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Sunscreen chemicals absorbed into body, found in 85 percent of human milk samples

S. L. Baker
Natural News

Before you apply creams, lotions, cosmetics and sunscreens to your skin, it might be a good idea to find out what's really in them. What's more, you need to know those ingredients aren't necessarily just coating the outside layers of your skin. For example, asNaturalNews previously reported, UCLA scientists have recently discovered nanoparticles in cosmetics and sunscreens can enter and wander throughout the body, potentially disrupting body functions on a sub-cellular level (http://www.naturalnews.com/027603_n...). And now, for the first time, a study just published in the international science journal Chemospherehas shown that a group of chemicals known as UV (for ultraviolet radiation) filters are turning up in humans internally -- and the phenomenon is widespread.

In fact, the investigation, conducted by a Swiss National Research Program called Endocrine Disrupters: Relevance to Humans, Animals and Ecosystems, found UV filters, which are common in cosmetics and sunscreens, were present in 85 percent of human milk samples tested. What does this mean for adults, much less babies taking in this contaminated milk? The alarming truth is, no one knows. 


For the study, during the fall and summer of 2004, 2005 and 2006, human milk was sampled from mothers who had given birth at the University Women's Hospital in Basel, Switzerland. The research participants also answered detailed questionnaires in order to document their use of different types of cosmetic products and sunscreens.

When the women's breast milk was analyzed, tests revealed the milk samples contained a huge list of chemicals including persistent organic pollutants (POPs), synthetic musk fragrances, pesticides, phthalates, parabens, flame retardants (polybrominated diphenylethers), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) -- and cosmetic UV filters. What's more, the UV filter chemicals were surprisingly widespread; they were comparable in concentrations to PCBs, which have long been known to contaminate the environment.

"Research on the effects of endocrine disrupters (chemicals interfering with hormone actions) has shown that it is of utmost importance to obtain information on simultaneous exposure of humans to different types of chemicals because endocrine active chemicals can act in concert. Information on exposure is particularly important for the developing organism at its most sensitive early life stages. Human milk was chosen because it provides direct information on exposure of the suckling infant and indirect information on exposure of the mother during pregnancy," research team leaders Margret Schlumpf and Walter Lichtensteiger said in a media statement.

The analyzed data of the milk samples obtained from individual mothers were then compared with the information collected through the questionnaire about cosmetic and sunscreen use. While exposure patterns differed between individuals, Dr. Schlumpf, who is a scientist at the University of Zurich, pointed out that the total reported use of products containing UV filters was significantly correlated with the presence of those chemicals in breast milk.

In all, a total daily intake of each individual chemical found in the breast milk tests was calculated for each baby who was fed with breast milk. The results showed some infants were taking in daily amounts of PCBs and several pesticides that were far above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reference for supposed "acceptable" levels. Little is known about the healthsignificance of babies drinking in UV filters through their mothers' milk.

In a statement to the media, the scientists noted that information on the relationship between the exposure of human populations to ingredients in cosmetics and sunscreens and the presence of these constituents in the human body has been sorely limited. And before the new Swiss research findings, the data on UV filters being present inside the human body was virtually non-existent.

"This study once again emphasizes the importance of global research on the impact of contaminants in the human environment and the need for continuous critical assessment of our priorities in environmental health and consumer habits. I am sure that this investigation will also spark debate at the upcoming first Environmental Health conference in Brazil, February 2011", Gert-Jan Geraeds, Executive Publisher of Chemosphere said in a press statement.

For more information:
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/au...
http://www.naturalnews.com/sunscree...

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Obsession with killing microorganisms is dangerous for humans and planet, scientist warns

S.L. Baker
Natural News

Using products with antimicrobial chemicals must be a great way to protect your health. After all, you're killing loads of germs while you wash your body and clean your house -- and that's a good thing, right? Not according to biologist and engineer Rolf Halden of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University. In fact, he's sounding the alarm these commonly used chemicals aren't safe for human health and the environment. What's more, they don't even work better than plain soap and water.

The two most popular antimicrobial compounds, triclosan and triclocarban, are now a billion dollar a year industry and are found in a host of personal care products. Triclosan is added to plastic containers, toys and even clothing, too. First patented in l964 to kill germs before surgical procedures, the compound was pushed on consumers in the l980s when antimicrobials were hyped through massive marketing campaigns for "anti-germ" hand soaps. By 2001, a whopping 76 percent of all liquid soaps contained the chemical.

