http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=4437&channel_id=2003&relation_id=11580

(Note: Canary Cosmetics products don’t contain nanoparticles, fragrance, pthalates, petroleum, parabens or lead.)

You wake up in the morning and plod into the shower. You massage shampoo and conditioner into your hair. You scrub soaps and gels across your skin. Emerging from the shower, you may rub on any number of potions, powders, and lotions: deodorant; hair de-frizzers or gels; moisturizers to apply on your face, under your eyes, and on your legs.

Many of you ladies will also apply makeup: foundations, powders, mascara, and colours across your eyelids, cheeks, and lips. Some women may spritz on perfume or some men, cologne. You should, of course, not forget to brush your teeth.

By the time you walk out of the bathroom, you may have sprayed, slathered, and coated your body with over a dozen different products. And if you’ve ever read the back of your shampoo bottle, you know that many products contain a long list of barely pronounceable ingredients. It’s not exactly light reading. Have you ever stopped to wonder about those lengthy, hyphenated chemical ingredients? What are they? What do they do? Are they healthy or dangerous?

Are beauty products only skin deep?

Only about 11% of personal care product ingredients have been tested for safety. That leaves about 9,000 untested ingredients lurking in the personal care and cosmetic products you use everyday. The list of some 10,000 ingredients includes allergens; irritants; and possibly human carcinogens, neurotoxins, and hormone disrupters. Others on the list are just plain puzzling.

Take nanoparticles, for example. These microscopic flecks of metal or ceramics go by compelling names like crystals, beads, or microspheres. Manufacturers have added nanoparticles to over 100 known products, including sunscreens, concealers, and lip pencils. Far from washable, nanoparticles have the ability to burrow deeply into body tissues and travel to the brain and into red blood cells. Long-term health impacts of these tiny metals are unknown and virtually untested. Sounds like something you’d want to steer clear of, right? Definitely, say some researchers.

This is not to say that cosmetics ingredients are an immediate threat to your health and safety, but you should stop and think about your own personal care and cosmetic habits. Remember: all of those cleansers, moisturizers, and perfumes don’t just wash away down the drain. Your body can absorb some of the chemicals, which may accumulate over time, and the long-term impact of many of the chemicals on the human body is still scientifically uncertain.

Until government regulating bodies are required to test the safety of all cosmetic products, you may wish to consider the following recommendations.

Overcome product addiction

Oh, how the cosmetic aisles tempt us. All of those colourful bottles, all those amazing scientific-sounding claims of ageless beauty, and those promising words of wonder - revitalizing, brightening, rejuvenating, enhancing, and contouring. Next time you feel the urge to snap up the latest and reputedly greatest new product, ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” Chances are you already have a half-used bottle of something like it sitting on the shelf at home.

Go to your bathroom and tally up the products you use on a regular basis. If you’re using more than 15 items in one day, you may be a product junkie. Think about scaling back your whole personal care routine. Do you really need to subject your hair to that intense leave-on conditioner everyday and follow it up with a shine treatment and a smoothing serum and a styling gel?

Become a label-scanner

Beauty buyers, beware. The scientists and cosmetic industry reps continue to argue about the health and safety impacts of cosmetic ingredients. While they duke it out, you as a consumer can decide for yourself if you want to use products with some of these hotly contested ingredients:

Organic:
Pick up a product with the word “organic” on it, and you might feel comforted. Ah, you think, it must be made from the pure bark of some sapling tree from the rain forest. Organic is no assurance of purity in cosmetics, and currently no standards govern labels claiming “organic” benefits.

Fragrance:
The word “fragrance” should give you pause, too. In the US, labels don’t have to list the ingredients of “fragrance,” while in Canada, manufacturers can choose to list fragrance ingredients or to use the ambiguous term “parfum.” Fragrances may mask the presence of phthalate, a suspected reproductive toxin. You may also consider freeing yourself from fragrances due to the high potential for allergic reactions and skin irritations.

Phthalates:
Mentioned above, phthalates show up most often in nail polishes, perfumes, deodorants, and hair sprays. Phthalate compounds are sometimes listed by sneaky acronyms: DBP, DEP, DEHP, BBzP, and DMP.
 
(*remember…phthalates found in fragrances are NOT labeled… )

Parabens:
Thank goodness for preservatives! Without them, our makeup and lotions would go rancid. Some preservatives may do as much harm as good. Parabens, a common cosmetic preservative, can cause skin allergies and can mimic naturally produced estrogen, a fact which has perpetuated the fear of breast cancer with paraben use. There are studies that show the presence of paraben in breast cancer tissue, but the proof of the link between paraben and breast cancer is inconclusive. The research has sparked much heated debate. Still, there are many paraben-free alternatives if you’d like to dodge potential risks all together.

Lead:
Lead is a known neurotoxin, meaning it can cause learning and behavioural disorders, and you may smear trace amounts of it onto your lips everyday. In a study of 33 randomly-selected brand name lipsticks, more than half contained lead. And these are big names you’d know. Though the amount of lead in each tube of lipstick is very low, think about how many times you apply and reapply lipsticks everyday. Unfortunately, this is one of those ingredients that don’t turn up on the ingredient labels. So, what’s a glamour puss to do? Seek out brands that note lead-free ingredients or visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website to read more about the issue.

Petrolatum:
Wow, this stuff is in a lot of products - everything from shampoos and conditioners to Styrofoam and gasoline. Yep, the stuff you put in your tank you may be rubbing into your scalp. Petrolatum (or petroleum, petroleum jelly) and its byproducts go by many names, and they have sparked contamination concerns and been linked to increasing the risk of developing skin cancer. In general, petrolatum is considered to be safe in humans.

– By Amy Toffelmire

http://www.grinningplanet.com/2004/04-29/stop-static-cling-fabric-softener-article.htm

Alternatives to the Toxic Components of Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets

Our rich Aunt Regina’s clothes were always the latest things from the top fashion designers. She explained her philosophy as follows: “If it’s expensive and ugly, it’s for me.”

Most of us poorer folk wear more normal clothes, and whether they’re a sight to make eyes sore or not, when we’re done wearing them, they get washed and dried. We put the clothes in the washer, then we put the clothes in the dryer, then we throw a dryer sheet in after them. It’s the way it’s done. Some people also use liquid fabric softener in the wash cycle. All this softening and sweetening is part of Better Living Through Chemistry. Or is it?

PROBLEMS WITH DRYER SHEETS AND FABRIC SOFTENER

Your fabric softener or dryer sheets likely include some of the following not-so-snuggly ingredients:
alpha-terpineol, benzyl acetate, camphor, benzyl alcohol, limonene, ethyl acetate, pentane, and chloroform.

