news

Bed Bugs!

Guess what I'm doing tomorrow!
Hi everyone! Hope you are all well. I wasn't going to post a blog today but when I saw this article I wanted to pass it on. I know it's not a nice topic but I think it is something you need to think about. Our world is growing smaller everyday and as people move about the world this sort of thing is going to occur. I wonder what other nasties can hitch a ride? Here's the article I found it on Yahoo and some things you can do to stamp out the problem before it becomes one.
-. put all luggage in large plastic bags and seal them up.
-. vacuum out suitcases and if you can lay them out in the sun. Canvas bags can be washed .
-. wash out all cloth in hottest water possible. Iron if lower water temp needed. @0minutes int he dryer.
-. if possible don't unpack at your destination if you suspect bugs.
-.ask hotel if they treat the room regularly.
-. air out bedding is the bright sun shine to keep it fresh.
-. for larger and heavy quilts, lay them out on the grass in the sun.
-.by new pillows every time the clocks change, just like you replace the fire alarm batteries.
-.buy a good vacuum and clean it often.
-.protect materes and pillows with covers, becareful of what you pay for them some can be $$.
-. wash pet sleeping area down also.
-.take precaution when getting used furniture.


Health news

Not letting the bed bugs bite is getting harder to do in large Canadian cities
Provided by: The Canadian PressWritten by: Chinta Puxley, THE CANADIAN PRESSSep. 14, 2008
WINNIPEG - Bed bugs are no longer just the stuff of bedtime rhymes with the blood-sucking critters increasingly becoming a problem in large Canadian cities.
They are hitching rides with international travellers and moving from home to home in used furniture, creating problems in bedrooms from coast to coast.
"We're all experiencing an increase in the incidences of bed bugs," said Reg Ayre, manager of the healthy environments program with the Toronto public health department.
"We're seeing it right across the board whether you are in (a) very elite area, in a single family residence, whether you are in a five-star hotel or whether you are in the local rooming house down on the corner. We're seeing it all over the place."
The wingless insects invade mattresses, curtains or tiny crevasses in the wall, coming out to feast on humans while they sleep.
Bed bugs used to be fairly common around the time of the Second World War, Ayre said. As harsh pesticides like DDT gained popularity, he said the bed bug population dipped along with the population of other household pests, such as cockroaches and ants.
But with the phase-out of such harmful pesticides, Ayre said bed bugs are making a comeback.
"Folks have lost the knowledge on how to deal with bed bugs," he said.
There are several theories about why bed bugs are thriving in North America once again, said University of Manitoba entomologist Terry Galloway.
Some blame international travel, arguing bed bugs are stowing away in clothes and suitcases to set up homes in Canadian bedrooms.
But Galloway said bed bugs are also capable of covering large enough distances on foot, travelling from apartment to apartment quickly within a building.
Used furniture is also a good way to spread the bugs, he said.
When they find a warm place close to a source of food, Galloway said they start to reproduce relatively quickly.
While bed bugs aren't known to spread infectious disease, Galloway said some people develop welts after being bitten.
Still, he said many people - even entomology students - don't recognize the telltale signs of bed bugs such as clusters of bites and small droppings on the sheets. Even when bed bugs are identified, he said some people are often ashamed.
"They've often been associated with poverty," said Galloway. "That's not necessarily true at all. It's the same as head lice. Anybody can get head lice. It doesn't have anything to do with social status or anything else."
Several years ago, Winnipeg exterminator Lincoln Poulin said he'd get one or two calls a year about bed bugs. These days, his Western Canada pest control chain gets an average of 10 calls a day.
"These insects are literally everywhere," he said. "I've treated moving vans for them."
Bed bugs are hearty creatures, living up to a year without food in cold climates, which makes them tough to get rid of, Poulin said. You can't just close off a room or shut down a summer camp and expect them to die off on their own, he said.
The longer the bugs live in your bedroom, the harder it is to get rid of them, Poulin said. Washing clothes right away after returning from a trip and vacuuming out the suitcase can help kill bed bugs before they settle in, but Poulin said very few people tend to do that.
"Bed bugs are so tiny, people have a hard time seeing them," he said. "They bring them home and they don't even realize it."
Public health experts recommend regularly washing bedding and vacuuming mattresses to prevent infestations. They also recommend caution when buying used furniture. After returning from a trip, luggage should be kept in an isolated area of the home. All clothing in the suitcase should also be washed in the hottest water possible and put in a hot dryer for 20 minutes.
More info:
http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/how-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs-c-39_95.html
http://www.pestmanagement.ca/
http://www.licesquad.com/article.asp
Well I'm off to bed. Sleep tight and don't let the beg bugs bite!

