It's Easy Being Green: Ban the Triclosan!

“Antibacterial” sounds like a fabulous thing, I mean, who likes bacteria? 

We are always taught to wash our hands and sanitize everything. But alas, while in general bacteria is not good, some antibacterial items, are even worse. 

Alcohol based sanitizers and antibacterials (like Purell or alcohol wipes) are fine (in moderation) but many products contain Triclosan, also known as Microban, is an antibacterial associated with endocrine disruption, allergies, and is a possible carcinogen. It is also associated with bacterial resistance to antibacterials.

Triclosan is commonly found in:

• Hand Soap  (I just noticed some Bath and Body Works soap my sister gave me contains it...) 
• Dish Soap
• Mouth Wash
• Toothpaste
• and many other “antibacterial” labeled items including cutting boards, garden houses, kitchen knives, and toys.

Soo what does that all mean? 

Endocrine Disruption: 

• The endocrine system is the hormone system. When the endocrine system is disrupted it can lead to:
• Reproduction problems/ Infertility 
• Changes in sexual development (early puberty, malformation of the brain associated with sex) 
• Impaired immune function 
• Diabetes 
• Cancer 
• Weight problems/ obesity 
• Most of these issues are heightened if the exposure is to a pregnant woman, or woman who will soon become pregnant, a fetus, or a child who is still developing.  However, more research is discovering that exposure to adults may also lead to some of these issues, namely diabetes and obesity. 

Cancer: 

• In relation to the endocrine disruption, especially during development, chemicals, such as triclosan can disrupt how cells and genes are formed. This can lead to cells that are more prone to cancer, and to a disturbance in the cell cycle - as in more proliferation (getting bigger), less differentiation (dividing) and less apoptosis (normal cell death) which can lead to the formation of a tumor. 
• Secondly - triclosan can combine with free chlorine in water which can form dioxins, a known carcinogen. So, even if you aren't worried about your exposure, know that by using anti-bacterials that contain triclosan you are releasing triclosan into the general water supply to create dioxins. 

Allergies: 

• Studies show that children exposed to triclosan are more likely to develop allergies. How this occurs is still unclear. It may be related to over exposure of antibacterials in general effects that immune system, or it may be another mechanism that is currently unclear. 
• Some people are also just allergic to triclosan itself. 

Bacteria Resistance: 

• You've probably heard of bacteria resistance in some form or another. It is often cited as a reason to not overdo it with antibiotics. It can also occur when bacteria are exposed to an antibacterial agent (such as triclosan). The bacteria learn what it is up against, and it can start to change to become stronger and resistant to our antibacterials and medicines. This leads to 'super bacterial' that we have no means of defending ourselves against. 

Here is some dish soap that had been in our house when we moved in.  Ironically, we also have the same dish soap in the staff kitchen area in the hospital.

It contains the dreaded ingredient - clearly labeled! (Ok, it may not appear that clear in the picture, but I did the best I could... nonetheless, if you looked at the bottle you could read the active ingredients and it would tell you.) 

For my alternative to the toxic dish soap - I picked up Planet brand instead: 

It is Triclosan Free, 100% Biodegradable, hypoallergenic, not tested on animals and cleans pretty darn well!  Any other non-triclosan/ non-anti-bacterial product should help you out at least in regards to avoiding triclosan. 

Alternatives: Plain old soap and water work just as well as triclosan laced products. In regards to the other products such as cutting boards, utensils and toys, just wash them with soap and hot water. There is no real benefit to the antibacterial properties, especially when you consider the harmful consequences of triclosan exposure. 

So what to do: 

• Avoid purchasing or using items labeled as antibacterial and containing triclosan. 
• Use other safe ways of disinfecting. Wash your hands in hot water with soap for at least 30 seconds. 
• Beware of items not labeled as 'antibacterial' that may still contain triclosan. Always read the labels! 

Wishing you a very green happy holidays!

It's Easy Being Green: Choose Recycled

"Remember when you throw things away, there is no 'Away'."

There are some items that most of us are not willing to do away with or re-use... one item I think we can all agree with is toilet paper.  