According to the manufacturers’ Material Safety Data Sheets, these chemicals have the potential to do things to you such as:
– cause central nervous system disorders, headaches, and loss of muscle coordination;
– irritate mucous membranes and impair respiratory function;
– cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or drowsiness;
– cause liver or kidney damage;
– cause skin disorders and allergic reactions;
– cause cancer.

One of these chemicals even contains the warning, “Do not flush into sewer system,” and another appears on the Environmental Protection Agency’s hazardous waste list.

People are exposed to the chemicals by breathing the aromatic molecules in the air near the clothes or by absorbing them through the skin via direct contact with the clothes (which, by design, retain some of the fabric softener/dryer sheet molecules).

You may now be thinking of several “buts” to our suggestion that dryer sheets and fabric softeners are not safe. Let’s explore them:

BUT #1: “If the product is allowed to be sold, it must be safe.”

RESPONSE: You’d think so, but it’s just not so. Most chemicals used in household products have not undergone in-depth testing to determine their effects on people, particularly long-term effects.

BUT #2: “I don’t feel ill when I use these products; in fact, I LIKE the smell.”

RESPONSE: Chronic chemical exposure usually takes years to catch up with you, and the negative effects are often subtle and emerge slowly. The connection between chronic chemical exposure and an emerging health
situation may not be obvious. Further, the chemicals used in fragrant products can induce a narcotic effect in humans, enticing you to crave more exposure at the same time you’re suffering the overall negative effects of
the exposure.

BUT #3: “The static cling! Aeeieieee!”

RESPONSE: Yes, while people may be willing to give up the cozy smell that dryer sheets impart to their clothes, static electricity in clothes that come out of the dryer is a problem. Some solutions are listed below.

ALTERNATIVES TO USING DRYER SHEETS AND FABRIC SOFTENER

TIP #1 - The easiest trick is to not dry clothes quite completely. The small amount of remaining moisture keeps static cling from getting a foothold. You can use drying racks to spread clothes out to do their last 10% of drying. If you’re a bit more industrious, you can hang a couple of pieces of pipe from the ceiling in your laundry area. You can then put the drying clothes on hangers and hang the hangers on the pipes.

TIP #2 - Wash and dry cottons and synthetic fabrics separately. It’s the synthetics that cause most of the static problems. Consider not using the dryer at all for nylon, rayon, and other synthetic fabrics. They usually dry quickly using the air-dry techniques in suggested in Tip 1.

TIP #3 - Tips 1 and 2 may not work so well for people without in-home washer/dryers, but there are more solutions to be had:

Vinegar is a natural fabric softener. Use 1/2 cup in the wash cycle. (But don’t use bleach at the same time-mixing vinegar and bleach may create toxic fumes.)

Try a natural laundry soap that has a built-in soy-based fabric softener. Check with your local natural foods store, or shop online. There are also several natural liquid fabric softeners on the market, some of them without fragrances.

Rumor has it that putting a piece of aluminum foil in with the clothes will dissipate static. Even so, you would not want to over-dry the clothes; doing so would still encourage static buildup. (And if your dryer starts picking up broadcasts from Jupiter, don’t blame us.)

You may be satisfied that your adult body will be OK even if you continue to use dryer sheets and fabric softeners, but you still might consider making a change if there are kids in your household. Children’s developing bodies are especially susceptible to the negative effects of chemical exposure.

We may not have been able to help you with your fashion sense, but at least your brain may emerge from its “fragrance fog”!

3 Ways to Build Green

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/yourhome/articles/hazards_at_home_-.html
Protecting yourself from environmental hazards can start with the home itself. The “building green” movement, best known for embracing sustainable materials and designs promoting high energy efficiency, also focuses on creating healthy dwellings, a concept used increasingly in the construction of senior housing.

“Providers are finding that young seniors are increasingly asking them how ‘green’ their projects are,” says Mark Hanson, director of sustainable services for Hoffman LLC, a planning, design and construction firm in Appleton, Wis.
Principles behind green construction include:

Materials: A variety of materials that avoid potentially hazardous chemicals are now available. Experienced green builders can help you choose what makes sense for your construction or remodeling project.

Better air circulation:  Proper venting, filtering and air circulation prevent stale air from building up in a home. In remodeling, says Hanson, fans that move air completely out of kitchens and bathrooms are important.

Maximizing natural light:  This is a plus both for energy efficiency—well-placed, properly insulated windows provide passive solar heating—and for health reasons. Getting enough natural light can help your body set its circadian rhythms.  —RK

——————————————————————————–

4 Air Fresheners
Indoor plants: Place at least two tropical houseplants per 12-by-12-foot area to absorb airborne toxicants, including formaldehyde. Air-purifying plants such as areca and lady palms, bamboo, ferns and spider plants ideally should be placed close to your bed, favorite chair or other “breathing zone.”

Air purifiers: Whole-house air-cleaning systems with good filtration do a better job than stand-alone, portable room purifiers, says John Spengler, an environmental health researcher at Harvard. For even cleaner air, he recommends locating the newer air-to-air heat exchangers—either built in or as window units—in the bedroom, living room or wherever people spend most of their time.

Open windows: Opening windows and doors for about 10 minutes each day—with the heat or air conditioning turned off—will help circulate away indoor pollutants, says Catherine Zandonella, who writes about environmental health for the Green Guide. It’s best to open all doors and windows at once for maximum cross-ventilation.

Air out new purchases: “Televisions, computers and laminate or particleboard furniture give off hundreds of chemicals, and the newer they are, the more out-gassing you get,” says Bill Wolverton, president of Wolverton Environmental Services in Picayune, Miss. “Before you bring these items inside your house, remove all wrappings and let them sit outdoors or in your garage for a few days to reduce your exposure to these vapors.” —Sid Kirchheimer
——————————————————————————–
5 Natural Pest Repellents
Here are safer alternatives to commercial pesticides:

Ants: Sprinkle cinnamon, bay leaves, cayenne pepper or baby powder in problem areas and along baseboards and windowsills.

Cockroaches: Sprinkle equal parts of baking soda and confectioners’ sugar in problem areas.

Mice: Place cotton dipped in peppermint oil near problem areas. Used kitty litter is another repellent.

Mosquitoes: Mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water placed on your deck or balcony or dab lavender oil on your wrists and elbows.

