CHANGE IS IN THE WIND - A NEW & IMPROVED TIP FOR 2009!

Dear Friends of TIP,

Last month, I spoke to you of some changes I was contemplating in our approach, to be more effective. One of those, the focus on quick TIPs and healthier options for the general public, has already born fruit!

HEARTENING SUCCESS - THE HEALTHY HOLIDAYS HANDBOOK! I got the idea in October, and had the publication out by November 12. Then, it took off! We eventually were able to distribute over 800 copies - mostly to around 50 libraries in RI. Thanks to those of you who met me in Providence to pick up handbooks and bring them to your local libraries in far flung parts of the state! Not only did we make the handbooks available - people liked them - they flew off the shelves. At one point, I got a call from the Pawtucket library to tell me they only had five left. I got over there that day with more - to find that even the five had already been taken. We replaced copies in other libraries as well. Rochambeau, near our house, managed to absorb nearly 60 copies by Christmas.

Finally, we got unexpected and widespread publicity and recognition for the project - and our work. A Providence Journal reporter, Richard DuJardin, attended our Nov. 29 Gift Ideas Party with his wife Rosemarie, and was so taken with the handbook that he asked his editor to let him do a story on it. The result - a great story starting on P.1 of the Local section of the Sunday ProJo -read by lots of people. Notes of congratulation and appreciation flooded my E-Mail (Okay, I helped that along by sending out a link, but plenty of people had seen it anyway). Clearly, we done something right!

A KEY ALLIANCE - WORKING WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LEAGUE OF RHODE ISLAND:

Starting around January, 2008, I became active as a founding member of the Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island. At its first annual meeting on December 16, 2008, I was elected as an EJLRI Board Member. I’m very excited about working with the really great people involved with the League - who share TIP’s concerns, especially relating to children and schools. EJLRI gave its support to our Child Products Safety legislation this past year, and I feel there is a great deal of interest in our Green Cleaning at Schools initiatives. I’ll be keeping you posted as actions take shape.

UP NEXT - FEBRUARY GARDENING FOCUS:

THE RI FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW: As always, TIP will be providing an informational booth and selling books at the Show in the Convention Center, to be held from, Feb. 19 to Feb. 22, 2009. Hours are 10am-9pm, Thursday to Saturday, and 10am-6pm on Sunday. WE REALLY NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP MAN THE BOOTH! Contact me if you can help for a few hours on any of these days - you’ll get free admission and be able to spend some time enjoying the show.

LESS TOXIC LANDSCAPING RESOURCE DIRECTORY: Another TIP favorite, but will be redesigned for 2009 - leaner but just as informative. Stay tuned for more on plans for the new format and options, probably similar to the Healthy Holidays Handbook. We’ll be saving paper, ink and money, and hope to make the Directory available to more people than ever before.

CHANGES IN PROGRESS - GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK!

NEW POLICY FOR THIS NEWSLETTER: You may have noticed that you received this TIP TALKS, although you are not actually a TIP member. Seeing the success of the Healthy Holidays Handbook for outreach, I thought, “Why should the newsletter be limited to a much smaller number of people? The truth is that those wonderful folks that support us through membership donations do so because they believe in our work - not for the sake of a publication. So, I am convinced that they will welcome the decision to use TIP TALKS as a way of providing important information to more who need it.

NEW PUBLICATIONS FOR THE BUSY AND UNINFORMED: As indicated in the last newsletter, I’m planning some short, practical Less Toxic Living guide brochures on topics of interest, designed especially for folks unaware of toxic risks in their lives. A couple will be the size of the Healthy Holidays Handbook, others brief, foldover flyers: Most likely, the next substantial one (besides the Landscaping Directory) will be on Healthy Households. I am hoping to get information out on Healthy Schools, Autism, Asthma, Kids & Toxics. It is yet to be decided whether to combine these in a Handbook-size booklet or as separate smaller handouts. Other possibilities are doorknob quickies on pesticides, cards to hand out when bothered by fragrance. What do you think is the most useful plan, and in what order should these be prioritized?