Thankfully there are becoming more and more options for 100% recycled options such as Seventh Generation and  Marcals Small Steps   - you can usually get a good deal on this and they support some great causes. 

My favorite would have to be "Earth First" -- Mainly just because the rolls are bigger and you get  bit more for your money. They also do not bleach with chlorine- which is also a plus. Trader Joe's and Whole Foods also have their own brand name 100% recycled toilet paper which are also nice.. I just do not have any on hand to photograph. 

Now that "green" is becoming trendy there also tends to be a lot of "greenwashing" - or companies trying to make themselves sound more environmentally friendly than they actually are. In regards to toilet paper, Scott Natural  is my pet peeve of green washing. Despite many toilet paper, paper towels and tissues being made from 100% recycled material, Scotts is only made from 60% recycled material. Granted- many toilet papers are worst- and use 0% recycled materials-- but Scott's makes their packaging green in color and claims "Green done right." Thus, they are duping people into thinking they are doing the 'right' thing.  Again, 60% recycled if still better than nothing, so I suppose if it is the only option, sure, its better than getting regular 0% recycle toilet paper, but alas, I still recommend the other brands first. 

Choosing recycled can also be extended to paper towels and tissues and other paper products as well- but the ideal solution is to refuse.  Use reusable items whenever possible, such as washable clothes and towels or a hanky. I know, I know, handkerchiefs sound rather gross - but I've been using them for a year or so now, and they aren't so bad- just make sure to buy a few so you can throw them in the wash when they get icky.

Also: 

• Only print things when you NEED to.  Do your editing on the computer before printing. 
• Print double sided when possible.
• Choose recycled paper as well when possible.

• Sign up for E-bills and email newsletters versus the hard copies. 
• Contact companies that continue to send you junk mail and ask them to remove you from their mailing list. You can also do this through websites like this, but they can charge a fee. 

Until next time- best of luck being green :) 

It's not easy being green

As Kermit the Frog says, "It's not easy being green."

Speaking in terms of being environmentally friendly, it can also feel that way. 

When I was a senior in college my life plan involved: Graduating, getting a dietetic internship, becoming an RD, working for a bit, then going back for a Masters in Environmental Health and combining the sciences of nutrition and environmental health and science.... 

Things did not work out quite as smoothly as that and my plan had to undergo some edits, but I still try to remain abreast and involved in the environmental spectrum. 

Between taking a few environmental and public health classes, and reading books, such as "Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger to Everyday Things" by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie, and "Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry" by Stacy Malkan it can seem overwhelming how seemingly EVERYTHING around us is toxic. Furthermore, I realized how much regulations are lacking, and that the chemical industry controls the show. 

For a while, I became obsessive, trying to avoid toxins and to make less of an impact on the earth. Unfortunately, we do not currently live in a world that supports such actions. We are making improvements and options are out there, but you can drive yourself mad attempting to live a "green" lifestyle. There are, however, many little ways you can make changes to decrease your exposure to toxins and be more environmentally friendly. 

Just like any change, like diet and exercise, the most effective ways to change are by making small, manageable goals.  

Thus- I am going be writing a few posts suggesting some simple steps so that "It's not easy being green." Some of them may not apply to you, and some you may just decide you could never do. But just choosing one, or a couple options to start off can have a big impact. Maybe over time you can add in more green habits :)

Check back for the "It's Easy Being Green" series.

If you are looking for more information here are some great websites:

http://ewg.org/ : The Environmental Working Group does research on various toxins, and helps advise you on better options.

http://practicallygreen.com/  Practically Green: Is a large community touting essentially what I am saying here. It allows you to identify how green you are now, and what you may wish to consider changing in order to be more healthy.

http://safecosmetics.org/  Safe Cosmetics offers information on toxins found in common toiletries you likely douse yourself with daily, and better options available.

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ Is a great collaboration between the Environmental Working Group and Safe cosmetics with a giant database of products with safety ratings.

http://www.good.is/ Offers information on health, the environment, and economy etc. This site features lots of great infographics.