Flies: Small sachets of crushed mint placed around the home will discourage flies. So will a potted sweet basil plant. —Sid Kirchheimer

March 24, 1999
BY MICHAEL WOODS
TOLEDO BLADE SCIENCE EDITOR
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Synthetic fragrances used in perfumes, soaps, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, cosmetics, and scores of other consumer products have become a new and unexpected group of environmental contaminants, scientists said.
The chemicals are accumulating in human fat tissue, blood, breast milk, drinking water supplies, lakes and streams, fish and wildlife, and elsewhere in the environment, according to scientists interviewed here. They are presenting scientific reports at a national meeting of the American Chemical Society.
“I think there is reason for public concern about possible effects of these fragrances,’’ said Dr. Sebastian Kevekordes of the University of Gottingen in Germany.
One compound, musk xylene, has carcinogenic, or cancer-causing, effects in laboratory mice, Dr. Kevekordes said. Another, musk ketone, damages genes in animal experiments and has other worrisome effects.
Many of the studies identifying synthetic musk compounds in human tissue and the environment have been done in Europe and Japan. Dr. Kevekordes said that synthetic musks are used just as widely, or more so, in the United States, where fragrances have been used even in trash bags and product packaging.
Dr. Gerhard G. Rimkus, another German expert interviewed at the meeting of scientists, estimated that 8,000 tons of synthetic musk fragrances are produced annually.
“Oh, absolutely they are used in the states,’’ said Dr. Rimkus, who is with the Official Food and Veterinary Institute in Neumuenster. “Use is probably more extensive than in Europe or Japan. These are high-volume global chemicals. It’s very hard to avoid them in consumer products.’’
Drs. Kevekordes and Rimkus said that American scientists generally are not as aware of the European findings. Dr. Rimkus said scientists and government regulators have lagged Europe and Japan in research on the synthetic musks.
Japan, he said, has banned musk xylene because of its ability to accumulate in fish and other aquatic life used as human food. Western European countries have agreed on a partial, voluntary phase-out of musk xylene, he said.
“On the basis of the precautionary principle, strong endeavors should be made by industry to move in the long term toward cessation of production and discharges of these synthetic musk compounds because of their poor degradability,’’ Dr. Rimkus said.
“It must be possible to do without these substances,’’ Dr. Kevekordes said. They are not essential chemicals, he said.
Dr. Kevekordes cited Dr. Herbert S. Rosenkranz, interim dean of the graduate school of public health at the University of Pittsburgh, as one of the American scientists most familiar with synthetic musks.
Dr. Rosenkranz said he is aware of the European research on musks, but has no direct knowledge of the findings and did not know of American scientists working intensively in the field.
Glenn Roberts, a spokesman for the Fragrance Manufacturers’ Association in Washington, said he has not read the new studies. The association is a trade group representing companies that supply fragrance materials.
He said the studies seem to report information that is well-known to fragrance industry scientists.
“We’re convinced as a result of a very extensive series of human health and environmental studies that there is no risk to human health or the environment from these materials,’’ Mr. Roberts said.
New studies in Canada have identified the same kind of environmental contamination with synthetic musks as detected in Europe, Dr. Rimkus said. He plans to do what may be the first independent tests of environmental samples from the United States, and believes that contamination will be widespread.
Natural musk fragrances from the male musk deer, muskrats, a “musk beetle,’’ and other animals are among the oldest ingredients in perfumes. The scarce, expensive natural musk extracts have been used in small amounts for thousands of years.
In the 20th century, chemists learned how to make synthetic compounds with a fragrance of musk. Use of musk fragrances skyrocketed, and the compounds are used in products that don’t even have the odor of musk.
The compounds can be absorbed through the skin and tend to build up in fat tissue. They get into the environment in sewage and wastewater. Dr. Rimkus said synthetic musk compounds are major chemical contaminants in many samples of water and fish.
Scientists know very little about the direct effects of synthetic musks, and even less about effects of the chemicals formed when musks eventually break down into other compounds.

by James W. Coleman, Ph.D.

About the author
I earned a Ph.D. degree in microbiology from the University of Louisville School of Medicine (USA). I was an adjunct assistant professor in the same medical school for several years. I have extensive laboratory experience working with ingredients used in the manufacturing of cosmetics and personal care products. I have worked as an epidemiologist for the United States Air Force. I am presently doing research on the epidemiology and surveillance of breast cancer as related to the causes and origins of this disease. My approach to reducing the high incidence of breast cancers has the support of elected officials, community leaders, faith-based organizations and University of Louisville professors, including a professor emeritus, University of Louisville School of Medicine.

INTRODUCTION

Some breast cancer patients experience changes in their physical appearance from the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. In the USA and several other countries, breast health advocates have formed partnerships with traditional hospitals, university hospitals, cancer treatment facilities and the cosmetic industry where free cosmetics are given to breast cancer survivors. These free cosmetics are provided by member organizations of the cosmetic industry.

In a hospital setting, free classes also are conducted by licensed cosmetologists on how to use makeup to improve the appearance and self esteem of the participating breast cancer survivors. Some breast cancer survivors are given free haircuts and free makeovers. During class, each participant is given a kit containing an assortment of various types of cosmetics. Because my interest in the subject is of a public health nature, all participating cosmetic industry partners steadfastly refused my repeated requests for cosmetic samples from their kits or a listing of the names of the items in any kit (letters of refusal on file from the respective principals).

Makeup kits in department stores typically contain, in varying combinations, the following products: foaming cleanser, body mist, body lotion, eau de toilette or parfum spray, lipstick, body cream, facial cream, body and shower gel, powder blusher, perfume spray, skin cream, hand lotion, eyebrow pencil, moisturizers, lip gloss and brushes. The cosmetic give-away initiative is very popular among breast cancer survivors. I have read reports of
some women driving over 100 miles one-way to attend the classes. Glorifying articles with testimony from the breast cancer survivors have appeared in the newspapers. On the surface, giving free cosmetics to breast cancer survivors may appear to the unsuspecting to be a grand and benevolent gesture.

For reasons of a compelling public health interest, I think it is prudent to review the literature published in the mainstream medical journals, including The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, on the carcinogenicity and potential health risks associated with the use of cosmetics and fragranced products in general.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

To better understand and appreciate the information presented herein, I think a brief tutorial on how some breast cancers develop may be useful.

Estrogen and breast cancer. Estrogen is produced in various organs of a woman’s body. The role of estrogen in the development of some breast cancers is well documented in the medical literature. A graphic representation and text on the connection between estrogen and breast cancer are detailed on the Web site of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) ( Web site ).

Briefly, the breast cells of some women have what are known as estrogen receptors (ER). Estrogen binds to these receptors, and in the presence of coactivator substances, enters a breast cell. This estrogen-coactivator complex attaches to DNA. The DNA becomes modified and causes the breast cell to grow out of control and produce a malignant tumor. After chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment, breast cancer survivors who are ER+ are treated
with the drug Tamoxifen.

