Props to Home Depot! Commits to Phase Out Harmful Phthalates in Flooring by End of 2015

World’s Largest Home Improvement Retailer, Home Depot, Commits to Phase Out of Phthalates in Flooring by End of 2015

This is so huge I can barely believe it but once again, all of our hard work is paying off yes? Although our government is moving slowly to protect consumers, including the youngest and oldest among us, private industry is taking action but there is still much work to do.

5 Tips to Protect Your Children from Toxic Chemicals

I was lucky enough to be able to write a blog article for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and thought I would share it here on the EB blog.  Enjoy.

Today's Monster In The Closet - Toxic Chemicals
When I was a little girl I never worried about what I put into or on my body.  As a child of the 1970's I was more concerned with making sure my hair was feathered just right, perfecting disco dancing and watching Nadia Comăneci steal the show at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal - and I mistakenly thought I could rely on my parents to protect me.  They did a good job keeping me safe from scary monsters under my bed, mean kids on the playground and anything else that I thought might hurt me, real or imagined.  It never occurred to me that there were things even they didn't know they were exposing me to that could harm me.

Fast forward through three decades, numerous miscarriages and a frightening health scare from an artificial sweetener and sadly, as an adult, I have come to realize that my parents and I had no idea of the real harm I was ex[posed to.  You see we now know that what was in my phthalate laced baby shampoo, my flame retardant pj's and even in my food and toys were, in all likely hood, more harmful to me than all of the frightening things we could have ever conjured up.

How to Go Green and Make Your Family Safer from the 80,000 Chemicals in Our US Consumer Goods

Wondering Why We Need a New Law to Protect Us from the 80,000 Chemicals in US Consumer Goods?  Think We Are Already Protected?

I have been working on an article for Safer Chemicals Healthy Families and in doing some research, I came across a trailer for an eye opening movie that I think will answer some questions you may have about why we need to pass the Safe Chemicals Act.  So many times, trying to explain to someone why we need a new law to protect us from the 80,000 chemicals in our consumer goods (including foods) in the United States.  They seem to have trouble comprehending that something as potentially toxic to our bodies, and land, could be put into anything humans would come into contact with if they had not been proven safe.

6 Quick Label Detective Tips for Spotting the Greenwashing in Natural Products

Just How Natural are Your Natural Products Anyway?
Guest Post by Lacey Swartz, Owner KV Organics

This may come as no surprise to some of you, and a big surprise to others.  When it comes to ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ claims on personal care and cosmetic products, there is a lot of room for differing interpretation.  And this can leave people who shop for natural products confused, frustrated, and sometimes feeling ripped off.

As Scientists Warn of Chemical Autism Link, The National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures Outlines Action Agenda to Ensure Chemical Safety for Americans. Monsanto Says they Must do a Better Job

Image via Wikipedia

As Scientists Warn of Chemical Autism Link, The National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures Outlines Action Agenda to Ensure Chemical Safety for Americans.  Monsanto Says they Must do a Better Job

Did you know that, even though we are exposed every day to hundreds of chemicals, the U.S. government currently does not have a system in place to protect us from the harmful ones ?  Kind of frightening huh?  Well we all have a reason to look to the future with hope because of a new “action agenda” emerging from a two-year national conversation led by government, nonprofit and industry organizations.  I have been taking part in many of these public chemical conversations and am happy to announce that, just as scientists warn of a chemical autism link,  an action agenda has been created.

Available online at http://www.nationalconversation.us, The Action Agenda calls for an increased emphasis on preventing harmful chemical exposures, reforming outdated and ineffective policies, promoting the health of children and other vulnerable populations, and improving our ability to make or engage in difficult decisions, often in the face of uncertainty. The Action Agenda also recommends improving data access and management, expanding systems for monitoring chemical exposures and health outcomes, and building scientific knowledge on many fronts, such as through faster evaluation of chemical hazards.

Is Your State Going Green?

Is Your State (in orange) on this List?

If the inability of our Congress to enact safe toxic chemical laws has you wondering what the heck we, as a nation, are supposed to do to protect ourselves, wonder no more.  Some states are going green!  It seems that some states are taking unsafe chemicals to task and stepping in to get the job done.  Now I appreciate the benefit to having as little regulation as possible on industry to help our economy thrive, but when it comes to toxic chemicals in our consumer products, industry is not doing their job to protect the very people who put money in their pockets.