ENHANCED WEBSITE USE FOR INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION TO PUBLIC & PROFESSIONALS: Besides making our TIP TALKS quarterly newsletter available by E-Mail to all who want it, we’ll be putting up all the older issues on our website. Then, we’ll post new ones as they come out - so that people can read them by just clicking on a link - no need for attachments. In addition, we will be looking into setting up more sophisticated lists by topic interest to provide links to new articles. We expect at least a division between those who’d like more healthy living tips and resources and people who wish to keep up with the best and latest research on health connections to environmental chemicals. We’ll also put my monthly Families Today column, “An Ounce of Prevention”, on the TIP site. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS YOU’D LIKE ANSWERED AND TOPICS COVERED!

NEW EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION - SO ALL OF THIS DOESN’T COME TO A HALT!

1. We’re thinking to edit and expand the Resources section of our website to offer more info on where to find healthy products and services. As part of this effort, we are considering for the first time accepting some advertising online. The idea is to follow the successful model of the Healthy Holidays Handbook to ensure that our integrity as an organization is maintained while achieving some income. This means that all listings that met our standards would be included for free. Approved advertisers would have the option of an expanded/featured listing or an actual ad (fees for both to be determined after researching going rates). AGAIN, YOUR THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON THIS WOULD BE WELCOMED.

2. Finally, we’re putting forth a new call to all those who have lauded our work with a “Great job!” or “You are doing such important work!” - but haven’t helped with our funding. We found with the Handbook that some who didn’t feel able to pay for a full ad were comfortable with $10 for a more prominent listing. So, we’re trying out a TEN FOR TIP campaign, asking as many of you who can to put $10 in the TIP kitty.

SEE THESE CUTE CARTOON DOLLAR CHARACTERS, & FOLLOW THEM TO A LINK FOR DONATING - OR POP A CHECK IN THE MAIL! EVEN A TEN IS A BIG HELP TO A SMALL ORG.!

JUST GO TO: WWW.TOXICSINFO.ORG/SUBSCRIBE.HTM (ENJOY OUR LITTLE GREEN FRIENDS, THEN SCROLL DOWN, INSERT YOUR NAME, AND SELECT “DIRECT DONATION TO TIP”) FILL IN, AMOUNT: $10 (If you are moved to make this bigger, we won’t complain). You can use any major credit card.

OR SEND A CHECK TO: TOXICS INFORMATION PROJECT (TIP), P.O. Box 40572, Providence, RI 02940,

CANARY CORNER

ENZYME THERAPY FOR AUTISM?

www.care2.com/greenliving/enzyme-therapy-for-autism.html

Children are in many ways the ultimate canaries, and they are subject to a variety of allergic and chemical reactions to common products. Food is one of the substances that may contribute to health effects in some. TIP is not a health care organization or provider and we do NOT endorse or recommend any treatment for any health condition. We provide the following information because it might be useful for those dealing with autism to consider whether there are signs that food-related factors might be contributing to the problem in your child. If so, we urge that you discuss it with your health care provider - or, if a health care professional, do some research on the question. Also, see below some concerns about another vulnerable population - pregnant women, regarding not food, but fragrance.

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By Karen Defelice, Natural Solutions magazine

The pounding went on all day and all night. My son was a chronic head-banger from early on. Our efforts to help him resolve this and other debilitating problems, such as extreme sensory sensitivities and socialization difficulties, led us down many roads. Enzymes provided one of the key paths.

In the past five years, enzyme therapy has emerged as one of the most successful treatments for autism-related conditions, based on a new understanding about how closely the digestive, nervous, and immune systems function together and on how to use specific enzymes. Since taking them, my older son, who was diagnosed with an autism spectrum condition (ASC), no longer bangs his head on the floor 10 to 14 hours a day. He now interacts with others around him and communicates well. His sleep and sensory problems have also improved. The rest of us took enzymes as well, and my younger son’s reflux and bowel problems faded away and my chronic migraines disappeared.