It makes absolutely no sense at all to: (i) have your ovaries surgically removed for prophylactic purposes; (ii) take an estrogen suppressor drug (e.g., Lupron); and/or (iii) conscientiously avoid products high in soy content and then use an antiperspirant - deodorant containing parabens. This is the functional equivalent of wearing an underarm estrogen patch. It is noteworthy to mention that many companies have discontinued the use of paraben preservatives in foods for humans.

Having access to this information should enable clear thinking women to conclude that the use of paraben-containing antiperspirants - deodorants is a high risk factor for breast cancer. All too often, I have read sad stories by lumpectomy victims who said: "The breast cancer has come back in the same spot in my left breast." Such stories support the age-old adage: If you keep doing the same thing, you keep getting the same results."

– That an individual won monetary damages in a court judgment under the Americans with Disabilities Act because of secondhand exposure to fragranced products.

Closing commentary

The incidence of breast cancer is expected to continue to increase with time. Regrettably, it seems the desire for glamour and aromatic fragrances takes precedence over the potential for developing a life-threatening illness. Clearly for their financial gain, the principals are exploiting these facts to the potential detriment and demise of women. When all the scientific evidence is in and when women get sick and then get sick and tired of being sick
and tired, perhaps they will come together and seek some relief through court action. The medical and scientific evidence presented herein is clear, solid, persuasive and compelling. Therefore, breast cancer survivors should reject outright the gift-bearing marketing strategy of the principals.

18. Calle EE, Mervis CA, Thun MJ, Rodriguez C, Wingo PA and Heath CW Jr. Diethylstilbestrol and risk of fatal breast cancer in a prospective cohort of US women. Am J Epidemiol 1996 Oct 1; 144(7): 645-52.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=531269&in_page_id=1770

They found a link between high exposure to everyday products such as bleach and air freshener in women during pregnancy, or shortly after birth, and wheezing and asthma in their young children.

Children exposed to these products had up to a 41 per cent increase in the risk of persistent wheezing by the age of seven, and had slightly lower than normal lung function.

Experts behind the study, which looked at more than 7,000 families and is published in the European Respiratory Journal, are uncertain about which chemicals are to blame, although previous research suggests fumes called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, could be responsible.

More than 1.4million British children have asthma. Rates have shot up four-fold since the 1970s.

The latest study was headed by Dr John Henderson, an expert in paediatric respiratory medicine at Bristol University.

He said small children coming from cleaner homes might be more likely to develop asthma.

"We think that is perhaps due to irritant effects of the chemicals on the child after birth, which may cause inflammation of the airways leading to development of asthma," he said.

"This research points to direct effects of chemical-exposure on lung development or irritation of the airways after birth."

Researchers found the most commonly used household chemicals included disinfectant and bleach - used by more than four in five mothers - and window cleaner, air fresheners and aerosols, found in two-thirds of homes.

Others included carpet cleaner and white spirit.

They found higher levels of VOCs in homes where there was greater use of products such as air fresheners and aerosols.

There was a link between higher exposure of expectant mothers to household chemicals for persistent wheezing in offspring, equivalent to a 41 per cent increase overall.

Lung function was also slightly worse among children of mothers with high exposure before birth.

Comment: Canary Cosmetics products contain no fragrance, pthalates, parabens, lead or petrolatum.

You wake up in the morning and plod into the shower. You massage shampoo and conditioner into your hair. You scrub soaps and gels across your skin. Emerging from the shower, you may rub on any number of potions, powders, and lotions: deodorant; hair de-frizzers or gels; moisturizers to apply on your face, under your eyes, and on your legs.

Many of you ladies will also apply makeup: foundations, powders, mascara, and colours across your eyelids, cheeks, and lips. Some women may spritz on perfume or some men, cologne. You should, of course, not forget to brush your teeth.

By the time you walk out of the bathroom, you may have sprayed, slathered, and coated your body with over a dozen different products. And if you’ve ever read the back of your shampoo bottle, you know that many products contain a long list of barely pronounceable ingredients. It’s not exactly light reading. Have you ever stopped to wonder about those lengthy, hyphenated chemical ingredients? What are they? What do they do? Are they healthy or dangerous?

Are beauty products only skin deep?
Only about 11% of personal care product ingredients have been tested for safety. That leaves about 9,000 untested ingredients lurking in the personal care and cosmetic products you use everyday. The list of some 10,000 ingredients includes allergens; irritants; and possibly human carcinogens, neurotoxins, and hormone disrupters. Others on the list are just plain puzzling.

Take nanoparticles, for example. These microscopic flecks of metal or ceramics go by compelling names like crystals, beads, or microspheres. Manufacturers have added nanoparticles to over 100 known products, including sunscreens, concealers, and lip pencils. Far from washable, nanoparticles have the ability to burrow deeply into body tissues and travel to the brain and into red blood cells. Long-term health impacts of these tiny metals are unknown and virtually untested. Sounds like something you’d want to steer clear of, right? Definitely, say some researchers.

This is not to say that cosmetics ingredients are an immediate threat to your health and safety, but you should stop and think about your own personal care and cosmetic habits. Remember: all of those cleansers, moisturizers, and perfumes don’t just wash away down the drain. Your body can absorb some of the chemicals, which may accumulate over time, and the long-term impact of many of the chemicals on the human body is still scientifically uncertain.

Until government regulating bodies are required to test the safety of all cosmetic products, you may wish to consider the following recommendations.

Overcome product addiction
Oh, how the cosmetic aisles tempt us. All of those colourful bottles, all those amazing scientific-sounding claims of ageless beauty, and those promising words of wonder - revitalizing, brightening, rejuvenating, enhancing, and contouring. Next time you feel the urge to snap up the latest and reputedly greatest new product, ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" Chances are you already have a half-used bottle of something like it sitting on the shelf at home.

Go to your bathroom and tally up the products you use on a regular basis. If you’re using more than 15 items in one day, you may be a product junkie. Think about scaling back your whole personal care routine. Do you really need to subject your hair to that intense leave-on conditioner everyday and follow it up with a shine treatment and a smoothing serum and a styling gel?

