TT from a report about an actual whole supermarket aisle that is plastic-free, in the Netherlands! You probably can’t move there – but you can largely avoid packaging that emits plasticizers when exposed to heat. (Be especially careful in summer!) **SAVING THE FAMILY FARM - & THE BEES: The need for action on these concerns continues. There’s a great bill to support in our Action section – and a chance for Rhode Islanders to tell the Governor to say “No!” to neonicotinoids within our state. **CLEVER CONSUMER INFO & RESOURCES: Check out some very useful info – on dealing with toxic threats via carpets – and on the really difficult question of reducing exposure to EMFs in cell phones & Wi-Fi. **WHY WILD PLANTS? This month’s local resource listing is RIWPS. It fits with my seemingly humorous, actually practical, recommendation to homeowners:Decorate your home’s front with beautiful wild flowers, plants, bushes, to please the neighbors. Then, have a pesticide-free lawn in the back where the kids and pets can romp safely. No Toxic Green Rug anywhere! Blessings, Liberty G****************************************************RHODE ISLAND/MA/CT AREA RESOURCE*************************************************RHODE ISLAND WILD PLANT SOCIETY (RIWPS) PO Box 888, N. Kingstown, RI 02852, 401-789-7497 office@riwps.org | www.RIWPS.org Appreciate, protect, study native plants & habitats. ***************************************
GOOD NEWS*****************************************
WORLD'S
FIRST PLASTIC-FREE AISLE OPENS
IN NETHERLANDS SUPERMARKET
2-28-18 Campaigners hail progress as Amsterdam store offers dedicated aisle of more than 700 products, with plans for a national roll-out Shoppers in the Netherlands will get the chance to visit Europe's first plastic-free supermarket aisle on Wednesday in what campaigners claim is a turning point in the war on plastic pollution. The store in Amsterdam will open its doors at 11am when shoppers will be able to choose from more than 700 plastic-free products, all available in one aisle. The move comes amid growing global concern about the damage plastic waste is having on oceans, habitats and food chains. Scientists warn plastic pollution is now so widespread it risks permanent contamination of the natural world.
The aisle will have more than 700
plastic-free products including meat, rice, sauces, dairy, chocolate, cereals,
yogurt, snacks, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Campaigners say the products will not be any more expensive than
plastic-wrapped goods and will be “scalable and convenient”, using alternative
biodegradable packing where necessary rather than ditching packaging
altogether. They add the aisles will be a “testbed for innovative new
compostable bio-materials as well as traditional materials such as glass, metal
and cardboard.”
*************************************
USEFUL RESEARCH & WARNINGS
************************************
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/news-blog/are-some-chemicals-more-dangerous-a-2009-04-03/( Source: National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) & the National Toxicology Program, Washngton, D.C.)
www.upi.com/Health_News/2015/10/27/Study-Parabens-in-personal-care-products-dangerous-even-at-low-levels/3491445953990/ (University of California, Berkeley, research) MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY (MCS) ON THE RISE AS RESEARCH EXPOSES ITS DANGERS. MCS CASES HAVE RISEN 300 PERCENT IN THE LAST DECADE
By
Jess Davis, ABC News March 14, 2018
What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) :
* MCS is a condition presenting as a complex array of symptoms linked to low level exposure to chemicals.
* It is caused by exposure to chemicals and pollutants, such as insect sprays, paints, cleaning supplies, fragrances and petrochemical fumes.
* Symptoms can range from headaches, dizziness and nausea to seizures and anaphylaxis.
* The biological mechanisms which cause the chemical sensitivities remains uncertain, making diagnosis and treatment difficult.
* The condition was first reported by industrial workers but according to current data no demographic is more at risk.
************************************************ACTIONS***************************************************
This year, Congress will pass the Farm Bill, legislation that determines how $90 billion per year is used to shape our food system. Congress could continue with business as usual, directing funding to the wealthiest farmers growing genetically engineered pesticide-drenched industrial monocultures that tear up our best soil to produce crops that get burned in car engines, fed to animals in factory farms or processed into diabetes-inducing junk foods.