My family isn’t the only one to experience these outcomes. After tracking results for more than five years, I’ve found that 90 to 93 percent of people with ASC see improvements after trying a good-quality enzyme product. Benefits appear in a wide range of behavior, language, cognitive, and physical issues, and older children and adults experience these benefits as much as younger kids.

`Food Intolerances and Allergies`

Autistic children often suffer from numerous kinds of food intolerances and digestive problems. My son was so sensitive to dairy, he would begin banging his head hard on the floor about three hours after eating it. While this reaction occurred with other foods and stimuli, we knew that dairy was a specific trigger. To resolve it we found a product containing several proteases including one known as DPP IV, which breaks down dairy and gluten proteins.

Unlike many drug therapies, enzymes are a quick and relatively inexpensive option to try, with a high probability for success. You will usually see results within the first four weeks, and often with just one bottle. While we found success by focusing on specific enzymes, some ACS children respond equally well to a broad-spectrum enzyme product that focuses on the digestion of carbohydrates and fats in addition to proteins. As you plan out a course of enzyme therapy, think in terms of categories: Children who have trouble digesting proteins need proteases; amylases break down carbohydrates; problems with candida yeast respond well to fiber digesting enzymes; and those with dairy intolerance benefit from lactase and DPP IV enzymes. Ascertain which category applies best to your child’s particular problem and then choose among the enzyme products within this category. Most families with children who have developmental delays tend to get best results using one of the broad-spectrum products at all meals along with one of the strong protease products.

`The Bug Connection`

Many children with autism related conditions also suffer from candida yeast or bacterial overgrowth in the gut. To resolve the problem try yeast-targeting products with high levels of fiber-digesting enzymes (like cellulases) to break down the outer walls of yeast cells. The product should also contain a high level of proteases to help clear out pathogenic yeast and reduce any die-off reactions. Consider combining a yeast-controlling herbal supplement such as grapefruit seed extract or oregano with the enzymes for a synergistic effect.

Underlying persistent viral infections also seem prevalent in autistic children, and when these are addressed, the children show some permanent improvements in language, socialization, behavior, and cognitive ability. Several autism specialists are turning to Valtrex, a prescription antiviral medication that provides good results. Another alternative, ViraStop, is a specialty blend of enzymes used between meals at high therapeutic doses (12 to 15 capsules per day). Two preliminary investigations using ViraStop resulted in a program that has delivered excellent results. Combining this with other supplements that have antiviral properties, such as olive leaf extract, vitamin C, or monolaurin, increases its effectiveness against viruses.

While the exact mechanisms of enzyme therapy remain obscure in the case of autism, it clearly works on underlying causes, not just symptoms. Even though not all my son’s sensory problems have disappeared, he has became much more social, his grades have improved, and his general anxiety has gone away. Now when people ask me how my son is, I’m thankful I’m able to say, truthfully, “He’s fine!”

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HEALTHY TOYS.ORG

On Dec. 3rd, an expanded and improved “2nd Annual Consumer Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Toys” was released by HealthyToys.Org. The research team has tested over 1,500 children's toys for lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and other toxic chemicals in order to provide information that will help keep kids safe. This year's site includes several new features. Visitors can now create their own personalized holiday wish lists for E-Mailing to family and friends. You can buy toys directly through links on HealthyToys.org, with a portion of the sale going to fund their work to test more toys. A new widget can be posted to your blog or website for quick searches of toy ratings for lead. The Take Action page has been updated so you can contact your Congress Member, the largest toy manufacturers, and the organization in your state to urge full protection for children from toxic toys. HealthyToys.org is a project of the Ecology Center, a nonprofit organization. To learn about the Ecology Center's other programs for a safe and healthy environment, visit www.ecocenter.org.

