I get skin cancer every year, and believe me, it’s not pleasant. Fortunately, I “only” get basal cell skin cancer, which is not life-threatening. But I still have to get the skin cancer burned off or cut out. I’ve had it on my eyelid, my arms, my collarbone and my upper chest, and have the scars to prove it.

I get skin cancer now because I never used sun block growing up. In fact, I didn’t take skin cancer seriously until I was pregnant with my daughter. I was in my late thirties and an annoying bubble showed up on my eyelid! I had to wait to have it removed until I gave birth, then I had to walk around with an ugly black row of stitches on my eyelid until the surgery healed.

We did not know anything about skin cancer when we were kids. But today, there’s no excuse for not using sun block to protect yourself and your loved ones. Every year, Environmental Working Group analyzes the ingredients in sun block and recommends those that are the healthiest and most effective to use. I also try a variety of sun blocks every year. Here are seven brands both EWG and I recommend.

What SPF Rating Should You Look For? 30-50.

Keep it somewhere between 30 to 50. Properly applied, says EWG, SPF 50 sunscreen blocks 98 percent of sunburn rays, so a range of 30 to 50 will be highly protective. Any higher than that – say an SPF of 70 to 100 – won’t get you much more protection, but your skin could be exposed to unnecessary chemicals.

It’s also possible that the higher SPF rating is a phony claim. Stick to a rating of between 30 and 50.Don’t think because you’re using a higher SPF you can stay out in the sun longer. Most sunscreens protect against ultraviolet B rays, which are the ones that cause sunburn and non-melanoma skin cancers like mine. However, ultraviolet A rays are also in sunlight, and those are hard to block with most sunscreens. Unfortunately, ultraviolet A rays could actually cause more damage than B, so be sun smart to stay safe.

Be Sun Smart

It’s still smart to stay out of the sun between the hours of 10 a.m.  and 3 p.m. if possible, and you MUST re-apply the sunscreen every few hours. Also, wear protective clothing: hats with visors, sunglasses, airy but long-sleeved shirts, and pants, capris, or skirts. You can also wear t-shirts in the water – once you’re all wet, you won’t even notice you’ve got them on.

7 Healthy Sunscreen Brands

The good news is that 236 beach and sport sunscreens meet Environmental Working Group’s criteria for providing healthy sunscreen protection that is nontoxic and helps prevent sunburn. Here are seven that I personally have tried and found to be effective.

Note: We offer these sunscreens in our Amazon store, but you may also be able to find them in your local drugstore or grocery store. If you order them through us we earn a teeny-tiny commission that helps us continue to bring you this expert content at no cost whatsoever to you. Thanks. 

The post These 7 Healthy Sunscreen Brands Will Help You Avoid Skin Cancer appeared first on Big Green Purse.

If you choose organically farmed beef, you’ll also minimize your exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

These conclusions seem obvious, but Stanford University put them to the test. In a recent analysis of 230 field studies and 17 human studies conducted in the U.S. and Europe, Stanford compared pesticide residues, antibiotic resistance and vitamin and nutrient levels in organic and conventionally produced foods.

Organic Produce Is Just as Good!

In the study, organic produce and meats were deemed to be just as nutritious as those grown with pesticides.

Moreover, “The study confirms … that consumers who eat organic fruits and vegetables can significantly reduce pesticide concentrations in their bodies,” Sonya Lunder, senior analyst at Environmental Working Group, said.

“This is a particularly important finding for expectant mothers and kids, because the risks of dietary exposures to synthetic pesticides, especially organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides, are greatest during pregnancy and childhood, when the brain and nervous system are most vulnerable.

“These are two groups that should really avoid eating foods with high levels of pesticide residues.”

Based on its review of the research, the Stanford research team also concluded that:

conventionally raised meat (cows raised in crammed feed lots that are routinely given antibiotics to fight outbreaks of disease) harbors more antibiotic resistant bacteria.

In fact, the study found that people who eat non-organic chicken or pork are 33 percent more likely to ingest three or more strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria than those who eat organic meat.

The conclusion is clear: Want to stay safe?

Stick to organic produce, grains, and meat.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Top Ten Organic Food Price Busters

Here’s How You Can Afford to Buy Organic Food

The post Eating Organic Produce Will Reduce Your Exposure to Toxic Chemicals appeared first on Big Green Purse.

I’ve just returned from a seven-day trip to Beijing, China’s capital, and Xi’an, the country’s cultural heart and soul and home to its famous terra cotta soldiers. In that entire time, I never saw the sun or sky. Nor was I able to drink the water that came out of any tap.

Why? The sky was cloaked in grey smog so thick it obscured the tops of buildings, not to mention the heavens above. The air, while not exactly putrid, smelled dank and dangerous — a result of massive numbers of polluting cars on the road and regional industrial plants that spew contaminants into the air.

