Tag Archives | Asthma

What’s That Smell?

February 6, 2013

Stefano Gabbana announced via Instagram that Dolce & Gabbana will release a perfume “per i bambini” — for babies.

I think I just heard you say, “Ewwww! Seriously?”

Let’s skip past the discussion of why anyone would mask her baby’s delicious, natural smell. Instead, let’s review why perfumes and scented products are bad for babies.

Synthetic fragrances, identified on product labels as “parfum,” “perfume,” “natural fragrance,” or “fragrance,” contain phthalates. Phthalates are a group of industrial chemicals that are used in the production of plastic, solvents, and cosmetics. They are endocrine disruptors, known to cause a broad range of birth defects…

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

In the News

November 19, 2012

Do Coal Plants Really Kill People? Why Romney was right. (Slate, 11/19/12) “Coal-burning is bad, bad, bad for your health—and looking ahead, the best we can hope for is that it will get marginally better.”

Making sense of arsenic and rice concerns (Boston Globe, 11/5/12) A pediatrician decides to tell parents in her practice to “cut back on the rice they give their children — and not give rice cereal to their babies at all.”

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

In the News

October 1, 2012

BPA From Cans Messes With Your Ovaries (Mother Jones, 9/27/12) New evidence that BPA can disrupt women’s reproductive systems, causing chromosome damage, miscarriages, and birth defects.

New triggers found for weight gain (Chicago Tribune, 9/30/12) A burgeoning area of research suggests that air pollution, sleep deprivation, and other factors might lead humans to gain weight.

Pets share our environment and our diseases; doctors and vets investigating risks (Environmental Health News, 9/25/12) Dogs and cats suffer from obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and asthma, just like humans. Doctors and veterinarians are investigating common risk factors, such as pesticides, air pollutants, cigarette smoke, and household chemicals.

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

Under the Sink, Part II: EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning

September 18, 2012

I’ve just gathered all our household cleaners and looked them up on EWG’s 2012 Guide to Healthy Cleaning. Before I reveal what I found, a bit of background on the guide.

EWG reviewed more than 2,000 products and gave them grades of A though F, using algorithms to account for hazardous ingredients, possible contaminants, toxic reaction products, and disclosure of ingredients. Grades dropped for acidic or caustic ingredients, violations of bans or limits, and the release of volatile chemicals. Grades improved for products certified as “green” by an EWG-reviewed and approved program.

“A” means extensive ingredient disclosure and low toxicity to health and the environment. “F” means highly toxic or little ingredient disclosure. “C” means no overt hazards and some disclosure.

Along the way, EWG discovered:

• Only 7% adequately disclose their contents.
• 53% contain ingredients know to harm the lungs.
• About 22% contain chemicals reported to cause asthma.
• Formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen, is used as a preservative.
[...]

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

In the News

September 17, 2012

Common plasticizer linked to childhood skin problem (Environmental Health News, 9/12/12). A study shows that children with higher prenatal exposures to the phthalate BBzP are at greater risk of developing eczema before age 2.

Study links phthalates to asthma (Plastics News, 9/7/12). The Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health in NYC found that children between the ages of 5 and 9 who are exposed to two types of phthalates found in personal care products have an elevated risk of asthma symptoms.

Where Cows Are Happy and Food Is Healthy (NYT, 9/9/12) Cows don’t need antibiotics and pharmaceuticals if they’re given pasture and kept clean. Happy cows make healthier milk.

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

Air Quality App

July 14, 2012

The American Lung Association has a fantastic app for the iPhone or Android that tells you the quality of the air anywhere in the United States. It’s called State of the Air and you can download it here.

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

Time to Wash the Curtains?

March 23, 2012

I was diagnosed with asthma when I was a toddler. I wish that made me unique, but 20 million Americans have asthma. Asthma has a genetic component and an environmental component. Like other children with one asthmatic parent, Sweet William and Darling Fergus have 1 in 3 chance of developing it. An environmental exposure might [...]

Read full story · Comments { 0 }

The Clean Air Controversy

March 16, 2012

Moms Rising, Mocha Moms, and Moms Clean Air Force are hosting an Internet radio discussion with Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, about air quality and asthma. Click here to register a question or comment for Lisa Jackson. Click here to learn how to tune in. INTERNET RADIO PROGRAM: Mom to Mom – [...]

Read full story · Comments { 0 }