Babies first room

Well it seems lots of new babies are on their way very soon. I have a few friends who have just had or are waiting for the big day. I started to think about my first sons room and wondered how it stacked up in this new green thinking that has sprung up lately. I don't think I would have received great grades. Though I think that sometimes things can go a bit far, not everyone can afford to go all green, I think it best to know what you can and can't do....but anything you you can do is a step in the right direction. So to all the new mom's out the enjoy the experience and don't go over board...they will get dirty, they will get hurt, they will drive you nuts sometimes but remember you only live the moment once..savour it.

I hope you find this artical I cliped out for you. Let me know what you think.

Night.

Better Basics for Your Baby's Room
by Tracy Tullis

The womb acts as a wonderfully protective cushion between the fetus and the jolts and bumps of the outside world. On the inside, though, the placenta simply cannot shield the womb from all of the man-made chemicals that have, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, collected in our bodies. You can, however, take simple steps to reduce the risk to your offspring by paying special attention to what you eat, drink and breathe.

You probably already know to avoid alcohol, cigarette smoke, caffeine and kitty litter. Unfortunately, prenatal exposures to other common contaminants can affect the fetus during critical windows when vital systems are developing, says pediatrician Philip Landrigan, M.D., director of the Center for Children's Health and the Environment (CCHE) at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Below are 10 kinds of toxins capable of crossing the placenta and how to avoid them.

1. Trim consumption of animal fats When you're pregnant, it's more important than ever to choose lean cuts of meat, trim away fat and opt for fat-free dairy products. Here's why: Some toxins linked to prenatal nervous system and hormonal damage are stored in fatty tissue. These include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which pose risks of reduced intelligence to the developing fetus; brominated fire retardants (see "Catfish"

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc.mhtml?i=106&s=catfish);

dioxins and other pollutants that persist in our air and water.

2. Put a stop to insecticides in your home and office Organophosphates are a family of insecticides that attack the nervous system. In two New York City studies conducted last year, babies of women who had been most exposed to two organophosphates, chlorpyrifos (Dursban and Lorsban) and diazinon (Spectracide), had significantly lower birth weights. Fortunately, these insecticides were phased out of residential and school use by the EPA in 2001-03. However, other organophosphates are still in circulation, as are similar compounds called pyrethroids. Pesticides also release inhalable volatile organic compounds (see below).
What to do instead? Researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) recommend that pregnant women switch to sticky traps and other bait stations, "which are safer, last longer and are more effective," while keeping surfaces clean of food residue, removing trash and treating cracks with boric acid, classified by the EPA as of low toxicity, then sealing with caulk. (Keep boric acid and baits out of the reach of children and pets.)

3. Select foods to minimize pesticide residues Chlorpyrifos and diazinon (see above), along with many related toxic pesticides, are still used widely on food crops. Prioritize your grocery list to allow for the purchase of the following organic fruits and vegetables that, when conventionally grown, tend to harbor the most pesticide residue: apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, spinach, strawberries and peppers.

4. Pass on high-mercury fish Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can harm a developing fetus. Say "no" to high-mercury fish such as fresh tuna, canned albacore, wild bass, swordfish and tilefish. (One meal of moderate-mercury fish, such as canned light tuna, can be eaten once a month.) Eat up: low-mercury "yes" fish such as sardines, wild salmon and farmed striped bass. For a complete list, download the Green Guide's wallet-sized Fish Picks Smart Shopper's Card https://ssl.thegreenguide.com/cart/docs.mhtml?i=pdfssc.