TOXIC CONTAMINATION STARTS AT HOME: STUDY

http://www.canada.com/topics/bodyandhealth/story.html?id=9fbaf19f-62ef-43fe-9f6f-bb869b76e94b

Tom Spears, Canwest News Service, Canada, Thursday, November 20, 2008

When women from 120 middle-class homes learned their bodies contained low levels of toxic chemicals, most of them blamed chemical spills, waste dumping or secret military experiments. They were stunned to learn the truth was closer to home. Most of their exposure came from harmless-looking plastics, flame-retardant clothing, beauty products and household cleaners.

A new study says we tend to put too much blame on environmental disasters that don't actually affect us. "It's the consumer products" that bring chemicals into our bodies, says Kathleen Cooper, a researcher for the Canadian Environmental Law Association. And while a study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior was done in Cape Cod, she says exactly the same mind set prevails here. Canadians "are surprised when we talk about consumer products as a key source." "People have this assumption that a product is on a shelf, and someone has made sure that it's safe, nothing toxic in it. And that is a false assumption." Outdoor air pollution still matters, she noted, "but the area that is coming forward as very important is indoor exposure. We spend 80 per cent of our time indoors."

"Pollution at home has been a blind spot for society," said Rebecca Altman, a Brown University sociologist who surveyed women in Cape Cod. The women had volunteered urine samples for a 2003 study on chemical exposure. The survey found their bodies - and also household dust - contained cancer-causing compounds and chemicals that upset human hormone systems. "An important shift occurs in how people understand environmental pollution, its sources and possible solutions, as they learn about chemicals from everyday products that are detectable in urine samples and the household dust collecting under the sofa," she said.

These included phthalates (common plastic ingredients used in varnishes, perfumes, cosmetics and detergents); anthracenes (from paving materials and diesel); solvents (paints, varnishes, some ink); flame retardants from upholstered furniture; parabens (an anti-microbial agent in everything from jam to cosmetics); and a host of "breakdown products" left over when the body metabolizes pollutants. The study was funded by the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Science Foundation. The 2003 tests on urine and household dust focused on Cape Cod because the area is known to have a higher than average rate of breast cancer. The women were aware of some high-profile chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA) in some plastic bottles. But the study adds that "women do not readily connect typical household products with personal chemical exposure and related adverse health effects."

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ASTHMA AND ALLERGIC SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN

AND PHTHALATES IN HOUSE DUST: A NESTED CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Environmental Health Perspectives 112:1393-1397. Bornehag, CG, J Sundrell, CJ Weschler, T Sigsgaard, Björn Lundgren, Mikael Hasselgren, Linda Hägerhed-Engman. 2004.

www.ourstolenfuture.org/NewScience/oncompounds/phthalates/2004/2004-0720bornehagetal.htm

Background on Phthalates: www.ourstolenfuture.org/NewScience/oncompounds/phthalates/phthalates.htm

Background on Asthma: www.protectingourhealth.org/newscience/asthma/asthmaknow.htm

This study links exposure to phthalates found in household dust to rhinitis, eczema, and asthma in children. Both asthma and allergies are serious childhood diseases that are increasing at alarming rates. Asthma is the most common chronic disease in US children, with rates more than doubling since 1980. Many factors are known to trigger asthma attacks, but the causes for the overall increase in asthma rates is unknown [more...]. Eczema is one of the most common skin diseases in infants and children, and has increased at least 30% since 1970, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Phthalates are industrial chemicals used widely in modern commerce. Over the last several decades, exposure to phthalates has become ubiquitous and virtually unavoidable. There are many types of phthalates, each with its own chemical and physical properties and toxicological characteristics.

What did they do?

Bornehag et al. conducted a nested case-control study of children ages 3-8 in Sweden. The researchers identified 198 cases and 202 controls using an initial and a follow-up questionnaire. The children were examined later by a physician who confirmed the diagnoses. To be classified as a case, participants had to have experienced at least two of the following symptoms in the year prior: wheezing without a cold, rhinitis or eczema. ‘Controls’ reported no allergic symptoms on either questionnaire. The questionnaire results mostly agreed with the physicians’ diagnoses. During the same two-week period in which doctors examined all of the children, researchers collected dust samples, performed visual inspections, and conducted indoor air quality assessments in the children’s homes. Children were excluded from the study if their homes had been rebuilt because of moisture problems, or if they had moved since the first questionnaire. In laboratory testing, different types of phthalates found in the dust samples collected from the children’s bedrooms were identified and quantified. The researchers also recorded the presence of PVC flooring in homes (phthalates are added to PVC to alter its physical characteristics). Bornehag et al. used several statistical analyses to examine links between each of the three physician-diagnosed health conditions (asthma, eczema, or rhinitis) and phthalate concentrations in bedroom dust. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and other factors that could influence the results of the study were taken into account.

