Second thoughts on Sunscreen

Since I've started work on a farm for the summer, I'll be wearing lots of sunscreen every day!

Did you know that there are controversial issues surrounding sunscreen use?

The Environmental Working Group has put together a great site highlighting some of the studies and controversies about sunscreen ingredients and effectiveness.

After doing some research, the major points I've incorporated into my sunscreen habits are:

1. Avoid Vitamin A, also known as retinyl palmitate and retinol.
Studies have linked this ingredient to faster skin tumour and lesion development when it is applied to skin and exposed to sunlight.
2. Avoid oxybenzone and 4-MBC.
These chemicals are endocrine (hormone) disruptors.
3. Rely on clothing, hats and shade more than sunscreen to protect against skin cancer.
4. Choose a sunscreen with a good score on the EWG rating site.
You can search for your brand and see how it rates!

I started using Green Beaver (a company near Ottawa) sunscreen after I saw it on EWG's Best Of list. It's expensive, but rates really well. The sunscreen is certified organic, fragrance-free, with no nano particles (which are fairly new and lacks research into potential effects). I don't use it on my face as it doesn't really absorb and stays sticky for a long time. A solution for that might be their SPF 15 face cream, which I haven't tried.

I'm curious, have you heard about any of these issues regarding sunscreen?

Shampoo Relapse

I've gone back to regular shampoo!

The baking soda seemed to be causing breakage where my highlights are growing out. I tentatively blame this on the weakened hair that was dyed, but after I grow it all out and have less fuzz I will have to try again and confirm if this is the case.

Meanwhile, I am still using apple cider vinegar for shine and conditioning. As a bonus it doesn't attract bugs the way perfumed conditioner would, which is ideal as I'm working outside on the farm this season!

Better Toothpaste for our Amphibians

I spent a few minutes in the toothpaste aisle of my nearby drug mart today. I really wasn't sure if triclosan, that environmentally harmful ingredient I blogged about earlier, would be found in all mainstream toothpaste or not.

source: http://www.ivyswoodcreations.com/bath_time/frog_toothbrush.jpg

As it turns out, half if not more of the products did not have triclosan. So avoiding the toxin is as simple as checking the front label of the toothpaste box and making sure triclosan is not mentioned. If there is triclosan, it's labelled as a medicinal/active ingredient, next to the fluoride compounds.

Endocrine Disruptors in Cosmetics

Remember the environmental petition sent by the David Suzuki Foundation and Réseau des femmes en environnemment I blogged about earlier? It asked Health Canada and Environment Canada to explain their policies and actions regarding endocrine* disrupting chemicals used in cosmetics.

The government's responses are now online, as well as a follow-up petition submitted in response to the responses.

The follow-up petition alleges "that Health Canada’s response to Petition 310 regarding the presence of endocrine disrupting substances in cosmetics did not take into account the full priority list of suspected endocrine disrupting substances developed by the European Union in a series of studies since 2000. The petitioners also inquire whether the Department actively monitors international developments in endocrine disruption science and policy."

Response to the second petition is pending and will be online in the near future.

*the endocrine system is composed of glands that release hormones into the bloodstream.

Chemical of Concern: Triclosan

Have you heard of triclosan?

It's a common antibacterial ingredient in lots of products you use, from toothpaste, soap, hand sanitizers and antibacterial plastics, and many other things. In the course of us say, brushing our teeth or washing our hands, triclosan ends up in our wastewater. Only some of it gets taken out during water treatment, so triclosan is being dumped into our rivers, and since it also ends up in the sewage sludge from the water treatment process, triclosan is being spread over land that uses sludge.

Health Canada and Environment Canada have just published a risk management document of triclosan in the Canada Gazette. There is a 60 day comment period for anyone wanting to comment on their review and proposals.

They recommend that triclosan be added the Toxic Substances List in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Triclosan can accumulate in fish tissues (so probably in other living things as well) and it has serious effects on algae, plants, invertebrates, amphibians and fish, like reducing their growth, reproduction and survival. According to the government report, levels of triclosan in our water right now, especially near waste water treatment plants, are high enough to harm aquatic life, if they haven't already.


So far, there isn't enough data to say how triclosan may affect humans.


If you've just learned about triclosan, take a look for it in the products you use! Where did it show up? 

There are many effective brands of toothpaste that don't use triclosan, but I'm not sure if these are sold at non-health food type stores (Does anybody know? I'll have to take a look!). 

Regular (not "antibacterial") soap disinfects just as well as the kinds with triclosan.You can use alcohol-based hand-sanitizers instead of triclosan containing ones.

For more info see these articles and quick overviews!

Democratic Detox

Do you know about Canada's Office of the Auditor General's (OAG) Petition process?
I learned about it at work and I'm amazed that I didn't know about this before!

Basically, anyone with an environmental concern that falls under federal responsibility can ask questions to the ministry responsible, and receive a response from them.

As explained on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada's website:

"The petitions process was established by Parliament to make sure Canadians can get answers from federal ministers on specific environmental and sustainable development issues that involve federal jurisdiction. In addition to providing information to petitioners, petitions have prompted such action by federal departments as new environmental projects, follow-up on alleged violations, and changes or clarifications in policies and practices. The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development reports annually to Parliament on the petitions process."

It's pretty interesting to look through the catalogue of previous petitions and read them and the responses from the government.

Here is one I am keeping an eye on; the responses have not yet been posted.

Petition: 310
Issue(s): Human and environmental health, and toxic substances
Petitioner(s): Suzuki Foundation and Réseau des femmes en environnement
Summary: The petitioners allege that endocrine disrupting chemicals are used in cosmetic products in Canada. They are concerned about the consequences this may have on the health of humans and on the environment. The petitioners ask Health Canada how it interprets and enforces the Food and Drugs Act and the Cosmetics Regulations with respect to these substances. They also ask Environment Canada how it monitors the release of endocrine disrupting chemicals into the environment.

Federal Departments Responsible for Reply: Environment Canada, Health Canada

 If you would like more information on how to submit a petition, here's a short video describing the process. The form and more information can be found on the OAG website.

Step 1: The Bathroom Audit

There are approximately 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products today. Research has found that one in eight of these ingredients is an industrial chemical, which could be a carcinogen, pesticide, reproductive toxin or hormone disruptor. I have found nasty chemicals listed as ingredients even in many "natural" or otherwise green branded products found in health food stores. It pays to read the ingredients before buying, but of course you have to know what you're looking for in that long list of barely pronounceable compounds.

The David Suzuki Foundation has a list of the "Dirty Dozen" chemicals to avoid in the products you use (soaps, cosmetics etc.). You can download a list of these to keep in your wallet (although it is pink and girlified, unfortunately).

Auditing your bathroom cabinet and keeping the list handy for your next purchases is a simple way to decrease your exposure to chemicals linked to negative health effects.