5. Let Old Paint Lie Since lead has been banned from gasoline (in 1996) and paint (in 1978), most exposures now come from old lead-based paint. This heavy metal, which can also contaminate water and soil, can interfere with nearly every aspect of fetal development, causing brain and kidney damage, according to the CCHE. If your old house has lead paint in good condition, cover it with fresh paint rather than removing it, which releases lead dust into the air. To test paint for lead, see www.epa.gov/lead/leadinfo.htm#buy

http://www.epa.gov/lead/leadinfo.htm

or call the EPA's lead hot line at 800-426-4791.

6. Make sure your water is safe to drink Your local utility must by law provide you with an annual "Right to Know" report listing the EPA-recognized pollutants that exist in your water at potentially unsafe levels. Trihalomethanes, for instance, can increase the risk of miscarriage. See Green Guide #101 for contaminants to avoid and best filters. If you suspect there's lead in your pipes, allow the tap to run for 30 seconds to clear them before using water. Find lead-testing services at www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/sco.html http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/sco.html.

7. Avoid the VOCs that offgas from paints, glues, air fresheners Toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can evaporate from many conventional building, decorating and other household products, including air freshener sprays. Exposure to air fresheners during pregnancy and within the first six months of life was associated with diarrhea and earache in infants and headaches and depression in mothers, according to a study published in the October 2003 Archives of Environmental Health.

What to Do: For a shopping list of no- or low-VOC pressed woods, paint, stains and varnishes, see Green Guide #96 http://www.thegreenguide.com/issue.mhtml?i=96. Remember, even when the safest products are used, pregnant women should stay away during renovations and until finished rooms are well ventilated.

If exposed to fumes at work, speak up: Thirty-two children exposed in utero to organic solvents had lower scores on language and other developmental tests, according to a study published in the October 2004 Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. In the workplace, their mothers had come into contact with such solvents as toluene, xylene, mineral spirits, isopropyl alcohol and trichloroethylene. See Green Guide #92 "Sick at Work?"

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc.mhtml?i=92&s=sickatwork

or contact the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 800-35-NIOSH, www.cdc.gov/niosh

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh.

8. Steer clear of vehicular and smokestack emissions Research conducted by Columbia University links "combustion-related" chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with shorter gestation periods for pregnant women, resulting in smaller babies. PAHs are in car or bus exhaust and emissions from residential heating and power generation. Before exercising outdoors, check the EPA's Air Quality Index at epa.gov/airnow . Keep windows closed during peak traffic hours. For the best air filters, see our Air Purifiers http://www.thegreenguide.com/reports/product.mhtml?id=13 product report.

9. Stay away from phthalates in vinyl, personal-care and cleaning products Chemicals called phthalates, known hormone-system disruptors that have caused birth defects in lab animals, are widely used as plasticizers in nail polishes and vinyl and as solvents in synthetic fragrances. Avoid soft vinyl products and cosmetics containing "Fragrance"; also see lists of phthalate-free cosmetics at nottoopretty.org and Green Guide #94 "Beauty Tips"

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc.mhtml?i=94&s=beautytips> and Green Guide #99 "Soap and Shampoo: Personal Best." http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc.mhtml?i=99&s=soap

See also, ""Nail Products" http://www.thegreenguide.com/reports/product.mhtml?id=41

, "Household Cleaning Supplies" http://www.thegreenguide.com/reports/product.mhtml?id=15

, "Lip and Eye Makeup" http://www.thegreenguide.com/reports/product.mhtml?id=42

product reports.

10. Get rid of those crumbling foam cushions, already! The latest chemicals found to be approaching possibly unsafe levels in American women's breast milk, as well as umbilical-cord blood, are fire retardants known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs. Furniture foam tends to release PBDEs into house dust when it breaks down. For solutions, see Mattresses and Box Springs http://www.thegreenguide.com/reports/product.mhtml?id=1

and Computers http://www.thegreenguide.com/reports/product.mhtml?id=58

product reports and Green Guide #97 "PBDE Fire Retardant and Health Risks."

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc.mhtml?i=97&s=pbde

Thought for August Heat: Your Lawns life line.