What did they find?

Children diagnosed with asthma or allergies had significantly higher levels of phthalate in dust collected from their bedrooms than did healthy children. They were also more likely to live in homes with PVC flooring. Dust from bedrooms with PVC flooring were more likely to have higher concentrations of BBzP and DEHP compared to other bedrooms. The researchers found a dose-response relationship between the concentrations of phthalates in the dust and the likelihood of being diagnosed with asthma, rhinitis, or eczema. The higher the concentration, the more likely a child was to be diagnosed with one of the 3 diseases. Their analyses took into account a series of variables that might confound the results, including sex, age, smoking at home, and type of building. Children diagnosed with one of the conditions were also more likely to have PVC flooring in their bedroom. As the researchers point out, however, the link between BBzP/DEHP and health effects is not due simply to these chemicals association with PVC.

Bornehag et al. suggest that the different health patterns seen between DEHP vs BBzP and these health conditions result from differences in their toxicological and physicochemical properties. Not only does each phthalate have different metabolic pathways in humans and laboratory animals, and also different toxicological profiles, exposure pathways differ also. More than 85% of airborne DEHP is associated with airborne particles, whereas BBzP tends to be present as a gas. Substances in a gas phase deposit in the lungs differently than those attached to particles.

What does it mean?

This is the first epidemiological study to link phthalates strongly with asthma and allergies. The authors note that previous studies suggest that some phthalates act as adjuvants. Such findings add biological plausibility to the link that Bornehag et al. report in this paper because they suggest mechanisms by which phthalates could be having effects. Their results are consistent with a model proposed in 1997 for the possible role of phthalates in causing asthma. This model was based upon observations that the primary metabolite of DEHP, called MEHP, structurally resembles key natural molecules used by the immune system to heighten sensitivity. In the model, MEHP causes asthma by mimicking these molecules, called prostaglandins and thromboxanes, binding with the natural receptors for these molecules, and then turning on genes that lead to hypersensitivity of respiratory tissues. This increases the risk of inflammation in the airways.

Considering the recent dramatic increases in both asthma and allergies and the ubiquity of phthalates in the environment, these results have global implications for public health. Roughly 3.5 million metric tons of phthalates are produced each year worldwide for use in plastics, cosmetics, adhesives, dyes and building materials like PVC flooring. Studies in Germany, the US and Italy have found surprisingly high levels of phthalates in people. Because of the rapid pace at which asthma has increased, environmental causes must be involved; the change has taken place too rapidly to be explained by inherited factors [more...].

According to the research team, “while there are likely multiple factors responsible for the increases in allergies and asthma that have been documented in developed countries over the past 30 years, it is striking that these increases have occurred during a period when plasticized products have become ubiquitous in the homes, schools and workplaces of the developed world.”

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Some of the phthalates mentioned in this study (information from this study and its sources):

DEHP: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. Used mostly in PVC plastics, which typically can contain 30% DEHP by weight.
DnBP: di-n-butyl phthalate. Used in latex adhesives, nail polish and other cosmetic products, as a plasticizer in cellulose plastics, as a solvent in some dyes, and as a plasticizer in PVC.
BBzP: n-butyl benzyl phthalate. Used as a plasticizer for vinyl tile, carpet tile and artificial leather, and also in some adhesives.