Become a label-scanner
Beauty buyers, beware. The scientists and cosmetic industry reps continue to argue about the health and safety impacts of cosmetic ingredients. While they duke it out, you as a consumer can decide for yourself if you want to use products with some of these hotly contested ingredients:

Organic: Pick up a product with the word "organic" on it, and you might feel comforted. Ah, you think, it must be made from the pure bark of some sapling tree from the rain forest. Organic is no assurance of purity in cosmetics, and currently no standards govern labels claiming "organic" benefits.
Fragrance: The word "fragrance" should give you pause, too. In the US, labels don’t have to list the ingredients of "fragrance," while in Canada, manufacturers can choose to list fragrance ingredients or to use the ambiguous term "parfum." Fragrances may mask the presence of phthalate, a suspected reproductive toxin. You may also consider freeing yourself from fragrances due to the high potential for allergic reactions and skin irritations.
Phthalates: Mentioned above, phthalates show up most often in nail polishes, perfumes, deodorants, and hair sprays. Phthalate compounds are sometimes listed by sneaky acronyms: DBP, DEP, DEHP, BBzP, and DMP.
Parabens: Thank goodness for preservatives! Without them, our makeup and lotions would go rancid. Some preservatives may do as much harm as good. Parabens, a common cosmetic preservative, can cause skin allergies and can mimic naturally produced estrogen, a fact which has perpetuated the fear of breast cancer with paraben use. There are studies that show the presence of paraben in breast cancer tissue, but the proof of the link between paraben and breast cancer is inconclusive. The research has sparked much heated debate. Still, there are many paraben-free alternatives if you’d like to dodge potential risks all together.
Lead: Lead is a known neurotoxin, meaning it can cause learning and behavioural disorders, and you may smear trace amounts of it onto your lips everyday. In a study of 33 randomly-selected brand name lipsticks, more than half contained lead. And these are big names you’d know. Though the amount of lead in each tube of lipstick is very low, think about how many times you apply and reapply lipsticks everyday. Unfortunately, this is one of those ingredients that don’t turn up on the ingredient labels. So, what’s a glamour puss to do? Seek out brands that note lead-free ingredients or visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website to read more about the issue.
Petrolatum: Wow, this stuff is in a lot of products - everything from shampoos and conditioners to Styrofoam and gasoline. Yep, the stuff you put in your tank you may be rubbing into your scalp. Petrolatum (or petroleum, petroleum jelly) and its byproducts go by many names, and they have sparked contamination concerns and been linked to increasing the risk of developing skin cancer. In general, petrolatum is considered to be safe in humans.
http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=4437&channel_id=2003&relation_id=11995

Comment: Canary Cosmetics products contain no fragrance, pthalates, parabens, lead or petrolatum.

You wake up in the morning and plod into the shower. You massage shampoo and conditioner into your hair. You scrub soaps and gels across your skin. Emerging from the shower, you may rub on any number of potions, powders, and lotions: deodorant; hair de-frizzers or gels; moisturizers to apply on your face, under your eyes, and on your legs.

Many of you ladies will also apply makeup: foundations, powders, mascara, and colours across your eyelids, cheeks, and lips. Some women may spritz on perfume or some men, cologne. You should, of course, not forget to brush your teeth.

By the time you walk out of the bathroom, you may have sprayed, slathered, and coated your body with over a dozen different products. And if you’ve ever read the back of your shampoo bottle, you know that many products contain a long list of barely pronounceable ingredients. It’s not exactly light reading. Have you ever stopped to wonder about those lengthy, hyphenated chemical ingredients? What are they? What do they do? Are they healthy or dangerous?

Are beauty products only skin deep?
Only about 11% of personal care product ingredients have been tested for safety. That leaves about 9,000 untested ingredients lurking in the personal care and cosmetic products you use everyday. The list of some 10,000 ingredients includes allergens; irritants; and possibly human carcinogens, neurotoxins, and hormone disrupters. Others on the list are just plain puzzling.

Take nanoparticles, for example. These microscopic flecks of metal or ceramics go by compelling names like crystals, beads, or microspheres. Manufacturers have added nanoparticles to over 100 known products, including sunscreens, concealers, and lip pencils. Far from washable, nanoparticles have the ability to burrow deeply into body tissues and travel to the brain and into red blood cells. Long-term health impacts of these tiny metals are unknown and virtually untested. Sounds like something you’d want to steer clear of, right? Definitely, say some researchers.

This is not to say that cosmetics ingredients are an immediate threat to your health and safety, but you should stop and think about your own personal care and cosmetic habits. Remember: all of those cleansers, moisturizers, and perfumes don’t just wash away down the drain. Your body can absorb some of the chemicals, which may accumulate over time, and the long-term impact of many of the chemicals on the human body is still scientifically uncertain.

Until government regulating bodies are required to test the safety of all cosmetic products, you may wish to consider the following recommendations.

Overcome product addiction
Oh, how the cosmetic aisles tempt us. All of those colourful bottles, all those amazing scientific-sounding claims of ageless beauty, and those promising words of wonder - revitalizing, brightening, rejuvenating, enhancing, and contouring. Next time you feel the urge to snap up the latest and reputedly greatest new product, ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" Chances are you already have a half-used bottle of something like it sitting on the shelf at home.

Go to your bathroom and tally up the products you use on a regular basis. If you’re using more than 15 items in one day, you may be a product junkie. Think about scaling back your whole personal care routine. Do you really need to subject your hair to that intense leave-on conditioner everyday and follow it up with a shine treatment and a smoothing serum and a styling gel?

Become a label-scanner
Beauty buyers, beware. The scientists and cosmetic industry reps continue to argue about the health and safety impacts of cosmetic ingredients. While they duke it out, you as a consumer can decide for yourself if you want to use products with some of these hotly contested ingredients:

Organic: Pick up a product with the word "organic" on it, and you might feel comforted. Ah, you think, it must be made from the pure bark of some sapling tree from the rain forest. Organic is no assurance of purity in cosmetics, and currently no standards govern labels claiming "organic" benefits.
Fragrance: The word "fragrance" should give you pause, too. In the US, labels don’t have to list the ingredients of "fragrance," while in Canada, manufacturers can choose to list fragrance ingredients or to use the ambiguous term "parfum." Fragrances may mask the presence of phthalate, a suspected reproductive toxin. You may also consider freeing yourself from fragrances due to the high potential for allergic reactions and skin irritations.
Phthalates: Mentioned above, phthalates show up most often in nail polishes, perfumes, deodorants, and hair sprays. Phthalate compounds are sometimes listed by sneaky acronyms: DBP, DEP, DEHP, BBzP, and DMP.
Parabens: Thank goodness for preservatives! Without them, our makeup and lotions would go rancid. Some preservatives may do as much harm as good. Parabens, a common cosmetic preservative, can cause skin allergies and can mimic naturally produced estrogen, a fact which has perpetuated the fear of breast cancer with paraben use. There are studies that show the presence of paraben in breast cancer tissue, but the proof of the link between paraben and breast cancer is inconclusive. The research has sparked much heated debate. Still, there are many paraben-free alternatives if you’d like to dodge potential risks all together.
Lead: Lead is a known neurotoxin, meaning it can cause learning and behavioural disorders, and you may smear trace amounts of it onto your lips everyday. In a study of 33 randomly-selected brand name lipsticks, more than half contained lead. And these are big names you’d know. Though the amount of lead in each tube of lipstick is very low, think about how many times you apply and reapply lipsticks everyday. Unfortunately, this is one of those ingredients that don’t turn up on the ingredient labels. So, what’s a glamour puss to do? Seek out brands that note lead-free ingredients or visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website to read more about the issue.
Petrolatum: Wow, this stuff is in a lot of products - everything from shampoos and conditioners to Styrofoam and gasoline. Yep, the stuff you put in your tank you may be rubbing into your scalp. Petrolatum (or petroleum, petroleum jelly) and its byproducts go by many names, and they have sparked contamination concerns and been linked to increasing the risk of developing skin cancer. In general, petrolatum is considered to be safe in humans.
http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=4437&channel_id=2003&relation_id=11995