Well August is almost here and for though of you who worry about you lawn in the heat and about the environment heres son info I found. Personally I don't worry aabout my lawn to much. I don't over mow it and leave it a little on the long side. We also use our sump pump water (500 gallon tank, with motor) to water if Mother Nature doesn't oblidge. Hope you all have a great Green Week.

Be a Stickler with Your Sprinkler
09:01 am - July 8, 2008

In terms of surface area, lawns are the single largest irrigated crop in America, covering 128,000 square kilometers--three times the surface area the U.S. corn crop covers. All that landscape soaks up a lot of water to keep it looking healthy, and in some areas, keeping your lawn green is not just a luxury, but a requirement. When California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought on June fourth, one couple in Sacramento cut back on watering their lawn, but they subsequently received a $746 fine for letting their grass go brown--and potentially lowering their neighbors' property values. So for many, conservation of both lawn and water are high priorities.
Fortunately, there are ways to minimize water waste when watering the lawn:
Set the sprinkler at the setting that gives off large drops of water, low and close to the ground.
Take care to position the sprinkler so that all water falls on the lawn (not on the sidewalk or the driveway).
Water early in the morning, which will ensure that the water soaks into the soil instead of evaporating.
Pick up a Noodlehead Sprinkler, which features flexible nozzles so you can spray the water right where you need to (from $16.95, http://www.noodleheadsprinkler.com/).

Spreading the world:

Interesting new story for today. It really illustrates how far our climate is changing on a grand scale. Lack of trees in Africa and desertification will and are affecting us here in North America. This article illustrates the two of the of the four elements fighting, I wonder who will win? though I don't think it will be use. I hope you get a chance to read this article. Let me know if you find the links interesting.

Tainted African Dust Clouds Harm U.S., Caribbean Reefs

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/07/080714-africa-clouds.html

Top ecology groups issue joint blueprint
MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT
ENVIRONMENT REPORTER, Globe and Mail
March 8, 2008
Canada's 11 largest environmental groups have jointly issued a blueprint to solve the country's environmental woes, calling for high carbon taxes and at least half of the country's remaining wilderness to be off limits to development.
It is the first time since the late 1980s that the country's brand-name conservation organizations, ranging from Greenpeace to the David Suzuki Foundation, have issued such a document. It was unveiled yesterday in Ottawa and presented to the four major federal parties for incorporation into their election platforms.
Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence, called the proposals "the most ambitious and comprehensive" that the "environmental movement has ever put together."
The groups are calling for Canada to adopt carbon taxes of $30 per tonne of releases, starting next year, with the amount rising to $75 a tonne by 2020. The initial figure is twice what the federal Tories have said they will impose on large industrial greenhouse-gas polluters, but the groups said "realistic pricing" of greenhouse-gas emissions "is the most efficient way to send a signal ... about the seriousness of the threat we face" from global warming.
They also want the federal government to begin lowering taxes on income, saving and investment, and shift the tax burden onto environmentally harmful activities, such as oil and gas or mining projects.
Although many environmental groups, such as Greenpeace, almost reflexively call for an end to nuclear power, the organizations didn't propose this, but instead recommended stopping all direct and indirect subsidies to the nuclear industry.
"To be honest with you, I'm pretty happy with how far people were willing to go on things," said Bruce Cox, executive director of Greenpeace.
To protect the oceans, the groups want an immediate ban on bottom trawling and other harmful forms of fishing. They also say that there should be no offshore oil and gas development on the B.C. coast.
As a way to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from the agricultural sector, they called on the government to encourage Canadians to eat locally produced food, particularly organically cultivated crops, that do not require energy-intensive fertilizers or pesticides.
They also recommended the federal government immediately ban several chemicals, including flame retardants known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, used in electronics, and bisphenol A, used to make polycarbonate plastic, based on concerns the compounds may be harming human health.