For more background on phthalates

For More Information On Asthma Triggers, Other Health Conditions Associated With Environmental Factors, Healthier Alternatives And Actions To Protect The Most Vulnerable, Contact Liberty Goodwin, TIP Director, at: liberty@toxicsinfo.org, 401-351-9193, or visit the Toxics Information Project (TIP) website at: www.toxicsinfo.org/healthconnections.htm, www.toxicsinfo.org/TIPS_kids.htm

SAFER FABRIC SOFTENERS?

Dear EarthTalk: Which is better for our environment: to use dryer sheets in the dryer or liquid fabric softener in the wash? It seems they both have properties that are not very green.

-- Deborah, via e-mail

If you’re concerned about the health and safety of your family members, you might want to stay away from both conventional dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners altogether. While it may be nice to have clothes that feel soft, smell fresh and are free of static cling, both types of products contain chemicals known to be toxic to people after sustained exposure.

According to the health and wellness website Sixwise.com, some of the most harmful ingredients in dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener alike include benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), benzyl alcohol (an upper respiratory tract irritant), ethanol (linked to central nervous system disorders), limonene (a known carcinogen) and chloroform (a neurotoxin and carcinogen), among others.

Since fabric softeners are designed to stay in your clothes for extended periods of time, such chemicals can seep out gradually and be inhaled or absorbed directly through the skin. Liquid fabric softeners are slightly preferable to dryer sheets, as the chemicals in dryer sheets get released into the air when they are heated up in the dryer and can pose a respiratory health risk to those both inside and outside the home.

For those who don’t want to give up the benefits of fabric softeners but are afraid to risk exposure to potentially toxic chemicals, National Geographic’s Green Guide recommends adding either a quarter cup of baking soda or a quarter cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle. Either one will soften clothes, while the latter will also address static cling. (Be sure not to mix either with bleach, though, as resulting chemical reactions could cause noxious fumes.) If eliminating static cling is your top priority, try drying natural-fiber clothes separately from synthetic materials. The combination of cotton and polyester is often the culprit behind static cling. Better yet, reports Green Guide, line dry synthetic clothing, as it tends to dry fairly quickly anyway.

A few companies have heeded the ever-increasing call for greener, safer ways to soften clothes and reduce static cling. Seventh Generation’s Natural Lavender Scent Fabric Softener and Ecover’s Natural Fabric Softener are both good choices that rely on vegetable products and natural essential oils instead of harsh chemicals to get the job done.

Another safer option is Maddocks’ Static Eliminator, a non-toxic, hypoallergenic reusable dryer sheet made out of a proprietary, chemical-free polynylon. The Canadian company Maddocks originally developed the material to rid industrial-scale mechanical systems of explosion-inducing static electricity, but soon realized that it could benefit consumers as well, who can now buy the sheets—each one is good for some 500 wash loads—from natural foods retailers as well as from several online vendors.

CONTACTS: Sixwise.com, www.sixwise.com, The Green Guide, www.thegreenguide.com, Seventh Generation, www.seventhgeneration.com, Ecover; www.ecover.com/us/en/, Maddocks’ Static Eliminator, www.staticeliminator.ca/page/page/363949.htm

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EARTHTALK, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit your question at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk.html; or E-Mail them at: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

Saying 'No' To Fabric Softener

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1594/is_/ai_n27152791

E: The Environmental Magazine, Jan-Feb, 2007 by Liberty Goodwin, Starre Vartan

As I was enjoying your latest issue, a sentence in the article, "Let It All Hang Out!" (House & Home, September/October 2006) startled me into awareness. In the midst of a fine discussion about saving energy by avoiding the clothes dryer, I found, "If you don't like to deal with the stiffer, sometimes-wrinkled fabric that results from al fresco drying, add a bit of fabric softener into your wash, throw it into the dryer for five minutes, and presto, the softener is activated."

Activated indeed! Consider the following quote from www.jrussellshealth.com/chemsensair.html "Fabric softeners contain some of the most toxic chemicals (like chloroform, benzyl acetate and pentane) that are known to cause cancer and/or damage to lungs, brain and nerves. These chemicals are even more dangerous when heated in a clothes dryer. The toxic fumes then go into the neighborhood air and everyone for blocks around is forced to breathe them in. Babies, children, older people, and people who are already sick are especially hurt by these chemicals, and the damage can be permanent, causing lifelong illness."

