Conservation 101: the Compete to Conserve Blog

photo credit: pfly

You don’t mess with the mama bear. That’s what my husband says when I get angry about an issue that could adversely affect our children. It’s also a major reason there is a rising public outcry over bisphenol A, or BPA, for short.

What Is BPA?

BPA is a chemical compound found in most plastic baby bottles, clear plastic sports bottles, infant-formula cans, drink and food cans, plastic utensils, dental sealants, hospital incubators, dialyzers, and more. It’s also linked to a number of health problems, including (but not limited to):

• Infertility
• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Insulin resistance (a common precursor to Type II Diabetes)
• Early puberty
• Chromosomal abnormalities that can cause miscarriage and birth defects

BPA is so widely used that even those who compulsively avoid BPA-containing products are exposed to it. BPA’s annual production exceeds a billion pounds. It is found in waterways, sediment, estuaries, household dust, and air. In humans, it is found in breast milk, saliva, urine, cord blood, and amniotic fluid. Many researchers say even low level doses of BPA can have a negative effect on developing systems. So, as with most toxins, BPA is of most concern to pregnant women, infants, and very young children.

If BPA Is Potentially Harmful, Why Is It Used at All?

BPA is added to hard plastics to make them less likely to shatter. Anyone who’s ever dropped and broken a glass in the sink is likely to see the merits of a shatter-proof material. In canned foods and drinks, BPA is used as a liner to prevent the ingredients from reacting to the metal in the can.

What’s Being Done About BPA?

Both the U.S. Federal Drug Administration and European Food Safety Authority insist that BPA is safe in the levels that a typical adult, child, or infant consumes. Their Canadian counterparts at Health Canada feel differently, however, and say it may pose a risk to infants. They suggest reclassifying BPA as “toxic” to human health and the environment. Canada is moving to ban BPA from baby bottles and other infant products.

In the U.S., BPA remains unregulated and the FDA is unlikely to take any action. Consumer demand, though, is driving change. Many of the most popular makers of baby bottles now offer BPA-free plastic and good old-fashioned glass bottles. Nalgene, the makers of clear plastic sports bottles often used by hikers and other cyclists, are promising to offer a BPA-free version soon too. And stores like Wal-Mart and Toys ‘R Us are demanding alternatives from their suppliers. (People tend to get angrier when babies’ health is involved, so traction on removing BPA from canned food and drink liners is going slower.)

More resources:

“BPA Q&A,” The Globe and Mail, April 28, 2008 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080423.wbpadiscussion/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home/?pageRequested=all

“Timeline: BPA from Invention to Phaseout,” Environmental Working Group http://www.ewg.org/reports/bpatimeline

“A Survey of Bisphenol A in U.S. Canned Goods,” Environmental Working Group http://www.ewg.org/reports/bisphenola

photo credit: Photocapy

Whether you’re painting or just passing by a recently painted surface, the smell is unforgettable: strong, deep, “chemical-y,” often lasting for days. Paint fumes are caused by something called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a major source of ozone creation and indoor air pollution. It’s also a major reason I’m willing to live with a wall color I hate longer than anyone should have to. Fortunately, consumer demand for no- and low-VOC paint is growing, and so are the choices.

You can buy no- and low-VOC paints online, at green building suppliers, and at most major paint retailers (including The Home Depot, which began offering its Freshaire Choice line this spring).

How “Natural” Differs from No- or Low-VOC

No- and low-VOC paints fall into two basic categories: those made with synthetic ingredients and those made with natural ingredients such as water, clay, bee’s wax, milk protein, plant oils, and mineral oils. (The latter are often referred to as “natural paints.”)

No-VOC (also called zero-VOC) and low-VOC paints made with synthetic ingredients more closely resemble the performance of traditional polluting paints (durability, consistency) and offer a wider variety of finishes (flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss) than natural paints. They cost less than natural paints—typically $30-$40 a gallon compared to $40-$60 or more a gallon—but more than standard paint, which can cost as little as $20 a gallon. You’ll also find no- and low-VOC paints at more retailers.

Why Choose No-VOC over Low-VOC?

The difference between no-VOC and low-VOC is not as simple as you’d think. According to EPA rules, a paint may be labeled no-VOC if it contains less than 5 grams of VOCs per liter. That means some no-VOC paints have no VOCs, but some do.