The full program is available at http://www.tomorrowtodaycanada.ca/

Related NewsEcorights bill a 'vision' for futureCanada at crossroads: Government must seize opportunity to address environmental concernsMoment de vérité pour le Canada : Le gouvernement doit saisir l’occasion de s’attaquer aux préoccupations environnementalesGreen Budget Coalition writes Minister Flaherty: Budget 2008 “very disappointing”

The other side of Green

Every where these day's there is info aobut Going Green. This is great but what do we do when mother nature bits back and mucks up our lives? What do you do? I found some great sites that tell what to do in case ________ happens. I will share so of the info here for you but I recommened you visit these sites to learn more, you might need the info this summer considering the way things are going.

Mold -- Safe Clean Up

site addresss

http://www.flash.org/index.html

Safe Mold Clean Up
Mold growth is likely to occur in homes after flooding. It's very important to clean and thoroughly dry any areas of the home that have gotten wet from floodwaters.

Mold - What Is It?

Molds are simple microscopic organisms found virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors. When molds are present in large quantities they can cause allergic symptoms similar to those caused by plant pollen.

What Can I Save? What Should I Toss?

Porous materials can trap mold. Items such as paper, rags, wallboard, and rotten wood should be thrown out. Harder materials such as glass, plastic and metal can be kept after they are cleaned and disinfected.

Removing Moldy Materials

Wear a filter mask and gloves to avoid contact with the mold.

Remove porous materials (ex: ceiling tiles, Sheet-rock, carpeting, wood products.)

Carpeting can be a difficult problem - drying does not remove the dead spores. If there is heavy mold, disposal of the carpet should be considered. Allow areas to dry 2 to 3 days before replacing damaged materials

If Sheet-rock, or wallboard, is flooded, remove all Sheet-rock to at least 12 inches above the high water mark.

General Mold Clean-Up Procedures Identify and correct the moisture source.

Remove all water and fix any leaks before cleaning.

Clean, disinfect, and dry the moldy area. Bag and dispose of any material that has moldy residue, such as rags, paper, leaves or debris.

Soap Cleanup Wear protective gloves and a filter mask.Use non-ammonia soap or detergent, or a commercial cleaner in hot water. Scrub the entire area affected by the mold. Use a stiff brush or cleaning pad. Rinse with clean water.

Disinfect Surfaces Wear a filter mask and protective gloves when using disinfectants. After thorough cleaning and rinsing, disinfect the area with a solution of 10% household bleach (1/4 cup bleach per gallon of water).

Never mix bleach with ammonia - the fumes are toxic! Let disinfected areas dry naturally overnight to kill all the mold.

Be aware that exposure to mold can occur during cleanup. To minimize exposure, consider using a breathing mask or respirator, wear rubber gloves and take breaks in a well-ventilated area.

Well I hope you don't need this info but please learn more just in case.

Sun Burn of Chemical Burn??

Well with Summer nearly upon us, I went looking for information on Sun Screen. I found this great artical at the National Geographic site that really made understanding about what we should and shoudn't slather on our childern and ourselves. I hope you find it informative and please visit the site to learn more.

