Easy Eco Blog » Kids

Natural Hair Lice Treatment – Eco Friendly, Green

easy eco blog — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Back to school… Having lice in your hair is not fun. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that six to 12 million children, ages three to 12, get lice each year. Some experts believe that these statistics are inflated. Some lice diagnoses is wrong, as dandruff or food crumbs can be confused for head lice.

Schools encounter kids with this problem all the time because lice can easily spread in schools. To remove the lice, most people essentially use toxic pesticides in their kid’s hair which include Permethrin, Pyrethrum, and Lindane. Hair lice has slowly become resistant to these chemicals. Experts recommend parents to frequently check their children’s scalps and comb their hair weekly.

Head lice grow in clean scalps, not dirty ones. They spread only by direct head-to-head contact. Head lice cause itchy scalps, but don’t otherwise harm children.

We found a non toxic product called Licefreee! that uses the naturally occurring mineral Sodium Chloride USP to kill lice.

Some research done in Israel has shown that hair immersed in essential oils such as citronella, rosemary, and eucalyptus repels head lice. Several commercial products have been produced to incorporate these ingredients. Rosemary Tea Tree Lice Repel Shampoo utilizes rosemary and no sulfates to achieve their head lice cleaning formula.

You can whip up your own Pediatrician’s home remedy using 2 ounces of vegetable oil with 20 drops of 100 percent tea tree oil and 10 drops of essential oils of rosemary, lavender and lemon. (Apply to the inner arm for about an hour to test for hypersensitivity first.) Rub oils into scalp and hair and leave for one hour covering with a towel. Comb out nits with a nit comb and use a hand-held blow-dryer for 10 to 15 minutes, before washing out oils. Repeat in seven to 10 days.

Other suggestions include:

Cover hair with a shower cap and heat with a hair dryer.
Soak head in salt water for a few minutes or swim in the ocean
Apply olive oil in your hair for about 30 minutes

Eco Friendly, Green Christmas Tree

easy eco blog — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:00:23 +0000

Fake Christmas tree or Real Christmas tree?

The debate continues on what is the more eco friendly and green Christmas tree. The average live Christmas tree costs about $45, while an artificial tree costs about $80. In 2010, only 23% of US households bought a live Christmas tree, down from 40% in 1991. 2011 projected revenue from live or artificial trees should be roughly equal.

Fresh Christmas tree

A fresh tree consumes a lot of resources and possibly pesticides to grow to a desirable size. It then gets tossed out after the holidays. Think of all the water, pesticides, human labor, and fertilizer that went into growing it. Douglas Fir takes 5 to 6 years to reach maturity. Average Christmas trees take 8 years to grow. Up to 15 years of growing time for just a couple weeks of festivity! Yes it can be chopped up, composted, recycled, and they help with carbon sequestration. You could look also for ‘organic’ style growers. In today’s tight economic climate, consumers are buying cheaper Christmas trees, many four-feet tall or shorter.

Recycling Christmas Trees

In San Francisco they recycle Christmas trees through a wood chipper machines. The chips are transported to Tracy for use as biomass fuel, which generates electricity by heating water to make steam.

Left over Christmas trees have been used to create habitats for baby fish in the East Bay Regional Park District for the last 20 years. The trees are dumped near the edge of a lake and allow small fish to hide from predators. Algae grows from the trees, bugs live in the algae, and fish eat these bugs, with the end result being birds eating the fish. If you’re local district does not have a Christmas tree recycling program, be sure to tell them to look into one.

Artificial Christmas tree

An artificial tree can last many years, but is made with lots of material that is not green nor eco friendly. PVC or plastics could even be hazardous. It is not biodegradable nor recyclable. Most are imported from China, consuming tons of fuel to arrive here. Over the years, quality has improved and with the shifts in demographics, more people are choosing to buy artificial Christmas trees.

An even more eco friendly green alternatives include buying or decorating a plant and then planting in your yard after the holiday. Make a cloth or paper Tree out of materials you already have.

Be sure to use a Tree Timer to prevent it from lighting up during day time hours or in in the middle of the night. Also use low power LED lighting to illuminate your Christmas tree.

Toy Sale Warning – Hazardous Chemicals and Choking Risks

easy eco blog — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 07:00:18 +0000

The holiday buying season is off to a big start, some green oriented information to keep in mind.

The use of phthalates in toys and childcare items has been restricted in the European Union since December 1999 and became restricted from children’s toys and child-care products in the USA starting February 10, 2009 . The law is not retroactive, so stores may have items with phthalates after that date.

Big retailers like Toysrus and Walmart are already following this new standard. So beware of toys being sold during the Christmas season from smaller retailers that might be trying to clear out non-compliant toys or that have no idea what products contain.