Kelly Moore’s Enviro-Cote, for example, contains 15 grams of VOCs per liter, even though it’s labeled no-VOC. While I myself don’t consider it a true zero-VOC paint, it’s still quite low when compared to traditional paint base, which can contain 100 grams or more per liter.

Low-VOC paints contain a lower amount of VOCs than traditional paints do (less than 200 grams per liter, under EPA rules). If you’re looking to reduce indoor air pollution, it’s best to go with a no-VOC paint.

Beware: Color Tints Can Add VOCs

Color tints, which you’ll most likely be using, can add even more VOCs, so check that your supplier uses no-VOC tints.

Where to find no- or zero-VOC synthetic paints:

American Formulating and Manufacturing (AFM offfers truly zero-VOC paint)
http://www.afmsafecoat.com

Yolo Colorhouse (truly zero-VOC)
http://www.yolocolorhouse.com

Home Depot (Freshaire Choice line only; truly zero-VOC)
http://freshairechoice.com

Kelly-Moore (Enviro-Cote line only; contains small amounts of VOCs)
http://www.kellymoore.com

Sherwin-Williams (Harmony line only; contains small amounts of VOCs)
http://www.sherwin.com

Benjamin Moore (EcoSpec line only; contains small amounts of VOCs)
http://www.bejaminmoore.com

Where to find natural, nontoxic paints (truly zero-VOC):

Bio Shield
http://www.bioshieldpaint.com

Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company
http://www.milkpaint.com

Anna Sova Luxury Organics
http://www.annasova.com

Last week we wrote about common ingredients in sunscreens that can bleach our coral reefs, where people swim and snorkel. Consumer advocates at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) also warn us about potentially unhealthy ingredients in sunscreen and other personal care products.

photo credit: Aine D

Yet even when armed with lists of ingredients to avoid, it can be a little overwhelming to decipher labels at the store. It’s tempting to take relief in the FDA and personal care industry’s claims that the ingredients used are of no significant harm. That may be the best route. But a growing number of consumers want to better educate themselves on the choices they make.

Here are quick tips you can use to read (and finally understand!) your sunscreen and other personal care labels:

Active v. inactive/other ingredients:
“Active” ingredients are the components that do the real work. In sunscreens, that means the chemicals (avobenzene, zinc oxide, etc.) that protect your skin from the sun’s rays. “Inactive” or “other” ingredients include everything else, from fragrance and preservatives to the components that give sunscreen its lotion-y feel.

UVA and UVB protection:
SPF (sun protection factor) is only part of what you need to know. Some ingredients protect against UVB rays, which cause skin burn, and some others protect against UVA rays, which  have been linked to wrinkles and skin cancer. See EWG’s report for details and specific brand recommendations:
http://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/

The order:
Ingredients are listed in order, from greatest to least: your sunscreen contains the most of the first item listed and the least of the last one.

Less is more:
Fewer ingredients mean less potential to come in contact with harmful ingredients. If you can pronounce the ingredients that’s even better. Some conscious companies now explain in layman’s terms what purpose each ingredient serves.

Watch out for butyl paraben:
What’s suspected to be harmful to the coral reefs is not necessarily suspected to be harmful to humans, but butyl paraben appears on both lists. It’s used as an antifungal.

Look for “-yl”:
This is not a foolproof method as it’s merely a chemistry term, but it’s good for a quick scan. Sodium lauryl sulfate, methyl paraben, butyl paraben, butylated hydroxytoluene are just a few “-yl” containing ingredients you may wish to avoid.

12 ingredients to be aware of:
See the Dirty Dozen Chemicals Guide by Teens for Safe Cosmetics (1 page PDF)
http://www.searchforthecause.org/documents/dirty_dozen.pdf

See how your sunscreen stacks up:
The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database contains detailed ingredient information on more than 25,000 personal care products. If your brand is not in the database, you can enter its ingredients and see whether it contains any of the 50 chemicals of concern.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1

photo credit: mugley

Fourth of July fireworks spectaculars bring communities together, instill civic pride, and wow us with their bright beauty. They also release fuels, metals, and other toxins that can remain in the air and water sources months later.