Despite MUN’s encouragement, those allergic to fragrances still at risk

By Kenny Sharpe

This parfume is poison to some. [Photo: Kenny Sharpe]

Thanks to the fear of allergies, peanut butter sandwiches and latex balloons are a high risk in public, but what about your favorite perfume or cologne? Could the spray cosmetic really cause someone to have a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction? The answer is yes.

A female student, who wishes to remain anonymous, stopped by the Muse office last week and indicated that she was sick of people not adhering to the University’s scent-free policy, claiming that she had felt dizzy and almost passed out thanks to a fellow student’s perfume.

MUN has no official, written scent-free policy, but since 2006 the University has greatly encouraged people not to wear scented products on campus. This is in keeping with a 2001 report initiated by the University’s Wellness and Active Living Advisory Committee, which indicated that at the time that four per cent of MUN employees suffered from severe allergies to chemical compounds, like those found in various fragrances.

The policy is implemented through posters and awareness campaigns. The MUN Health Sciences does enforce a scent-free policy.

Dr. Wyatt Jennings, an allergen specialist in the city, said that those people with sensitivities to fragrances are just as affected by their smell as others are to other common allergens, like peanuts and latex.

“People are not allergic to the actual smell itself, but instead the chemical compounds that make up the fragrance … which could contain hundreds of various chemical compounds, some of which your body sees as unsafe, thus the reaction,” he said.

“Those affected by allergens to strong scents live the same cautious lifestyle as those who are allergic to shellfish, egg, or peanut butter,” he added. “They still need to exercise caution, and still need to resort to inhalers or Epi-pens should something trigger a reaction.”

According to Webmd.com, those with chemical scent allergies are prone to everything from migraines, and skin and eye irritation, to dizziness and respiratory problems, should something trigger an allergic attack.

In a recent, non-scientific survey conducted by the Muse, 24 out of 50 randomly selected students indicated that they wore perfume or cologne on a regular basis – a smelly 48 per cent.

Joey Lockard is one of over half of those surveyed who said that they no longer wear cologne or perfume while on campus.

“I was never a real fan of smelling great; it’s bad enough we need to put effort into looking good, let alone smelling good,” said Lockard.

“To be honest, I never really knew about allergies to scents, however I looked into it further when [MUN] implemented their scent-free policy and I started to be more cautious as to when I would wear cologne,” he said. “Since then I have completely stopped wearing cologne, mainly in respect to those [who are] allergic.”

Lockard went on to say that he thinks people are still wearing fragrances despite the danger it poses to those with sensitivities, simply because it appears to be trivial.

“Being allergic to certain foods is easier to relate [to] and comprehend because we actually ingest it,” he said. “I know that the scent enters through the nose or other openings and thus triggers a reaction, but for some reason we think that just because we are spraying our body we are doing no harm.”

Although Lockard may be scent wary himself, he stresses that students who do wear fragrances just need to be reminded more frequently that they should lay off the spray at school.

“Next time you’re in an elevator or wherever and you smell someone’s perfume just let them know what people could die from it,” he said. “Even if you’re not allergic yourself, respect those who are and inform these people who are actually putting people’s well-being in danger.” May 15, 2002, La Crosse Tribune

By REID MAGNEY
Of the Tribune staff

A thick, weed-free lawn is the vision of outdoor perfection for many Americans.
To get that perfect emerald turf carpet, Americans will spend lots of green — more than $4 billion annually on lawn care products. And to wage war on dandelions and crabgrass, 26 million households hired lawn care services in 2000.
But is there a greater cost?
Studies by researchers in Wisconsin and Minnesota are raising questions about health and environmental problems caused by spraying and spreading chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
Government is taking notice. The U.S. Environ mental Protection Agency has recently banned home use of some common pesticides like Dursban and Diazanon, though existing stocks are still available in some stores. Canada’s highest court has upheld the right of cities to ban the use of pesticides and fertilizers on public and private land.
“We just don’t need it,’’ said Barbara Frank of La Crosse, who chairs the Sierra Club’s Midwest Regional Conservation Committee. “It’s better to live with a few weeds in a more natural lawn than to run the risk from pesticide exposure.’’
“I’m a breast cancer survivor, and I get nervous about being exposed to pesticides and herbicides,’’ Frank said.
Joe Bilskemper of Onalaska, owner of Lawn Care Specialists Inc., said proper application is critical. He said the pesticides and fertilizers used by his lawn care company and others are the same products sold retail to the public.
“People are better off hiring a professional’’ than running the risk of applying the products themselves,’’ Bilskemper said. “There’s very little risk when products are applied according to the label directions.’’
But professor Warren Porter, chairman of the Department of Zoology at the University of Wisconsin, said there is growing evidence that lawn chemical mixtures can be dangerous to human and animal health, even when used according to label directions.
Porter’s previous studies have shown that a common mix of agricultural insecticide, herbicide and fertilizer found in drinking water altered the thyroid hormones of young mice, changing their aggressive ness and suppressing their immune systems.
Porter said he will publish a study in July about “one of the most common lawn chemical mixes,’’ that looks at biological effects at ultra-low doses. Porter said he can’t identify the mixture until after the study is published but noted it is one in products commonly applied by both homeowners and professionals in this part of the country.
“The key thing that people need to understand is why it is all these pesticides molecules are biologically active,’’ Porter said. “They have a way to get through the cell wall, or any waxy surface — first your skin and then the cells that make up your body.’’
Once inside the body, Porter said, “the opportunities for effects are really enormous.’’
“If you look at the Materials Safety Data Sheets for these lawn herbicides — and this is what got me looking at lawn chemicals — they are rated as either immediate or long-term, or both, health hazards,’’ Porter said.
A 1996 study done by the EPA and the University of Minnesota has shown that children of pesticide applicators have significantly higher rates of birth defects than the general population. The study by Dr. Vincent Garry, professor and director of the University of Minnesota Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Pathology, looked at more than 200,000 children born in Minnesota between 1989 and 1992. Porter said the study found a significantly higher birth-defect rate in regions of high pesticide usage.
The lawn care industry admits that pesticide use carries a risk.
“Homeowners should be aware that the use of pesticides does pose some risk, and their use cannot be made completely safe,’’ according to an information pamphlet supplied to consumers by the Professional Lawn Care Association of America. “Improper or inappropriate use of pesticides and other lawn care products by either the homeowner or the lawn care professional can increase the level of exposure, which in turn increases the level of risk posed to human health and the environment.’’ Mohamed B. Abou-Donia, a professor of pharmacology and cancer biology at Duke University Medical Center, said new research has shown pesticides are even more harmful when they are used in combination with other chemicals, like DEET, a mosquito repellent. The combination “impedes the body’s ability to get rid of the chemicals,’’ he said.
“If you have to use it, use the least amount that you can get by with,’’ said Abou-Donia, who recently presented papers on pesticides at a Seattle conference. “This is the first rule. The second rule is try not to combine it with other chemicals.’’