In November, 2011 the US Public Interest Research Group tested toys and found over a dozen out of 200 toys that contained unsafe levels of lead, phthalates, and other hazards. There were also some toys that were too loud and could damage hearing. While the numbers of problems is still a cause for concern, the new law has reduced hazardous chemicals in toys.

WSJ.com has details.

Of course, Look for toys with labels on packaging that state they are phthalate-free.

HealthyToys.org has a database of toys and what they contain.

MSDS – Material Safety Data Sheets – What ingredients are in a product?

easy eco blog — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:00:05 +0000

Do you wonder what is in that detergent or cleaning product? How green is it really? What do I do if it gets on my skin?

We have often cited Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDS in our analysis of cleaning and construction products. What are they?

What is a MSDS

They are documents used to describe a products ingredients, what they are, are they hazardous, how to store them, toxicity, health affects, what should be done if there is an accident, regulatory issues, etc. Vendors have to undertake manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal of hazardous materials and chemicals to complete these documents. There are even MSDS docs for things like Mustard gas, VX Nerve gas!

OSHA and the EPA set up regulations that require MSDS documents on certain products.

Where can I find MSDS documents

Often vendors have links to MSDS documents on their website or require you to email them asking for them. This site has links to many MSDS docs. NIH has a database of Household Products.

When checking out the greeness of a product, be sure to look for its MSDS document and READ it.

Food Flu Fighters – Vitamin Benefits? – Natural Cold Care, Sambucus

easy eco blog — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:00:23 +0000

It is getting colder by the day, which means the cold and flu season approaching rapidly. People are stocking their medicine cabinets with vitamins, medicine, and other cold remedies. Hand washing is happening much more frequently, as is the use of hand sanitizers, and the avoidance of crowded spaces. We will examine some remedies that you may not have considered.

Vitamins and Dietary Supplements

Vitamins and other dietary supplements may not offer health benefits and may even cause harm to some people. Recent data has prompted people to conclude that vitamins are a waste of money unless you have a specific nutrient deficiency, medical condition, or illness. The research seems to indicate that vitamins don’t make healthy people healthier.

An article sheds some light on the need to make sure you have a balanced diet with the right nutrients to fight infectious diseases like influenza. Some key information in the article:

Vitamins and minerals are necessary to produce immune cells. If you do not consume enough vitamins and minerals, the immune cells you produce may be compromised, making it more difficult to respond to infections.

Obesity and diet play a key role in not getting sick.

Where to get Your Vitamins

Getting vitamins and minerals from food is the best way for your body to absorb them. Multivitamins are a good addition for many people’s health regime. Always consult your doctor before changing your diet. Some supplements can be toxic especially if taken in large doses.

Dr. Beck of the University of North Carolina performed the study of mice infected with the flu virus. He found that obese mice infected with the flu were more prone to die, as compared to lean mice. He is expanding his trials to test this result in lean and obese humans. Here is another reason to lose weight.

Popping a pill does not work as well as eating right.

We are now looking at expanding our diet to incorporate some of the foods high in vitamins and minerals that we previously ignored.

Nasal Sanitizers

Being near a person who coughs or sneezes can infect you with their cold. Recently several products have been released that help clean the nose and reduce the amount of bacteria in nostrils. These products include:

You can also wear a scarf or other anti-bacterial winter covering to achieve the same effect.

Sambucus, Natural Cold Care, Elderberry Extract

It is cold and flu season. We have been taken Sambucus for years and find it really helps to shorten the duration and intensity of a cold. We take it at the first sign of when we feel that something is coming on, a scratchy throat or slight headache. This supplement contains black elderberry extract.

We’ve tried many other items from Airborne to Iscillococcinum to Chinese herbs. This product is also sold under the trade name Sambucol. It comes in versions for kids and in pill form. Amazon and Whole Foods sell this product.

NIH Medline has information on Sambucus and gives it a grade B for Influenza. As always, check with your doctor before you take any medicine.

Tips to Avoid BPA Exposure

easy eco blog — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 07:00:48 +0000

Bisphenol-a, or BPA is widely used in the making of the hard, clear, and nearly unbreakable plastic called polycarbonate. Studies and tests show that small amounts of BPA are leaching from polycarbonate containers into foods and liquids and possibly causing health problems.

Avoiding the chemical BPA is much harder than expected. Those with young children and infants need to be concerned even more so. The Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act will go into effect on July 1, 2013 in California. Bisphenol A will be banned in baby bottles and sippy cups in California.

