Here’s an article I wrote not too long ago. Interesting stuff:

The human race has been better at creating chemicals than finding out if these
chemicals are in fact harmful to people and the environment. Some chemicals,
called endocrine distruptors, infiltrate the body and mimic or block hormones, disrupting
normal functions. So how can they be avoided?

The website home for the book Our Stolen Future by Theo Colborn,
Dianne Dumanoski and John Peterson Myers, (Abacus, 1997), reveals startling health
conditions caused by endocrine disruptors ranging from hormone disruption to cancer,
birth defects, diminished sperm count, reduced reproductive organs, endometriosis,
ectopic pregnancies, reproductive failure, compromised immune system, weakened reflexes
and muscle tone, short-term memory damage, attention deficit, and lowered intelligence.

According to an article published by the David Suzuki Foundation titled “Toxic Products Add to Our Chemical Burden” on June 10, 2005, these chemicals can be found in many things such as pesticides, fungicides and plastics.

In fact, according to the National Resources Defense Council’s article “Endocrine Disruptors”
http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/qendoc.asp, November 25, 2008, the majority of chemicals do not
have to be safe to be allowed on the market.The majority of the more than 2,000 chemicals that
come onto the market every year do not go through even the simplest tests to determine toxicity.
Even when some tests are carried out, they do not assess whether or not a chemical has endocrine
interfering properties. And children are at a far greater risk from endocrine disruptor exposure,
because endocrine disruptors affect the development of the body’s vital organs and hormonal
systems, infants, children and developing fetuses are more vulnerable to exposure. And as was
the case with DES, parents’ exposure to certain chemicals may produce unexpected — and tragic –
 effects in their children, even decades later.

Tips on avoiding endocrine disrupting compounds:

1. Stay away from pesticides and fungicides. Don’t use them on lawns or gardens. Try to eat
organic food if possible. Think about options when dining out at restaurants or friends’ houses.
For children, find out if schools/daycares serve organic food.

2. Avoid plastics as much as possible, especially when heating food and storing fatty food.
Children should have alternatives to plastic toys, especially ones that might end up in the
mouth as plastic can leach endocrine disruptors. Bisphenol-A, an organic compound and building
block of plastic, was announced by Health Canada in an April 18, 2008 news release to be
contaminating newborns and infants through heated polycarbonate baby bottles and infant formula
cans. Polycarbonate is also found in reusable water bottles. According to the Government of Canada’s
 Chemical Substances action initiative’s article “Consumer Information Safety of Plastic Containers
 Commonly Found in the Home”, October 16, 2008, plastics identified by codes 1 through 6 do not
use Bisphenol-A in their manufacturing process.
Education is the most important aspect of all. Read books, visit websites, talk to local organic
farmers, attend workshops and information sessions, and pass the word around.

It was a holiday here in Canada yesterday - Canada Day - and as I sat around enjoying the weather, it made me think about how lucky I am to live in such a great country! So I went to the park to appreciate some green beauty. While I was there I saw some kids playing and thought that kids should play outside more often. Get them off their computers and cell phones and ipods and get them into the parks, like when we were kids! They don’t know what they’re missing. Not a bad idea for us adults to get out there too!

Did you know that even when cell phones and chargers are turned off they still use energy?? I just found out! I always leave my charger plugged into the outlet until the next time I charge my cell phone, but it’s actually using energy. Same thing with microwaves - the clock on it that beams brightly at night uses energy! Take a walk around your home to check out what items are sucking energy without you really noticing - electric alarm clocks, computers, TVs, DVD players, stereos, ipods… Check out David Suzuki’s Small Steps for more info on reducing your footprint one step at a time http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Small_Steps/

So, I went to get a take-out coffee at my favorite coffee shop this morning and wondered what people are doing these days with their plastic and paper cups, especially when they’re on their way somewhere…? In this city, they used to have recycling bins every few blocks, but I’ve noticed their disappearance as of late. So, now I try to remember that if I throw my cup in a public garbage can, that cup is on its way to a landfill somewhere to decompose slowly over the next 100 years… or I could make sure that I take it home and throw it in my recycling bin!

There are natural alternatives to both nail polish and remover! Award-winning Canadian company SunCoat is one such brand using water as its base instead of solvent. http://www.suncoatproducts.com/  Similarly, their remover is all natural using a corn/soy base. Products can be found at locations across Canada or just order online.

I heard once that plants in your bedroom is bad because of the carbon dioxide they emit at night. But let’s face it, unless you’re in an air-tight box, the CO2 won’t be causing you harm. And seriously, how much can one plant emit anyway?! I think the air filtration outweighs the CO2 scare anyday. Not to mention the fact that it looks great! I’ve traded in my bedroom TV for a few plants.

Apparently we don’t need to spray the dandelions to get rid of them! You can use an all-natural method on your lawn instead. The idea is not to kill anything, but to promote the growth of another plant to discourage the propegation of dandelions. Follow this link for more info: http://www.naturechallenge.org/dmg09/david_suzuki_foundation/q_my_friend_wants_to_get_rid_of_the_dandelions_on.html

Remember this year, when you’re planting your gardens, flowers, grass, whatever, not to use pesticides! You can go to this link on the David Suzuki Foundation website to check out tips and stories about gardening pesticide free:

 http://www.naturechallenge.org/dmg09/

So, I decided some months ago to not only switch to a natural brand of laundry detergent, but also to one that is packaged in unbleached carton made from 100% recycled material. I’m sure there are lots of brands but this one happens to be Nature Clean. it’s hypoallergenic, you can use it in front loaders, it’s septic safe, biodegrades within 28 days and is the only laundry powder to be certified by Environment Canada’s EcoLogo program. Non of the ingredients are toxic and it actually washes the same as regular brands, if not better! And I think, for the amount of washes you get out of it - 58 loads per 7.5 lbs - it’s even cheaper in the long run. Let me know if you’ve tried something along these lines!

The more I become environmentally and socially aware, the more I see the things around me for what they are. Here’s a link to a great documentary by CBC that you can watch online for free! take the time, it’s worth it: http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2008/disappearingmale/

the documentary is about the chemical revolution, plastics, how they have affected us over the last 50 years, what we’re learning about them today. In essence, we’ve become our own guinea pigs! It’s scary, especially when you think about our children.

What can we do to make a difference. Watch the documentary and let’s talk!