Notification list

Homeowners can choose to avoid chemicals on their yards, but what about the neighbors’ yards?
Joyce Arthur of La Crosse is one of 18 La Crosse County families that asked to be on the state’s Landscape Application Registry, so she will be notified at least 12 hours before a neighbor’s lawn gets sprayed. “I wanted to know when they would be spraying so I could stay in the house and not breathe the pesticides,’’ Arthur said.
But staying inside is no guarantee against lawn pesticide exposure, according to a 2001 study by the EPA and Battelle Memorial Institute. The study measured levels of the herbicide 2,4-D in 13 homes before and after lawn application. The herbicide, carried in by pets or homeowners, was detected inside in all the homes.
The study estimated post-application pesticide exposures to children at 10 times higher than pre-application exposures. That’s a concern, Porter said, because fetuses and children do not have defensive enzymes that adults develop to help detoxify the body.
Janet Horihan of West Salem also is on the notification registry so she can close up her house before her neighbors’ houses get sprayed. “I have respiratory problems. My eyes and throat burn,’’ she said. “I have two children at home. When they were younger, one had to go to the hospital regularly every time they sprayed.’’

Ask questions

Consumers should ask tough questions about any pesticide that a lawn service wants to spray on their property, said Stephen Tvedten, a nationally known expert on integrated pest management and the author of the book “The Bug Stops Here!’’
Integrated Pest Management — IPM for short — can have different definitions. Tom Delaney, executive vice president of the Professional Lawn Care Association of America, said IPM practices can include proper mowing, regular watering, aeration, seeding and pH balancing.
To Tvedten, IPM is finding least-poisonous methods of controlling bugs and weeds. “Everything is common sense. My mother taught me IPM when I was about 4 years old in Marsh field, Wis. She said, ’Stephen, shut the door. You’re letting in flies.’’’
Pesticides also make for an unhealthy lawn, Tvedten said. “Because of all the synthetic pesticide poisons and fertilizers, our top layer of soil is virtually dead,’’ he said. “Soil must be alive, teaming with microorganisms or the lawn and/or plants will not be healthy.
If you feel you must kill dandelions and other weeds, there are many safer and inexpensive alter natives to chemicals, Tvedten said.
“Safe alternatives actually work far better, are safer, and more economical than the poisons to begin with,’’ Tvedten said. “For every pest that you can name, I can give you a handful, or more, of alter natives on how to address the issue.’’
Tvedten suggests spraying weeds in cement cracks and along fences with vine gar, or even undiluted Coca-Cola. “Always do this on a hot, sunny day, as this will help kill the weeds,’’ he said.
“There are many, many, many solutions if you just think. You have a brain that is 200,000 times bigger than your insect pests. If you use it, you’ll win. If you use pesticides, you’ll lose.’’ To get a free copy of Stephen Tvedten’s book, “The Bug Stops Here!’’ go to http://www.thebestcontrol.com

Lawn flags

State-required white flags notify people that pesticide has been applied to a lawn in La Crosse. “People have a right to know,’’ said lawn care company owner Joe Bilskemper, who helped write the state rules on notification. “It’s caused an awareness out there, and that’s good.’’

The rules on notification

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has a program for notifying residents before a lawn care company applies pesticides to neighboring lawns, trees and shrubs.
Under the Landscape Pesticide Application Advance Notice Registry program, the company must contact a resident on the “notify’’ list at least 12 hours before applying pesticides to certain designated properties. It’s too late to get on the notification list for this year, but applications for next year can be obtained by calling (608) 224-5296 or writing to registry coordinator, DATCP, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911. A form also can be requested by e-mail at: agriculture@datcp.state.wi.us, or go to the Web site at datcp.state.wi.us/arm/agriculture/ pest-fert/pesticides/lndscp_reg.html.
The annual deadline is Feb. 1, which gives the department time to assemble the names into a booklet and distribute it to lawn care and landscaping companies.
Missed the deadline this year? Consider asking the lawn care company for notification. They’re not under legal obligation, but most companies will honor requests.

http://news.in.msn.com/columns/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1351555