I could have worn a surgical mask like many of the city’s permanent residents. Instead, I opted to be a “guinea pig” and see how much the smog would affect me as I went back and forth to various business meetings and tourist destinations.

After just three days in Beijing, I developed a sore throat and itchy eyes, and lost any desire to explore the city’s beautiful parks. I could have easily walked distances of a mile or two. Instead, I took the subway to avoid breathing the outdoor air unnecessarily. Back at my hotel, I kept the windows closed, choosing a stuffy room over a polluted one.

The water coming out of my faucet looked cleaner than the air — but I would have been a fool to drink it. Water treatment anywhere in China is thoroughly inadequate. The country’s drinking water is tainted not just by household waste but from relentless industrial run-off.

Some government figures estimate that over 70 percent of the nation’s rivers have been contaminated by the discharge of heavy metals and other toxins directly into streams and tributaries that feed into China’s waterways. Water treatment facilities remove a smattering of contaminants but never clean up the water to the point where it is drinkable. And this creates another problem.

Independent companies are privatizing the water, purifying and bottling it, and selling it to the public by the tons. What happens to all the empty plastic water bottles? They end up back in the rivers and streams when they’re trashed.

Why is China so polluted?

In short, because it has neither a power federal environmental protection agency nor adequate laws for such an agency to enforce. Yes, the government gives lip service to reducing pollution and protecting public health. But local activists in Beijing told me that given the physical size of the country, a population of more than 1 billion people, and tens of thousands of “renegade” manufacturing facilities, neither air nor water quality will improve significantly until the government makes a real commitment to strengthen and enforce its environmental laws.

This is not to say that air and water in the U.S. are perfect, or even good enough. A recent study by Environment America, using data provided by the American Lung Association, reported that nearly half of all Americans — 48 percent — live in areas plagued by unhealthy smog pollution. A water quality analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council concluded that 22 million Americans may be drinking water that contains excessive levels of poisonous arsenic, among other chemicals.

Still, the same Environment America study notes that “air quality has improved significantly in the last decade as a result of policies at the state and federal level.” Likewise, the non-profit Environmental Working Group found over 90 percent compliance by water utilities in applying and enforcing standards that exist. Their recommendation: that EPA set even more effective standards so water quality will continue to improve.

We can continue cleaning up our air or water. Or, we can abolish the EPA and look a lot more like China. I suggest Michele Bachmann go to China before she decides.

Follow me on twitter @dianemaceachern.

(NOTE: This article originally appeared at Huffington Post.)

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The best way to protect yourself from skin cancer is to avoid getting a sun burn. That means NOT laying out in the sun with no shade, unlike this person.

But after you’ve taken all the right steps – stayed out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., worn a hat and long sleeves, put on sunglasses to protect your eyes from the UV exposure that causes cataracts, shaded yourself on the beach or at the pool – you’ll still need sunscreen. When you do, what’s the best, most environmentally friendly non toxic sunscreen you can use?

The scientists at Environmental Working Group have done the research, and have identified the “greenest” sunscreens you should buy. But just in case you can’t remember product names, here are the qualities you should look for:

#1) Choose sunscreens that contain zinc, titanium dioxide, avobenzone or mexoryl SX. Avoid oxybenzone, Retinyl palmitate/Vitamin A, and added insect repellent. FYI, oxybenzone is a synthetic hormone that can penetrate the skin. Retinyl palmitate can make your skin more susceptible to tumors and lesions. Not good.

#2) Creams you can rub on are more protective than sprays and powders.

#3) Broad-spectrum protection that is water-resistant for the beach or pool as well as exercise is optimal.

#4) Choose an SPF of at least 30 when you’re at the beach or pool, but you don’t need an SPF higher than 50.

What sunscreens does EWG recommend? For your convenience, we’re selling several of the safest, most protective sunscreens in our store. Brands include Aubrey, Aveeno, and California Baby. You can also ask for these brands the next time you go shopping.

Want more info? See our related posts:

Is your sunscreen giving you a false sense of security?

Sun-Smart Skin Care

DEET-Free Mosquito Repellents that Work

Have any other suggestions? Please leave a comment below.

The post Eco-Friendly, Non-Toxic Sunscreens: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Big Green Purse.

One reader worried that many sunscreens rely on nanotechnology, which manipulates particles that are smaller than 100 nanometers (nm); for comparison, a human hair is about 80,000 nm in diameter. Some research indicates that nanoparticles of titanium dioxide, which makes it easier for sun screen to soak into the skin, are small enough to bypass the body’s defensive “blood-brain barrier,” enter the brain and damage brain cells. (Larger particles are blocked by that barrier and don’t pose this problem). Environmental Working Group notes that, while several studies have found that nanotechnology does not penetrate healthy skin, they can still pose a danger to consumers or the workers who manufacture them. It is possible to find sunscreens that do not contain nanoparticles – but they may contain other undesirable chemicals. You can address the conundrum in part by staying out of the sun between the intense solar hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and wearing protective clothing.