I have come to believe that regulation is necessary to protect our future health and the future health of our planet.  Getting the word out to protect consumers is not doing the job.  In my opinion, far too many folks are too busy worrying about how they are going to put food on their tables to be able to take the time to educate themselves on what toxic chemicals are lurking in things like their cleaning supplies.  Just because some consumers  might not have the luxury of time to become educated on this topic (and thus make better informed decisions), they should not have to suffer the consequences because they don't have all of the information.

Consumers, Show Your Power! How You Can Fight the Pesticide Industry in Just 2 Minutes and Help Create a Healthier Future for Us All

Click the picture above and take just 2 minutes to show your power and send a letter to your local newspaper demanding that California reverse its decision on methyl iodide

As you may have heard by now, California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) approved the carcinogenic new pesticide, methyl iodide, for use in the state’s strawberry fields. The decision flies in the face of unprecedented public and scientific opposition, and is a clear instance of corporate influence overriding science and the public interest.  Here at Environmental Booty, we consider that the worst kind of disregard for human and environmental health.  PAN North America (Pesticide Action Network)  is working hard to push the state to reverse this harmful decision and they need our help. 

Another Reason to Eat at Home! MUAH...Love Ya' Dupont! You Suck So Bad! How Do You People Sleep at Night?

Need another reason to eat at home and steer clear of fast food?  Well listen up!  You might remember that I am not a fan of PFOA.   I am not sure anyone is a fan of PFOA except Dupont (and other chemical companies) which uses and sells it to manufacture Teflon and make water and stain repellent products.  So now I have found yet another reason to ditch fast food but first let me just take a moment to send out a big kiss to my pals at Dupont...MUAH...Love Ya' Dupont! You Suck So Bad! How Do You People Sleep at Night?

Tell Congress to Fix our Nation's Broken Toxics Law Today and Support The Toxic Chemicals Safety Act! We're just 5,000 signatures away so please tell your friends and family to add their names today!

Hey peeps, you know toxic chemical reform is one of my passions and we are soooo close this time to really reforming the laws which will make us all healthier but we need your help.  I am passing in the following message (I rearranged it a little) from the EWG (Environmental Working Group) which came into my inbox today...

We have huge news.
The toxics reform bill, H.R. 5820, the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act, has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Chairmen Waxman (CA-30) and Rush (IL-01). Toxics reform is now moving through both houses of Congress. It has never been more important for Congress to know that we want the strongest and most effective toxics bill possible -- we need companies to prove that chemicals are safe before they hit our supermarket shelves.

The CDC Wants YOU! Join in the National Conversation for Chemical Health and Chemical Exposure to Improve our Health and the Health of our Planet

I frequently receive information from companies, PR firms and other organizations requesting that I share their green message with you guys.  So I wasn’t too excited when I recently opened (what I thought) was just another request for promotion.  Boy was I wrong.

FLUSHED! How What You’re Flushing is Making America Sick - Why You Want to Watch This Dr. Oz Show

I love listening to Dr. Oz and his adorable wife on XM Radio.  They always share hard to find health information, great guests and health topics that I find really valuable. So when I was contacted by them with a request to spread the word about an upcoming Dr. Oz TV show, I was more than happy to help them out.  You really should listen up, because once again, Dr. Oz will be focusing in on an environmental health issue that could affect every single one of us that the media is under reporting.

On Tuesday, March 23rd, The Dr. Oz Show will explore the effects of Pharmaceutical & Personal Care Product Pollution in a segment called “FLUSHED! How What You’re Flushing is Making America Sick.”

The Most Toxic Home Products - How Many are in Your Home?

I ran across a great slide show on Forbes.com of all places which shows what products in our home are the most toxic.  I was actually surprised by some of the products listed and think you may be too.  There is a really great article that goes with the slide show that you can check out when you are done viewing the pictures.  Share this with your friends and always be on the lookout for ways to reduce exposure to toxins in your life. 

Click HERE to join our green living, online community!

Picture from www.cleanandhealthyme.org 

Kick Cancer Causing PFOA's to the Curb with ManPans, Earth Pans and a Good Old Cast Iron Skillet - for Your Health and the Health of our Environment

Are you familiar with PFOA's?  Have you heard about Teflon and non-stick pans with PFOA's?  Do you know that there are studies which have shown the chemical to be present at low levels in the bloodstream of 9 out of 10 Americans, and in the blood of most newborns. PFOA has been shown to cause cancer, low birth weight and a suppressed immune system in laboratory animals exposed to high doses.  Although the effects of PFOA at lower doses in humans are disputed, there does seem to be a link between PFOA and raised levels of cholesterol  and PFOA's are in the non-stick coating of your Teflon pans.  But wait, it gets worse, PFOA's are detrimental to our environmental health as well as human health.  Even the EPA has declared PFOA's to be likely carcinogens.