"Sun Screen Artical

With schools closing for winter break, children across the country are once again enjoying long days outdoors at ski camps or fleeing the cold North for warmer climes. But a recent study of children age 11 to 18 by the American Cancer Society showed that less than one-third took precautions to protect themselves from the sun, a sobering fact when one considers that as much as 80% of our total lifetime sun exposure occurs within the first 18 years of life. The same study reported that 72% of children experienced sunburns during the summer months.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), more than one million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, will kill 7,910 people—that's nearly one person dying of melanoma every hour. In August 2005, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the incidence of basal and squamous cell carcinomas, the two most common forms of skin cancer, more than doubled between 1976 and 2003 among women under the age of 40.
"The reasons for this [large number of new cases of skin cancer] are multifactorial," says Cheryl Citron, M.D., a dermatologist and past president of the New Jersey Dermatologic Society. "We have pollution, depletion of the ozone, unregulated tanning salons and people living longer—but the biggest factor is early sun exposure."
Protection, however, requires more than globbing sunscreens or sunblocks onto skin. "Sunscreens don't prevent skin cancer, they can only reduce the risk." according to Mark Chamberlain, PharmD at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Dr. Chamberlain offers this example: If time spent in the sun remains the same, a person with a 50 percent chance of developing skin cancer will reduce his risk to only 20 percent with daily use of sunscreen. Two forms of solar radiation are of concern: Ultraviolet-A (UVA) which are long-wave solar rays that are less likely to cause sunburn, but penetrate the skin more deeply; and ultraviolet-B, short-wave solar rays responsible for sunburns and considered the leading cause of basal and squamous cell skin cancer, as well as a significant contributor to melanoma. There is increasing evidence of UVA causing photoaging and UVA is believed to exacerbate UVB's carcinogenic effects, contributing to cancers, especially melanoma. Dr. John Knowland of Oxford University explains that in using sunscreens that absorb UVB but not UVA, "you can encourage prolonged exposure, thereby getting a much higher dose of UVA, and perhaps increasing the risk of melanoma."
Avoiding the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the rays are most powerful, is the best option for protection against UV rays, dermatologists say. But when this is not practical, one should use sunblock creams and wear protective clothing. Below are some recommendations for how to pick the most effective of both.
Ingredients to Avoid
Overall, there are two basic types of skin cream or lotion protection: sunscreens, which absorb and deflect (or reflect) the sun's rays via a chemical reaction, and "blocks"—zinc oxide and titanium dioxide—which create a physical barrier against rays. Most commercial products offer a combination of the two, but when possible avoid the following ingredients:
• PABA: Though rarely used now in sunscreens, beware of products that contain the ingredient. Forty percent of the population is sensitive to it, experiencing red, itchy skin.
• Benzophenone (benzophenone-3), homosalate, and octy-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate): These chemicals are of more concern because they have shown estrogenic activity in lab tests. Dr. Margret Schlumpf of the University of Zurich's Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology says they have been shown to disrupt hormones, affecting the development of the brain (particularly the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal system) and reproductive organs in laboratory rats.
Because people are exposed simply by eating fish (where benzophenone accumulates in the fat), using sunscreen containing these chemicals unduly increases the exposure. Based on her studies, Dr. Schlumpf advises people avoid products containing benzophenone and the related chemicals above.
• Parabens (butyl-, ethyl-, methyl-, and propyl-): Parabens may also mimic estrogen, but because they are common in sunscreens, avoiding them may prove difficult.
• Padimate-O and Parsol 1789 (2-ethylhexyl-4-dimethylaminobenzoic acid and avobenzone): These two chemicals have the potential to damage DNA when illuminated with sunlight. On the skin's surface, these chemicals do protect from UV damage; however, once absorbed into the skin, these same chemicals can prove destructive. Dr. Knowland's research indicates that Padimate-O and Parsol 1789 "are excited by the UV energy which they absorb and become reactive, acquiring the potential to attack cellular components, including DNA." Knowland cautions that "DNA damage inflicted by an excited sunscreen is much less capable of being repaired by naturally occurring repair mechanisms than the DNA damage inflicted by UV alone."
• Although insect repellents with sunscreen may seem like an easy option, Dr. Best recommends avoiding them because of the dangers of overexposure to DEET, which can cause eye and skin irritations, headaches, nausea, when the product is reapplied after swimming or exercise.
Choose Sun Blocks