Speaking of which, another reader noted that clothing specifically manufactured to resist the UV rays that cause sunburn and skin cancer may be coated with nano-based chemicals. It is difficult to determine which clothing relies on nanotechnology and which doesn’t. Question the manufacturer if you’re concerned. Or follow recommendations on ehow.com and chose tightly woven, dark garments when you’re out in the sun. Tightly woven cotton, wool and polyester offer better protection than linen, acetate, rayon and other thin fabrics. Rule of thumb: if you can see your skin through the clothes you’re wearing, they’re probably not blocking UV rays very effectively. While you’re at it, protect your eyes with sunglasses that specifically offer UV protection. Look for photochromic lenses, which reduce glare, sun and UV radiation without reducing visibility.

Finally, a doctor wrote to say that the skin needs some sunlight, since that is how the body restores its supply of Vitamin D. While this is true, most health professionals agree that the body can get enough Vitamin D supply from about 15 minutes of sun exposure in a day. You’ll get that walking back and forth to your car, walking in and out of work, or taking the dog for a stroll. You certainly don’t need to expose your skin to 15 minutes of blazing sun in the middle of the day.

The post What about Nanoparticles in Sun Screen? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Working Group (EWG) studied 20 dogs and 40 cats. The researchers discovered that the animals were contaminated with 48 of 70 industrial chemicals tested. Average levels of many chemicals were substantially higher in companion animals than is proportionally typical for people, with 2.4 times higher levels of stain-and grease-proof coatings (perfluorochemicals) in dogs, 23 times more fire retardants (PBDEs) in cats, and more than 5 times the amounts of mercury, compared to the average levels the CDC and EWG found in the people they studied.

How do our pets get exposed to these toxins? They walk across lawns that harbor pesticide residues. They breathe in indoor air pollutants. They lie on furniture or carpeting that’s been treated with fire retardants. Pets play close to the floor, often licking the ground as well as their paws, a habit that greatly increases both their exposures to chemicals and the resulting health risks. And because their lifespans are compressed – dogs develop and age seven or more times faster than children — pets also develop health problems more rapidly.

For pets as for people, the result of seemingly harmless actions is a body burden of complex mixtures of industrial chemicals never tested for safety. Health problems in pets span high rates of cancer in dogs and, as with my Midnight, skyrocketing incidence of hyperthyroidism in cats.

How can you protect your pet?

· Avoid lawn chemicals. Stick to organic fertilizers if you maintain grass. Keep your pet off lawns that have been chemically treated. Replace your own lawn with native grasses, stones, and other groundcovers that require nothing other than local climate conditions to grow.

· Eliminate products that pollute indoor air. Replace aerosol air fresheners and fragrance-based cleansers with fragrance-free options. Substitute non-toxic bug repellents for chemical pesticides. Open windows to air out rooms. Simmer cinnamon sticks and cloves in a small pot of water to refresh your home.

· Clean furniture and carpets with vegetable- based soap and water. Avoid industrial- strength floor cleaners whose left-behind ‘shine’ contains chemicals that could compromise your pet’s health. Ask professional carpet cleaners to use certified eco-friendly cleaning products.

· Buy an organic cotton towel or throw rug for your pet’s bed and for your furniture. Protect your pet from the fire retardants found in most upholstery and carpeting with organic fabrics you can launder in biodegradable detergent.

· Choose safer toys. Muttropolis sells toy flowers for cats made from recycled plastic and certified organic catnip. Olive Green Dog sells toys made from non-toxic plastic for dogs, as well as shampoos, soaps, cookies, and more.

Want a short-cut to more eco-friendly pet supplies? Check out our Amazon store.

Want to read other pet posts?

Spoil Your Pup and Protect the Environment

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It’s not a simple matter of “that’s all that farmers grow.”

Organic farmers competing against conventional agricultural interests (i.e., the ones that use pesticides and herbicides) don’t receive an equitable portion of U.S. tax dollars for research into how to grow organic food more efficiently and economically.  And when it comes to making the transition from conventional to organic, farmers just don’t receive the financial support from the government that conventional farmers get to stay in business.

Environmental Working Group’s Action Fund is working with Congress to “make sure organic farmers get their fair share of federal funds to improve access to healthy alternatives” like organic fruits and vegetables.

You can help, by signing EWG’s petition to “Grow Organics.”

Oh, yeah. Buy some organic peaches, too.

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