Mr Clean Pleads The Fifth while Simple Green Sings Like a Canary

Concern over the association between household cleaning products and nerve damage, ill health effects and breathing related illness like asthma, is leading the way to consumer protection.  Although SC Johnson's new website shines with ingredient transparency, the move is considered unusual.  Household cleaning manufacturers do not routinely disclose their ingredient lists.  In fact they will go so far as pleading The Fifth to protect their product ingredient information from being released to consumers. 

The Lancet's Andrew Wakefield MMR Autism Connection Retraction Comes Just as The US Gov't. Calls for More Study

First let me remind you that all of my children are fully vaccinated.  Next let me remind you that my father is in a wheelchair because of a Hepatitis-B vaccine and has been compensated by the U.S. Government for the injury.  But follow me here K?

I have been telling you for a while about how the US government continues to look into subsets of the population being more susceptible to Autism from environmental factors and vaccines than others right?  Chances are you have heard about the retraction of Andrew Wakefield's Measles Mumps and Rubella study (which connected the MMR vaccine to autism) by the Lancet.  So Today I find out that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released their 2010 Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorders and guess what?  The plan calls for more study into whether certain people are more susceptible to Autism because of environmental factors such as immune challenges, which could include vaccines. Just thought I would let you know...the Lancet study may be out, but the research continues.

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A Wake-Up Story for Every Single One of Us from Healthy Child Healthy World. Are You Ready to Listen and Take Action?

 

                       
This video could be one of THE most important you ever watch and share. My mother and I used to sit around lamenting that everyone was sick, kids were flipping out with aggression and attention difficulties and so on that I eventually began to try to find the answers to our concerns.  Do you have those same worries?

What I have found over the last few years is that there is an overwhelming amount of research that points  to an overloading of toxins in our children's lives; not to mention ours.  There is a movement around us that is gaining momentum, going mainstream and reaching every corner of the world.  Will you commit to becoming  a part of the solution to decrease this toxic overload?  Are you willing to take the time to become an informed consumer, change your buying habits to support that information and share what you learn with friends, family and any person you can get to listen?

If we can all work together and stop waiting for the government to put in place laws to "protect" us we might just create a healthier world  for our future generations as well as for ourselves.  Look at what a joke the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 turned out to be.  In almost 34 years, the EPA has banned only a handful of chemicals out of thousands.  Must be nice to be able to produce a chemical, put it into the market and not have to worry about all of that silly stuff like making absolutely certain there are no risks at all associated with it.   I love being a guinea pig and offering up my children to the alter of non-government regulation and safety don't you?

I ran across the following quote today, in what I can only call one of the most important articles of our time, about The Toxic Substance Control Act.  Maureen Swanson, the coordinator of the Learning Disabilities of America’s Healthy Children Project, which investigates and highlights the relationship between toxic chemicals and brain damage said, "Basically it requires the government to prove a chemical is dangerous or harmful to health after it is already in the market and after people are already exposed to it." She added that the "burden of proof is extremely high. The EPA has only banned or limited the use of five chemicals. Out of thousands. People think we have a safety net, but we do not."

Our future depends on our knowledge and actions.  What choices will you make today that will change your health and the health of our world tomorrow?  The time has come to create our own safety net.  

Click HERE to join our community!

Infertility Could be Linked to Flame Retardant Chemicals called PBDE's...More Reasons to Just Say No to Chemicals in Your Life!

I am telling you people that we are absolutely killing ourselves with chemicals.  Study after study is telling us that chemicals are causing us harm.  Oh but wait, more study is necessary.  Yea right,  if you guys wait until all of  the chemical companies and the awesome organizations like the Environmental Working Group fight it out with their research, you will be taking a chance I am certainly not willing to take.  I live by the precautionary principle!

Check out PETA's "Banned" Thanksgiving Day TV Ad called "Grace"...would you have wanted to see this during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?

I think this is a cute ad, right?  The little girl kind of reminds me of how I act at family functions when I talk about environmental and health issues surrounding plastic water bottles, aspartame, food additives, recycling, parabens, organics...everyone loves it!