If this sounds like a strong statement, be assured that, as the director of an organization educating about toxic chemicals and products in everyday life, I have seen more than enough evidence to support it. There are many less toxic options for avoiding that fabric stiffness which I, too, find unpleasant. From my favorite standbys, baking soda and vinegar, to products designed for this purpose, softening one's wash need not turn it into a chemical stew!

Liberty Goodwin, Director,

Toxics Information Project, Providence, RI

www.toxicsinfo.org

Starre Vartan replies: You are absolutely right. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets are toxic for the reasons you describe and are especially aggravating to people with asthma and other respiratory illnesses. I should have specified nontoxic softeners in the text of the article, since there are plenty out there! Ecover, Seventh Generation, EnviroRite and Natural Value all make nontoxic products, and a half cup of vinegar per load can be used for the softening effects.

Snow Eating Now Endangered Kid Pleasure

By MELISSA RAYWORTH, For The Associated Press2 hours, 32 minutes ago

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080304/ap_on_re_us/eating_snow

To the list of simple childhood pleasures whose safety has been questioned, add this: eating snow. A recent study found that snow — even in relatively pristine spots like Montana and the Yukon — contains large amounts of bacteria. Parents who warn their kids not to eat dirty snow (especially the yellow variety) are left wondering whether to stop them from tasting the new-fallen stuff, too, because of Pseudomonas syringae, bacteria that can cause diseases in bean and tomato plants.

But experts say there's no need to banish snow-eating along with dodgeball, unchaperoned trick-or-treating and riding a bike without a helmet. "It's a very ubiquitous bacteria that's everywhere," says Dr. Penelope Dennehy, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on infectious diseases. "Basically, none of the food we eat is sterile. We eat bacteria all the time."

Children practically bathe in bacteria when they go to the playground, and Dennehy says they won't get anything from snow that they wouldn't get from dirt. "We eat stuff that's covered with bacteria all the time, and for the most part it's killed in the stomach," says Dr. Joel Forman, a member of the pediatric academy's committee on environmental health. "Your stomach is a fantastic barrier against invasive bacteria because it's a very acidic environment."

There are exceptions. "Tiny kids on formula a lot of times don't have the acid in their stomachs," making them more vulnerable to bacteria in general, says Dr. Lynnette Mazur, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical School. Also, Forman and Mazur say that Pseudomonas can be a threat to people with cystic fibrosis. The study, published last week in the journal Science, didn't examine the effects on people. And experts say without further information, it is impossible to say what the bacteria could do to a child who eats extraordinary amounts. "I can say that I'm not aware of any clinical reports of children becoming ill from eating snow. And I looked," Forman says. In any case, because of ordinary air pollution in snow, it's probably wise not to eat a lot of the stuff, pediatricians say. For parents in search of guidance, Mazur offers this: Licking a little snow off a glove is probably OK. "A meal of snow" is not.

Some parents say they are not going to worry about their kids eating snow that looks clean. "My snow-eating concerns are generally more of the dirt-urine variety," says Kristin Lang, 37, of Maplewood, N.J., whose 2-year-old son Charlie has swallowed his share of snow.

"When I heard bacteria, at first I went 'eew,'" says Tricia Sweeney, a mother of three in Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y. But as long as the kids eat snow as it's falling, "I think it's OK. I tell them not to eat it if it's on the ground."

CHANGE IS IN THE WIND - A NEW & IMPROVED TIP FOR 2009!

Food Intolerances and Allergies

The Bug Connection

WOMEN WARNED NOT TO WEAR PERFUME DURING PREGNANCY

E: The Environmental Magazine, Jan-Feb, 2007 by Liberty Goodwin, Starre Vartan

Snow Eating Now Endangered Kid Pleasure

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`Food Intolerances and Allergies`

`The Bug Connection`