Good Chemistry: Green Tips for Better Health, from Planned Parenthood of Northern New England

Author Archive

Curbside Leaves—Leaf Them Where They Lay

Ah, "stick season." We're nearly there. The leaves have almost finished falling from the trees. While getting my exercise raking the leaves in the back yard, I also got my exercise learning about the toxins in leaves. Even though those autumn leaves look beautiful, they have some not so pretty secrets.

leaves-in-road2

It turns out that leaves that grow and fall along urban streets have tested positive for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, PAHs are a group of chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage, or other organic substances, such as tobacco and charbroiled meat. PAHs can either be synthetic or occur naturally. The exhaust fumes from cars raise the level of PAHs, which makes the leaves in front of your home exposed and a bad choice for composting.

PAHs can affect your health in many serious ways; they can cause cancer and fertility issues. There is a lot of research on PAHs, many new studies are finding that they can be development and reproductive toxicants, interfering with the development of a fetus and causing harm to your reproductive system. Even more, a recent study cited men with high PAH exposure as having a 53% higher risk of infertility than men with low PHA exposure.

Pretty heavy stuff, eh? As a general rule, don't compost your roadside leaves.  Remember to check with your local solid waste and composting sites about your leaves. And by all means, don't burn them! Does anyone have any further suggestions about leaves?

Posted by on November 2nd, 2009 No Comments

A Crucial Catch: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Last weekend, I went the Pittsburgh Steelers football game and, in lieu of my terrible towel, I got a pink towel.  The pink towel reads: A Crucial Catch, Annual Screening Saves Lives.  October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and PPNNE is encouraging women to make breast exams a priority. According to the Breast Cancer Fund, breast cancer strikes more women in the world than any other type of cancer, except skin cancer. 

Last month at PPNNE’s conference, A Critical Link: The Environment and Women’s Health, Dr. Janet Gray spoke about the growing body of scientific evidence linking chemicals and radiation in our environment to the current high rates of breast cancer. There is a ton of information out there on what chemicals can cause cancer; reading Dr. Gray’s report is a great place to start.
 
The Breast Cancer Fund, with the help of Dr. Gray and the Daily Green, is posting prevention tips on their
Facebook page each weekday for Breast Cancer Awareness Month-check it out.   
 
Here are some of their tips:
 -Choose a bisphenol A (BPA)-free water or baby bottle
 -Drink safe water (not in a plastic bottle)
 -Choose truly “microwave-safe” containers – no plastic or plastic wrap

What’s the old saying?  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In addition to these tips, remember that getting a yearly breast exam is crucial.

 

 pink-towel-001

Posted by on October 9th, 2009 No Comments

Reproductive Roulette

The Center for American Progress recently released a report entitled: “Reproductive Roulette: Declining Reproductive Health, Dangerous Chemicals, and a New Way Forward” and complimentary a fact sheet on dangerous chemicals and on their effect on our fertility.  The author of the presentation Reese Rushing, is director of regulatory and information policy at American Progress.

 

This presentation gives you a comprehensive description of the decline in reproductive health, the chemicals that effect fertility, and gives us clear steps on how to protect ourselves from these chemicals. We highly suggest you take time to read it!

 

Here’s what I learned:

 

-“Average sperm count appears to have steadily declined since the 1930s. Women report an increasing number of fertility problems, including women under 25 and women between 25 and 34. Female fertility problems increased almost 2 percent from 1982.”

 Sperm (more…)

Posted by on July 28th, 2009 No Comments

Maine Identifies Toxic Chemicals

Protecting our ChildrenIn 2008, Maine’s Governor John Baldacci signed into law an Act to Protect Children's Health and the Environment from Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Children's Products. This law is aimed at protecting children’s health from unnecessary and dangerous chemicals in everyday consumer products. It is also an important step toward protecting Maine’s natural environment, as well as women of childbearing age, from the toxic effects of chemicals.


The law requires Maine to adopt a list of priority chemicals of high concern, forces manufacturers to disclose the toxic chemicals they add to products, and authorizes the state to require safer alternatives whenever they are available.  This point is so critical because it finally places the responsibility on the manufacturer, not the consumer.