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4 Simple Ways to Minimize Household Chemicals

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4 Simple ways to save money by minimizing household chemicals naturally

Mary Hickcox, RN

Activist Post

We are addicted to chemicals:  bleach, ammonia, window cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, drain cleaner, shampoo, body wash, laundry detergent, fabric softener, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, body creams, shave gel, dish soap, antibacterial spray, deodorizer, mildew remover, and the list goes on and on. We have been convinced that we need these products in order to keep natural odors and bacteria, mold, and germs at bay. 

But the cost is staggering in many ways.  They cause environmental damage, personal harm from an incredible amount of toxic chemicals combined in a day, and finally there's the actual financial cost.  Consequently, in the long run we spend all this money unnecessarily, given our access to easy and natural alternatives.

I'm as guilty as the next person, having spent loads of money on all these products over the years without considering the impact they had.  Admittedly, I even thought people were downright strange for some of the alternative products they were using.  I have slowly been awoken!

Having concerns about the chemicals that we exposed our children to was really the spark for us to investigate further.  We knew what we were doing was not great, but it took some research to really get on board with living more naturally.  I suppose the first step for me was deciding to use cloth diapers for my youngest son.  It was far easier than I thought it would be and it made me feel terrific about saving money and reducing our rubbish.  I began to wonder where else I could simplify our needs.

This year I saw The Story of Cosmetics, which had a major impact on me.  I was shocked by the abundance of chemicals we expose ourselves to unnecessarily.  It really forced me to question what we were doing to ourselves, our children, and the planet. When talking to a good friend about how we could change our ways, she said to me, “well you just do the best you can do.”  At that moment, I realized that I may tell myself I'm doing my best, but I knew that I wasn't, and I knew I could do more.  Most importantly, it gave me the the desire to do better.

The following are simple ways that anyone can minimize household chemicals and save money.  Come on -- you know you can do better:

1. Vinegar and more vinegar

It's easy:  just stop buying all those products to clean your home and replace them all with plain white vinegar and you’ll see a huge savings on your grocery bill. Does it really work though?  I know that it seems crazy, because if it were true surely everyone would already be doing it, right?  Well, I have a very messy family of 5 including 3 boys under 12, two dogs, the occasional free-range chicken roaming in the kitchen, and vinegar still does the trick every time.  It is inexpensive, natural, safe, and kills 99% of bacteria and 85% of molds and germs. Vinegar works great on windows, floors, ceramic, counters, toilets, as a fabric softener, as an ant deterrent, and so much more.  One common concern is if it leaves that sour odor behind -- I can assure you it does not.  We use a 50/50 (water/vinegar) mix to keep it easy, and within 10 minutes after cleaning any surface the smell has dissipated.  It is easy, better for you and the environment, and you'll save a fortune.  I spend about $4 per month on vinegar, compared to over $30 that I was spending on various products it has replaced.  Buying natural (green) products may be a better option, chemically (if you can believe the label), but they typically come with an astronomically high price tag attached. Plain white vinegar is your best bet.

2. Baking Soda

What cannot be accomplished using vinegar can most likely be accomplished using another safe, cost effective item: baking soda.  It is a great odor eliminator and fire extinguisher, so many of us already have some in the house.  The simple ways that our family benefits from baking soda is as a deodorant and as an abrasive cleaner.  For deodorant, simply put some in a Tupperware container with dried lavender, dip a powder puff in and apply after your shower.  My husband was a skeptic and hesitant to try it at first, but after the first day he could not deny its effectiveness.  It's far safer than any deodorant on the market (you can also use a crystal stick, but we prefer baking soda).  At less then a dollar for a two-person month's worth, you will save big by swapping your deodorant for baking soda.  As an abrasive cleaner you can make a paste with a small amount of water, dip a sponge in and scrub away.  Effective, easy, and safe!  To live a more chemical-free lifestyle be sure to keep lots of this stuff on hand; it has many uses.

3. Make your own laundry detergent

Laundry detergent is one of the things that can greatly affect us; it covers most things that touch us and it is one of the more expensive items on any grocery list.  I make over 300 ounces of detergent in 10 minutes and it costs around $4, while Tide would cost $45-$50 for a comparable amount.  I use about the same amount as I would with a normal detergent, so clearly the savings is incredible.  To make an easy, effective detergent I grate a bar of soap (biodegradable, safe, and neutral bar of soap), throw it in a saucepan with a small amount of water, and cook until it is melted (about 5 minutes).  Take 2 gallons of hot, not boiling, water and add the soap to it.  Stir until dissolved, add 2 cups of baking soda and a few drops of tea tree oil or your preferred blend of essential oils, stir and pour into adequate containers.  I find that shaking the detergent before using ½ cup per large load is most effective.  It literally takes under 10 minutes to make, works wonderfully, and not only is safer for my family and the Earth, it also saves me at least $250-$300 per year.  There are many recipes out there on the Web, but I find this to be the easiest and most cost effective.

4. Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap

There are many brands of castile soap out there, but I find Dr. Bronner’s to be a great value for an exceptional product.  It is all vegetable based, fair trade, organic and completely biodegradable.  It's very easy to get as it can be ordered online or found at popular stores like Target. Castile soap can be used for many things, but we primarily use it for showering.  It can be used as shave gel, body wash, shampoo and even toothpaste.  I re-use an old 32-ounce shampoo bottle and put ¼ cup of castile soap and the rest water.  This combination seems to work well, but again, you can add various essential oils depending on taste and effectiveness as well.  It will be a bit more watery then you may be accustomed to, but believe me it works delightfully.  It also has an oil base, so I find that even with my thick hair I usually do not need any conditioner.  The diversity of uses is amazing and at $10-$15 per 32-ounce bottle,  figured with conservative dilution levels, it is far more cost effective than most shampoos or body washes, regular or green.

Take Action

These days we all spend a lot of time on the Internet, so why not spend some extra time researching what you can do to keep your family and the planet healthy?  There are numerous blogs and sites that can offer a wealth of knowledge on all types of natural, easy-to-make and use products.  If one thing you try doesn’t seem to work, then just look up a different recipe and try that; the information is out there we just need to be willing to seek it out and apply it.

All in all, these really are simple changes to make; it is just a matter of setting your mind to it.  I have continually been amazed at how easy it has been to make these changes, and how rewarding it feels to know I really am doing my best to make a difference in my household.  The information may feel overwhelming at times, especially when you see how toxic most commercial products are for you. But if you start simply and have faith that even one change can make a difference, you're on your way.

Change can be a challenge, especially when you are initiating it for the entire family.  Explain to them why it is so important and ensure them it will work and hopefully they will be accepting of your choices.  In my case, as the homemaker, I just implemented them by force -- ultimately to the approval of the clan. If you're a skeptic, then try changing just one product a month as an experiment. Within 6 months you will be able to look what you have done with pride that you saved money and created a healthier household and environment.

Author Mary Hickcox is a Registered Nurse, unschooling advocate, mother, and life guide to three sons (11, 7, 3).

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7 Secret Ways We Are Being Poisoned

Activist Post

The objectivism of the scientific method seems to have been hijacked by corporations who often pay for scientists to support their products, as well as politicians who move through the revolving door between the private and public sector.  Even worse is that sometimes the consumer protection agencies themselves are complicit.  

The trust placed by consumers in scientific studies and Federal oversight committees has been violated in service to profit so that products are allowed to enter the marketplace with reduced safety standards.   The synthetic chemicals we encounter on a daily basis in our food, water, and environment are increasingly shown to be disastrous to our physical and mental well-being.  Volumes can be written -- indeed have been written -- by experts in both mainstream and alternative medicine who have documented the sleight of hand used to hoodwink consumers and threaten our health.  The categories below are worth deeper investigation as prime examples of what we might face as a species if this chemical bombardment continues.

• GMO foods -- Monsanto started as a chemical company that brought the world poisons like Agent Orange and Roundup.  Now they are more well known for their domination of Genetically Modified agriculture, owning nearly 90% of staple GMO crops such as corn, soy, and cotton. In independent studies GMO "frankenfood" has been linked to organ failure, and a recent Russian study has concluded near-total sterility in GMO-soy-fed hamsters by the third generation.  Despite these and many other legitimate health concerns, it is unlikely that the Monsanto-controlled FDA will curb the growth of GMO foods, while the USDA's biotechnology risk assessment research arm has a paltry $3 million at its disposal.  Of course the industry-funded studies show that the effects GMO on human health are "negligible."

• Food additives -- When most of us think of harmful food additives we think ofMonosodium Glutamate (MSG) which is still in many processed foods, but unfortunately MSG appears to be the least of the poisons now found in our food.  In 2008 Melamine was found in infant formula and some food products from China; the FDA went on recordto say it was OK, despite sickening tens of thousands.  Dangerous food additives appear in nearly all processed foods with even the most common food dyes Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 being linked to cancer.  Most recently 92,000 pounds of frozen chicken was recalled because it contained "blue plastic pieces," while McDonald's Chicken McNuggets have been found to have "silly putty" chemicals in them.  In fact, some researchers estimate that today's chicken is so full of chemicals that it only contains 51% actual meat.  