The ad is right on target when it talks of the toxins in our poultry in the USA.  NPR recently posted a report titled "Tests Find Chicken Often Contaminated, But Better Than Before" which says that
Two-thirds of store-bought chickens are contaminated with salmonella, campylobacter or both. The good news is, the rates are lower than they were lower than they were two years ago.  Organic birds fared
only slightly better.

I am on the precipice of going vegan and two of my daughters are ready to jump on board.  If I were to show them this ad, it would most certainly push them over to the vegan way of life.  How about you?  Does this ad bother you?  Are you happy ABC, Nickelodeon, and other networks would not let it air on Turkey Day here in the US?

Click HERE to join our community!

New York Health Care Workers Told "Vaccinate or be Terminated". Albany Workers Protest, What Can You Do?

See my dad in his wheelchair with the green hat?  We all stand at my daughter's birthday party and he sits... because of a vaccination!

I am sitting here at my computer in disbelief as I just heard on the news that NY state has apparently given health care workers until November 30th to get the Flu vaccine or be terminated.  I am sorry, where is that again...AMERICA?  Listen folks if this illegal mandate goes unchallenged and unchanged, you WILL be next!

The state has already announced that the H1N1 shot will be next for the NY health care workers.  You know what happenned in 1976 when the Swine Flu vaccination was pushed by Washington and did not quite hit the mark?  By 1979, 4,000 people had made claims of damages against the government with 2/3 of them being for neurological illness or death. This time around the US Government is embarking upon an unprecedented Swine Flu vaccine symptom tracking system.

I am all too familiar with the damage that a vaccination can do to a person.

My father received a Hep-B vaccine and within a couple of weeks was fighting for his life from a neurological disease called Guillain Barre.  This disease quickly turned into the chronic form of GB called Chronic Demyelinating Inflammatory Polyneuropathy.  The government has compensated him for his illness which they agreed was caused by the vaccination but no amount of compensation will ever fix our lives or his.

My dad who taught me to slow dance won't ever dance with me again.  He is confined to a wheelchair now.

I have chosen, each time with much worry and prayer, to vaccinate my three girls for the greater good of our world.  I am considering the Flu vaccine this year but at this point, I have decided not vaccinate my family against Swine Flu.  I STILL HAVE A CHOICE, HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN NY DO NOT!  Can you imagine being given this ultimatum?

You just might be given the same ultimatum if we do not support those protesting this mandate. Albany, New York health care workers are protesting today and we need to give them our support.

Please email your local Representatives, the Vice President and President HERE and tell them you support the Albany, NY protestors and will never stand for forced vaccination!!!!!

I Just Received the "Bad Mommy of the Year Award"!

Hi all!  How is your Friday going?  Mine is great although I had no idea my little Hay-Jay had no school today until 8am and I just noticed that she has just about consumed an ENTIRE bag of Veggie Chips in like 10 minutes.  So other than getting the "Bad Mommy of the Year Award" things are great. 

A little concerned about the direction Health Care reform is going...which way is that anyway?  Seems like I get so many double messages that I have a hard time sorting it all out.  I  can tell you that even though we pay like $11,000.00 a year for ours, I certainly do not want to be forced into a public option EVER.  It is sad that people are uninsured and judging from my husband's chosen profession (he is VP of a commercial construction company), these days we could easily be one of those uninsured...but there has to be a better way than more Socialized Medicine. 

I know of families making higher incomes than ours who choose to go without so they can have other things that are much more fun than paying for health insurance.  Should we force them into a plan or penalize them for not taking part?  I say we just let them die. 

Seriosuly I do not think that.  The questions are complex and the answers are varied but this plan makes me uncomfortable.  Like the millionaire actors who are bashing the rich for getting richer.  Gimme a break.  Isn't that what we all want...success so we can help others as we help ourselves? 

Anyway, enough of my Friday morning rant.  I came across a great site for those of you who are always emailing me with questions about organic personal care products.  The site is SaffronRouge and they have a super little chat button in the upper right corner of their website which gives you the opportunity to "speak" with one of their organic beauty advisers.  Pretty cool so take advantage of it and let me know how it works out for you. 

Please remember that beauty is not only skin deep...the products we use go much further into our system and  may even get into our developing babies.  Babies are born pre-polluted with as many as 287 industrial chemicals in their bodies when they enter the world. 

Take care and think about what you are spending your hard-earned cash on and how those purchases affect your health and the health of our environment.  Don't forget to check out Environmental Booty for all that is eco...a great place to shop for the Holidays or everyday.

Off to do my new workout. 

Peace and Love - Shane