 

The first list of chemicals has been released and is available on the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s website.  Reporter Meg Haskell with the Bangor Daily News recently wrote about the list.

 

 “At 83 pages, the list includes many compounds whose names would be unfamiliar to most people. But some, such as lead, mercury and formaldehyde, are widely recognized for their toxic effects on babies and young children.

 

Others, such as phthalates, bisphenol-A and deca, have become more familiar in recent years as public health and environmental groups have sounded the alarm about their presence in household goods.

 

Infant formula, plastic shower curtains, toys, cosmetics, furniture and home electronics are among the products that can contain and emit the toxic chemicals.”

 

This list reinforces the concern and need for national reform, don’t you think?

 

Posted by on July 24th, 2009 No Comments

Food and Fertility

I read a review today for the movie "Food, Inc." and it got me thinking about genetically modified organisms (aka GMOs).  We talk a lot about environmental contaminants in cosmetic products, plastics, soaps, etc. and how they affect our bodies and fertility. But what about what we eat and where our food comes from?

 

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) recently issued a position paper calling for a moratorium on GMOs until long-term, independent studies can prove their safety.

 

"Multiple animal studies have shown that GM foods cause damage to various organ systems in the body. With this mounting evidence, it is imperative to have a moratorium on GM foods for the safety of our patients' and the public's health," said Dr. Amy Dean, PR chair and Board Member of AAEM.

 

The report goes on to say: “several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food consumption including infertility, immune dysregulation, accelerated aging, dysregulation of genes associated with cholesterol synthesis, insulin regulation, cell signaling, and protein formation, and changes in the liver, kidney, spleen and gastrointestinal system.”

 

It's time to learn more about the food we eat and it can affect our reproductive health.  Have you seen the movie yet?  Let us know what you think!

Posted by on June 19th, 2009 1 Comment

Homemade Cosmetics

Lately I’ve been thinking about that old saying, “if you want something done right, do it yourself.”  After reading so much about chemicals in shampoo, soap and make-up, I’d had enough.   But I have good news for all you gals out there who like to take matters into your own hands: you can make your own safe, chemical free hand scrub!

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has several recipes for you to experiment with!  Here’s one that’s easy to make (although it’ll be tough not scarfing down all the strawberries!):

strawberries1

Strawberry Hand and Foot Exfoliate

Ingredients:

8-10 strawberries

2 tablespoons apricot oil (you may substitute olive oil)

1 teaspoon of coarse salt, such as Kosher salt or sea salt

Instructions:

Mix together all ingredients, massage into hands and feet, rinse and pat dry. Strawberries contain a natural fruit acid, which aids in exfoliation.

Care to share any recipes of your own?

Posted by on May 28th, 2009 1 Comment

Mercury Thermometer Exchange and Plastic Nalgene Bottle Drop

As you start spring cleaning, be on the look out for mercury thermometers and plastic Nalgene bottles.  Green up your home by eliminating the serious health threats posed by mercury and Bisphenol A (BPA) by exchanging your mercury thermometer and old Nalgene bottles!

thermometer                                                                                                        Planned Parenthood of Northern New England will be hosting a Mercury Thermometer Exchange and Plastic Nalgene Bottle Drop on Saturday, April 18 from 9:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m at the Health Center on 970 Forest Ave., in Portland.

A FREE replacement thermometer from Apothecary by Design will be given out, along with coupons for discounted admission to PPNNE’s Recycling the ‘80s Dance Party on Thursday, May 7.

Posted by on April 18th, 2009 2 Comments

Join Us for Greendrinks!

aprilgreendrinks

Learn about the links between environmental toxins and reproductive health at a series of events designed to bring "Good Chemistry" to Portland (ME). Join PPNNE and other environmentally minded Portlanders on Tuesday, April 14, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. for trivia games, free condoms and snacks, and more at our kick-off Greendrinks event at O'Naturals. E-mail hlawton@ppnne.org to learn more.

Posted by on April 12th, 2009 No Comments