May 15, 2002, La Crosse Tribune

By REID MAGNEY
Of the Tribune staff

A thick, weed-free lawn is the vision of outdoor perfection for many Americans.
To get that perfect emerald turf carpet, Americans will spend lots of green — more than $4 billion annually on lawn care products. And to wage war on dandelions and crabgrass, 26 million households hired lawn care services in 2000.
But is there a greater cost?
Studies by researchers in Wisconsin and Minnesota are raising questions about health and environmental problems caused by spraying and spreading chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
Government is taking notice. The U.S. Environ mental Protection Agency has recently banned home use of some common pesticides like Dursban and Diazanon, though existing stocks are still available in some stores. Canada’s highest court has upheld the right of cities to ban the use of pesticides and fertilizers on public and private land.
“We just don’t need it,’’ said Barbara Frank of La Crosse, who chairs the Sierra Club’s Midwest Regional Conservation Committee. “It’s better to live with a few weeds in a more natural lawn than to run the risk from pesticide exposure.’’
“I’m a breast cancer survivor, and I get nervous about being exposed to pesticides and herbicides,’’ Frank said.
Joe Bilskemper of Onalaska, owner of Lawn Care Specialists Inc., said proper application is critical. He said the pesticides and fertilizers used by his lawn care company and others are the same products sold retail to the public.
“People are better off hiring a professional’’ than running the risk of applying the products themselves,’’ Bilskemper said. “There’s very little risk when products are applied according to the label directions.’’
But professor Warren Porter, chairman of the Department of Zoology at the University of Wisconsin, said there is growing evidence that lawn chemical mixtures can be dangerous to human and animal health, even when used according to label directions.
Porter’s previous studies have shown that a common mix of agricultural insecticide, herbicide and fertilizer found in drinking water altered the thyroid hormones of young mice, changing their aggressive ness and suppressing their immune systems.
Porter said he will publish a study in July about “one of the most common lawn chemical mixes,’’ that looks at biological effects at ultra-low doses. Porter said he can’t identify the mixture until after the study is published but noted it is one in products commonly applied by both homeowners and professionals in this part of the country.
“The key thing that people need to understand is why it is all these pesticides molecules are biologically active,’’ Porter said. “They have a way to get through the cell wall, or any waxy surface — first your skin and then the cells that make up your body.’’
Once inside the body, Porter said, “the opportunities for effects are really enormous.’’
“If you look at the Materials Safety Data Sheets for these lawn herbicides — and this is what got me looking at lawn chemicals — they are rated as either immediate or long-term, or both, health hazards,’’ Porter said.
A 1996 study done by the EPA and the University of Minnesota has shown that children of pesticide applicators have significantly higher rates of birth defects than the general population. The study by Dr. Vincent Garry, professor and director of the University of Minnesota Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Pathology, looked at more than 200,000 children born in Minnesota between 1989 and 1992. Porter said the study found a significantly higher birth-defect rate in regions of high pesticide usage.
The lawn care industry admits that pesticide use carries a risk.
“Homeowners should be aware that the use of pesticides does pose some risk, and their use cannot be made completely safe,’’ according to an information pamphlet supplied to consumers by the Professional Lawn Care Association of America. “Improper or inappropriate use of pesticides and other lawn care products by either the homeowner or the lawn care professional can increase the level of exposure, which in turn increases the level of risk posed to human health and the environment.’’ Mohamed B. Abou-Donia, a professor of pharmacology and cancer biology at Duke University Medical Center, said new research has shown pesticides are even more harmful when they are used in combination with other chemicals, like DEET, a mosquito repellent. The combination “impedes the body’s ability to get rid of the chemicals,’’ he said.
“If you have to use it, use the least amount that you can get by with,’’ said Abou-Donia, who recently presented papers on pesticides at a Seattle conference. “This is the first rule. The second rule is try not to combine it with other chemicals.’’

Notification list

Homeowners can choose to avoid chemicals on their yards, but what about the neighbors’ yards?
Joyce Arthur of La Crosse is one of 18 La Crosse County families that asked to be on the state’s Landscape Application Registry, so she will be notified at least 12 hours before a neighbor’s lawn gets sprayed. “I wanted to know when they would be spraying so I could stay in the house and not breathe the pesticides,’’ Arthur said.
But staying inside is no guarantee against lawn pesticide exposure, according to a 2001 study by the EPA and Battelle Memorial Institute. The study measured levels of the herbicide 2,4-D in 13 homes before and after lawn application. The herbicide, carried in by pets or homeowners, was detected inside in all the homes.
The study estimated post-application pesticide exposures to children at 10 times higher than pre-application exposures. That’s a concern, Porter said, because fetuses and children do not have defensive enzymes that adults develop to help detoxify the body.
Janet Horihan of West Salem also is on the notification registry so she can close up her house before her neighbors’ houses get sprayed. “I have respiratory problems. My eyes and throat burn,’’ she said. “I have two children at home. When they were younger, one had to go to the hospital regularly every time they sprayed.’’

Ask questions

Consumers should ask tough questions about any pesticide that a lawn service wants to spray on their property, said Stephen Tvedten, a nationally known expert on integrated pest management and the author of the book “The Bug Stops Here!’’
Integrated Pest Management — IPM for short — can have different definitions. Tom Delaney, executive vice president of the Professional Lawn Care Association of America, said IPM practices can include proper mowing, regular watering, aeration, seeding and pH balancing.
To Tvedten, IPM is finding least-poisonous methods of controlling bugs and weeds. “Everything is common sense. My mother taught me IPM when I was about 4 years old in Marsh field, Wis. She said, ’Stephen, shut the door. You’re letting in flies.’’’
Pesticides also make for an unhealthy lawn, Tvedten said. “Because of all the synthetic pesticide poisons and fertilizers, our top layer of soil is virtually dead,’’ he said. “Soil must be alive, teaming with microorganisms or the lawn and/or plants will not be healthy.
If you feel you must kill dandelions and other weeds, there are many safer and inexpensive alter natives to chemicals, Tvedten said.
“Safe alternatives actually work far better, are safer, and more economical than the poisons to begin with,’’ Tvedten said. “For every pest that you can name, I can give you a handful, or more, of alter natives on how to address the issue.’’
Tvedten suggests spraying weeds in cement cracks and along fences with vine gar, or even undiluted Coca-Cola. “Always do this on a hot, sunny day, as this will help kill the weeds,’’ he said.
“There are many, many, many solutions if you just think. You have a brain that is 200,000 times bigger than your insect pests. If you use it, you’ll win. If you use pesticides, you’ll lose.’’ To get a free copy of Stephen Tvedten’s book, “The Bug Stops Here!’’ go to http://www.thebestcontrol.com

Lawn flags

State-required white flags notify people that pesticide has been applied to a lawn in La Crosse. “People have a right to know,’’ said lawn care company owner Joe Bilskemper, who helped write the state rules on notification. “It’s caused an awareness out there, and that’s good.’’

The rules on notification

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has a program for notifying residents before a lawn care company applies pesticides to neighboring lawns, trees and shrubs.
Under the Landscape Pesticide Application Advance Notice Registry program, the company must contact a resident on the “notify’’ list at least 12 hours before applying pesticides to certain designated properties. It’s too late to get on the notification list for this year, but applications for next year can be obtained by calling (608) 224-5296 or writing to registry coordinator, DATCP, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911. A form also can be requested by e-mail at: agriculture@datcp.state.wi.us, or go to the Web site at datcp.state.wi.us/arm/agriculture/ pest-fert/pesticides/lndscp_reg.html.
The annual deadline is Feb. 1, which gives the department time to assemble the names into a booklet and distribute it to lawn care and landscaping companies.
Missed the deadline this year? Consider asking the lawn care company for notification. They’re not under legal obligation, but most companies will honor requests.