Or, this year, the Farm Bill could
go in a new direction.That’s what Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) is
proposing with his version of the Farm Bill, the Food & Farm Act. which
would:
• Keep
family farmers on the land producing healthy organic & pasture-raised food
for their local communities;
• Protect farmland from
development and make sure it is transferred to beginning farmers; and
• Reverse soil loss, by
linking soil conservation to eligibility for federal support & helping
farmers employ regenerative and organic practices that build soil.
Another “same-old, same-old” Farm
Bill won’t save our farms, our farmers or our soil. It’s time for Congress to
get serious about protecting America’s food supply—not America’s most
destructive corporations. PLEASE ASK
YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS TO COSPONSOR THE FOOD AND FARM ACT TODAY!
https://action.organicconsumers.org/o/50865/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=21540
Neonicotinoid pesticides kill bees -- but now, the EPA is
considering allowing these pesticides to be sprayed on 165 million acres of
American farmland. Tell your governor to ban these bee-killing pesticides in
Rhode Island
******************************************************************** CLEVER CONSUMER (That’s you!)CAMPAIGN REMINDER: TIP TALKS seeks toincrease your consumer IQ & abilities. Remember,if you tell the supplier, retailer, or producer whatyou will or won’t BUY, they care.(Also share your knowledge with friends & family)
*****************************************************CLEVER CONSUMER INFO******************************************************
CARPET
CONCERNS:
CARPET INSTALLERS SPEAK OUT AS THE
MEDICAL EVIDENCE MOUNTS
(Info to
use & share with friends & family0
http://www.inspiredliving.com/airpurification/a~toxic-carpets2.htm
On the same site is a page offering "Safe Substitutes
http://www.inspiredliving.com/health/envir~non-toxproducts.htm
(3 substances suggested are Baking
Soda & Vinegar (no surprise)
& Cornstarch (new to me).
Some other
sites with relevant info:
http://www.greenpeace.to/publications/carpet.pdf
http://www.greenandhealthy.info/toxiccarpeting.html
(Special focus on carpet
alternatives)
https://housewifehowtos.com/clean/how-to-steam-clean-carpeting/
And if they don't believe the
other guys, surely they won't argue with the NY Times! www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/garden/tests-on-carpet-padding-show-toxins.html
**************************************************** RESOURCES*******************************************************
1. USE A HEADSET OR SPEAKER Headsets emit much less radiation
than phones. Choose either wired or
wireless. Experts are split on which version is safer. Some wireless headsets
emit continuous, low-level radiation, so take yours off your ear when you’re
not on a call. Using your phone in speaker mode reduces radiation to the head.
2. HOLD PHONE AWAY FROM YOUR BODY
Hold the
phone away from your ear and your body when
you are
talking. If you are using a headset, don’t put the
phone in your
pocket or clip it to your belt—put it in your bag, purse or on some nearby
surface. The amount of radiation absorbed by your head and body decreases
dramatically with even a small distance.
3. TEXT MORE, TALK LESS Phones emit less radiation when
sending texts than during voice communications. Texting keeps radiation away
from your head.
4. CALL WHEN THE SIGNAL IS
STRONG Fewer signal bars mean the
phone must try harder to broadcast its signal to the tower. As much as
possible, make and take calls when your phone has a strong signal. Research
shows that radiation exposure increases dramatically when cell phone signals
are weak.
5. LIMIT CHILDREN'S PHONE USE Young children’s brains can absorb
twice as much cell phone radiation as those of adults. EWG joins health
agencies in at least six countries in recommending limits for children’s phone
use, such as for emergencies only.
6. SKIP THE "RADIATION
SHIELD" Radiation shields such as antenna caps & keypad
covers reduce the connection quality & force the phone to transmit with
greater energy, generating more radiation.
***********************************************************************
**BENEFIT TIP WHILE SURFING THE WEB at:www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=818190(Uses the Yahoo search engine)**SHOP ONLINE AT AMAZON SMILEGo to: smile.amazon.com/ch/14-1862385 to select Toxics Information Project (TIP).as your charity, to receive a donation. You already probably use Amazon for various purchases, and it costs you nothing to include us in your buying routine.
*************************************************************** BEST OF ALL: Mail a check to TIP at the address below. (We are a tax-deductible organization) Toxics Information Project (TIP) P.O. Box 40441, Providence, RI 02940 Tel. 401-351-9193, E-Mail:liberty@toxicsinfo.org Website: www.toxicsinfo.org ***********************************************************