• Fluoride -- Not all fluoride is bad; only the type promoted by dentistry and added to our water and food supply.  Calcium fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, while its synthetic counterpart, sodium fluoride (silicofluoride), is an industrial-grade hazardous waste material made during the production of fertilizer.  It's past history includes patented use as rat poison and insecticide.   There are many blind- and double-blind studies that show sodium fluoride has a cumulative effect on the human body leading to allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, bone weakening, cancer, and neurological problems.  In this case, the EPA's Union of scientists issued a white paper condemning fluoridation of drinking water.  However, as a hazardous waste, it is extremely expensive to dispose of as such.  And here might be a clue as to why this chemical, more toxic than lead and almost on par with arsenic, has been disposed of for our consumption.

• Mercury -- A dangerous heavy metal in its natural quicksilver form, but more so as the neurotoxin, methylmercury, released into the environment by human activity.  In both organic and inorganic form, mercury wreaks havoc with the nervous system -- especially the developing nervous system of a fetus.  It penetrates all living cells of the human body, and has been documented most as increasing the risk for autism.  This calls into question mercury's use in dental fillings, vaccines, and just about anything containing high fructose corn syrup -- a near staple in the American diet . . . including baby food.  But the Corn Refiners Association naturally supports this chemical that is "dangerous at any level."

• Aspartame -- The king of artificial sweeteners was allowed to the market in 1981 when the U.S. Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Arthur Hull Hayes, overruled FDA panel suggestions, as well as consumer concerns.  Aspartame is a neurotoxin that interacts with natural organisms, as well as synthetic medications, producing a wide range of proven disorders and syndromes.  So who installed this commissioner that would rule against scientists and the public?  Donald Rumsfeld, CEO of G.D. Searle; the maker of Aspartame.  Rumsfeld was on Reagan's transition team, and the day after Reagan took office he appointed the new FDA Commissioner in order to "call in his markers" with one of the most egregious cases of profit-over-safety ever recorded.  Aspartame is now nearly ubiquitous, moving beyond sugarless products and into general foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and even products for children.  It recently has been renamed to the more pleasant sounding AminoSweet.

• Personal care and cleaning products -- Everyday household items and cosmetic products are applied directly to the skin, absorbed through the scalp, and inhaled.  TheStory of Cosmetics uses an animated video to tell a haunting tale of industrial violations and complicit "public safety" groups . . . and still only tells half of that story.   The list ofcommon products and their chemical components is encyclopedic.  The sum total of the overwhelming presence of these chemicals has been linked to nearly every allergy, chronic affliction, and disease known to man.  Most recently, household cleaning products have been linked to breast cancer and ADHD in children.

• Airborne pollutants -- In a NASA article titled "Airborne Pollutants Know No Borders" they stated that, "Any substance introduced into the atmosphere has the potential to circle the Earth." The jet streamindeed connects all of us. There is one category of airborne pollution that has been conspiracy theory despite a voluminous number of unclassified documents from 1977 Senate hearings:  chemical spraying (chemtrails) by both private and commercial aircraft.  Recent admissions by public officials strengthen the case.  Fallout from these chemical trails has been tested and shows very high levels of barium and aluminum.  Interesting to note that Monsanto announced that they recently developed an aluminum-resistant gene to be introduced.  Chemtrails might seem like abject paranoia, but there is a current example of chemical spraying that is undeniable: thespraying of Corexit oil dispersant over the Gulf.  This process of aerial application can be likened to crop-dusting, which we know has been going on for nearly 100 years.  Wars abroad even seem to be affecting global air quality, as military munitions such asdepleted uranium have entered the upper atmosphere, spreading around the planet.  Theobservable effects of depleted uranium are not pleasant.  Airborne pollutants have been linked to allergies, genetic mutations, and infertility.  

This is all leading to scientific, governmental, and medical management of the health and rights of the individual.  It is ironic (or coincidental) that when one becomes sick due to the unnatural products listed above, the mainstream medical establishment aims to treat the afflictions with more unnatural chemicals.  Furthermore, some of the people at high levels of American government and academia such as John P. Holdren, the current White House Science Czar, have advocated population control via "pollution particles" as far back as 1977 in books such as Ecoscience.  Holdren's views of humanity could make one question the intentionality of the poisons in our environment.

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