The problem, it seems, is that the technology powering most fireworks shows hasn’t changed much since the 1930s. Blends of black powder, oxidizers, metals, and fuels are ignited. Then traces wind up in the air and water and spread long distances.

According to a report in the July 3, 2008, issue of The Los Angeles Times, “concentrations of fine particles, or carbon soot, skyrocket for up to 24 hours after the Independence Day shows, reaching levels as high as those from wildfires.” These fine particles can inflame airways, lodge in the lungs, and trigger breathing problems, coughing, and sore throats. It’s of even more concern for those with heart and respiratory ailments such as asthma. Hospital admissions spike when there are high levels of fine particles in the air.

Also troublesome are heavy metals, such as barium, and fuels, such as perchlorate, that the explosions release. Metals give fireworks their brilliant colors, and perchlorate, a cancer-causing and hormone-altering substance, is used as an oxidizer. (Perchlorate is also used a rocket fuel and is increasingly found in our nations waterways from various sources.)

All this said, it’s hard to give up a good fireworks show. As a nation, we love and expect them as a matter of patriotic duty. That’s why some fireworks boosters, like the Walt Disney Company, which puts on fireworks displays nightly at its theme parks during the summer months, are working with scientists to develop with greener solutions.

Now Disneyland uses ultra-low-smoke and perchlorate-free technologies developed at places such as Los Alamos Labs and DMD Systems. The park also uses an aerial launcher with compressed air so that less soot is released.

Now that the technologies are being developed, why doesn’t everyone use them? The answer, as with many environmentally friendly alternatives, is cost. Today, greener fireworks can cost as much as 10 times standard issue fireworks imported from China.

The hope is that as technologies improve and demand for greener fireworks increases, costs will come down. What you can do as an individual, is educate the people you know about the risks and benefits of traditional fireworks, and ask those who put on the displays (local theme parks, city governments, etc.) to consider new, greener alternatives.

More resources:

Along with Beauty, Fireworks a Beastly Mix of Pollutants, The Los Angeles Times, July 3, 2008
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-fireworks4-2008jul04,0,3738169,full.story

Pyrotechnic for the Planet, Chemical & Engineering News, June 30, 2008
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/86/8626cover.html

Chemists Brew Greener Fireworks, Cnet, July 3, 2008
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9983246-54.html?hhTest=1

Eco-Friendly Pyrotechnics, Physorg.com
http://www.physorg.com/news124961394.html

EPA Considers Regulating Perchlorate in Ground Water
http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/ccl/perchlorate/perchlorate.html

photo credit: laszlo-photo

For years we’ve been told by doctors to wear sunscreen to protect ourselves from the cancer-causing ultraviolet rays. Now it seems, this protection for humans may come at a cost. According to a report published in the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences journal Environmental Health Perspectives, chemical ingredients found in most sunscreens can cause bleaching in coral reef and are accumulating in fish and other aquatic life.

An estimated 6,000 tons of sunscreen ends up in coral reef areas where people swim and snorkel. And because 60% of the world’s coral reef is threatened by rising sea temperatures, pollution, and excess UV radiation, the sunscreen issue is worth further study and action.

Here are a few ways you can do your part to limit these chemicals in our oceans and still protect yourself from the sun:

1. Wear a long-sleeved rash guard (swim shirt) so less skin is exposed and less sunscreen is needed. You can find UPF-rated clothing at surf shops or online at Coolibar and Athleta.
2. When not in the water, stay in the shade, so you’ll need to reapply sunscreen less often. Bring a beach umbrella and wear hat.
3. Wear sunscreen with biodegradable ingredients. (This is already a requirement in some protected areas in Mexico.) Avoid sunscreen that contains Benzophenone-3 (Oxybenzone), ethylhexylmethoxycinnamate (Octinoxate), 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor, and Butylparaben.

Brands such as Alba Botanica, Badger, Burt’s Bees, California Baby, and Keys Soaps carry sunscreens that don’t contain the ingredients above and can be found at many natural foods stores. But buyer beware: none of the suggested brands come in an SPF higher than 30, which for those with fair skin, can be an issue.

Coming soon: our own biodegradable sunscreen field test.

More on this topic:

Swimmers’ Sunscreen Killing Off Coral in National Geographic News