Zinc oxide, which lies on the skin without being absorbed, is completely safe. Unfortunately, its most common form is lifeguard white which can make it an unattractive choice. Dr. Kazutaka Hirakawa of Shizuoka University has shown that when injected into tumor cells to test its usefulness in fighting cancer, titanium dioxide (TiO2) has shown phototoxicity (or the capability to damage skin upon exposure to light), but as a sunscreen appears to be safe, based on what is known so far. Dr. Hirakawa explains that "titanium dioxide itself is an effective sunscreen and does not show phototoxicity in a normal condition as a sunscreen. A protective action of TiO2 for UV light may be much greater than its phototoxic effect on human skin." Most titanium dioxide used in sunscreens is coated with materials that reduce its photoactivity. Dr. Knowland says that according to current evidence titanium dioxide is much less likely than other chemical sunscreens to penetrate human skin. Note that on sunscreen labels companies rarely distinguish between sunscreens and sunblock, and instead use the term "sunscreen" for both. Look for zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient when choosing.
Biodegradable Sunscreens
Not all sunscreens are biodegradable, however, and ones that are may still contain chemicals to avoid. Dr. Schlumpf warns that chemicals washed off with water are then put into the environment where they can negatively affect other animals. Lavera, Aubrey, Kiss My Face, and JASON Naturals all make biodegradable sunscreens, but check ingredients before purchasing any product.
Protective Clothing
The right clothing can protect against the sun's harmful rays. Sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats are obvious choices, but it is equally important to consider the rest of your clothing. Claims of sun protectiveness factors, however, are not reliable here: Dana Best, M.D., a pediatrician at the Children's National Medical Center and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental Health, warns that "sun-protective clothing and fabrics are not regulated by any government agency." So consider these factors when choosing appropriate clothing (most important factors are listed first): weave (tighter is best), color (darker fabrics let less light through than lighter), weight (the heavier, the better) and stretch (stretch clothing loses UV protection as the item stretches out). If this has you imagining yourself in a black wool sweater in the middle of an August heat wave, fear not. You'll be well-protected wearing unbleached cotton or high-luster polyester or satiny silk, which reflect radiation. Clothes made from polyester crepe, bleached cotton or viscose offer little protection because they are transparent to UV rays.
You can also consider investing in ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) clothing. Clothes with UPF, which is similar to SPF, are increasing with many lines emerging from Australia. Coolibar, the only clothing brand recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation, offers fashions for men, women and children from clothing to hats and swimwear. All of Coolibar's clothing is made to maximize sun protection, with many pieces using microfibers containing titanium dioxide to diffuse 98% of UV rays. The Skin Cancer Foundation also endorses SunGuard, a laundry additive made by the company that makes Rit dyes. The product claims to block 96% of harmful rays, with the active ingredient being a blocking agent called Tinosorb. Ciba Specialty Chemicals, which manufactures Tinosorb, says that the sunscreen particles are too large to be absorbed through the skin, making the chemical relatively benign. Also, a 2001 study published in the journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology found that the chemical posed no risks of hormone disruption. SunGuard contains no fragrances or petrochemicals, but the product is not for children 2 years or under.
Proper Use of Sunscreen
Dr. Knowland, like Dr. Chamberlain, warns against assuming that sunscreens allow us to remain in the sun without increasing our risk of skin cancer. The report "Sunscreens," published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (a branch of the World Health Organization) in 2001 states that "sunscreens should not be used as a means of extending the duration of solar exposure, such as prolonging sunbathing." Instead, they are best used as protection against unavoidable exposure, for instance when engaged in sports such as golf or softball, which can take so long you're inevitably out during some of the strongest UV periods, and surfing, when wave conditions may sometimes be best during peak sun hours. And, Dr. Best notes, sunscreen should be used correctly:
• Cover all exposed skin liberally.
• Remember ears, backs of knees, feet and hands.
• Apply sunscreen BEFORE going outdoors.
• Use sunscreen even on cloudy days.
• Re-apply after swimming, sweating, and at least every two hours.
• If a child develops a reaction to a specific brand, try using a PABA-free brand or zinc oxide or titanium oxide.
Dr. Best also recommends that infants younger than 6 months be kept out of direct sunlight and dressed in "cool, comfortable clothing and wear hats with brims." She adds, "There is no evidence that suggests that use of sunscreen after 6 months is associated with any long-term harm. However, it is prudent to wash off sunscreen once the exposure period is over."
And for those inevitable moments when you are caught outside without sunscreen and no shade in sight, don't panic. Ten to 15 minutes of sunshine three times a week is actually healthy—sunlight helps our body manufacture vitamin D, a vitamin associated with strong bones, a major factor in osteoporosis, and the reduced risk of breast, prostrate, and colon cancers. Studies have also linked vitamin D with mood improvement, endorphin release and libido function. Perhaps that's what John and Paul were thinking when they wrote, "I need to laugh and when the sun is out/I've got something I can laugh about."

Go to: http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/environment.html To see a list of SunScreen Product.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/siteindex/ This link will take you to an index for the National Georaphic site, here you will find a ton of information.

Dangerous Home?

Watch this short video to learn just what is lurking in your home.