Some quick tips to minimize BPA exposure:

Use BPA free water bottles and baby bottles
Eat fresh food whenever possible. Select frozen food over canned food, this includes infant formula sold in cans.
Eat at home as much as possible, to ensure compliance with your goals
Store and cook food in glass containers
Recycle any scratched plastic containers
In general, Avoid food and plastics with the recycling code 3 or 7 on the bottom
Avoid putting hot or boiling liquids in plastic containers
Wash your hands after touching cash register receipts

Breast Cancer Fund recently conducted tests of canned foods aimed at young children. They found significant traces of BPA in several national brands including Campbell’s soup and Chef Boyardee pasta.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a January 2010 update on Bisphenol A that says it many not be safe for children and infants. In its report on BPA, the National Toxicology Program expressed “some concern for effects on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures to bisphenol A.” It appears that young children have immature immune systems that may not detoxify BPA as well as adults. Health and Human Services has a BPA avoidance page.

If you are feeding an infant formula, make sure you are buying BPA-free product. Look carefully at the label and call the company to verify. Only use BPA free water bottles.

Environmental Working Group has a guide to avoiding BPA Exposure. The upshot is to eat more fresh food, use alternatives to canned items, and to use glass containers when heating food in microwaves.

A research article from the National Institute of Health’s Environmental Health Perspectives echoes the issues and studied 20 people before and after an attempt to reduce BPA exposure.

Some interesting tidbits on BPA:

“FDA estimates that babies have 12.5 times more BPA exposure than adults, and EWG is concerned that FDA has seriously under-estimates exposures for many babies. Recent tests by Environmental Working Group and the Canadian government, and a 1990s test by FDA show BPA leaching from metal cans into all brands of liquid formula. Powdered formula appears to be BPA-free, therefore EWG recommends that parents choose powdered formula if your baby tolerates it.”

“Almost all canned foods sold in the United States have a BPA-based epoxy liner that leaches BPA into the food. EWG tested 97 canned foods and found detectable levels of BPA in more than half of the foods. The highest concentrations were in canned meats, pasta and soups.”

“Less BPA leaches from plastic water bottles and food containers than found in canned foods and baby formula. Nevertheless it is good to take simple precautions to reduce your exposure.”

Clear Plastic and BPA

Any product made of hard, clear plastic may be made from polycarbonate unless the manufacturer specifically states that it’s BPA-free. One way to check is to look for the recycling triangle stamp on or near the bottom on an item: polycarbonate plastics should have the numeral 7 in the triangle, sometimes with the letters PC for polycarbonate.

Unfortunately, 7 is a catchall “other” category for a variety of plastic items some of which do not contain BPA. If the plastic is soft and pliable, it is probably not made with BPA.

Microwaving

Plenty states that microwaving items causing BPA exposure situation is even worse. – “Some of the products would be expected to contain BPA, such as a Rubbermaid Premier container with a #7 recycling code, which includes polycarbonate plastic, known to be made with BPA. But to everyone’s surprise (including ours), BPA was also found to leach from containers with recycling #s 1, 2 and 5.” Use ceramic or glass when microwaving.

BPA cash and cash register receipts

Small amounts of BPA were found on one dollar bills. BPA residue is also found on cash register receipts printed on thermal paper. Wash your hands often!

“Because the BPA used in thermal paper is not chemically bound, it is a concern, Schreder says. “We are definitely concerned about these levels of BPA in receipts because BPA is present in an unbound form, where it can easily transfer to our skin.”

BPA has been found in the bloodstream of pregnant US women.

Read more about BPA in Canned in Packaged Foods

Cantaloupes and Lettuce Listeria Fears

easy eco blog — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 07:00:23 +0000

A Listeria fear is happening now. Cantaloupe from Colorado has been traced to Listeria illness and has caused 29 deaths, and has sickened at least 139 people in 28 states. In 1985 a listeria outbreak in California caused 28 deaths and 20 stillbirths or miscarriages.

Listeria is found in soil, water and the intestines of some animals. The FDA is unable to pinpoint the reason for the outbreak, but unsanitary conditions in the food packing facility is suspected of causing the problem.

Listeriosis primarily affects the elderly, pregnant women, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems. See your doctor if you feel you are affected.

Romaine lettuce from Salinas, California, is being recalled due to Listeria.

Be careful what you buy and stay up-to-date on all the recalls. FDA has a good list of food recalls.

BPA Human Study

easy eco blog — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:00:41 +0000

Credit: Washington Post

More BPA controversy. Washington Post via SFgate has some good reports on the AMA study that implicates BPA to possible health issues.

Some takeaways:

Don’t microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers. Polycarbonate may break down from overuse at high temperatures and release BPA. (Manufacturers are not required to disclose whether an item contains BPA, but polycarbonate containers that do usually have a No. 7 on the bottom.)

– Reduce use of canned foods, especially acidic foods such as tomatoes, that can accelerate leaching of BPA from the plastic can linings. Opt for soups, vegetables and other items packaged in cardboard “brick” cartons, made of safer layers of aluminum and polyethylene plastic (labeled No. 2).

– Switch to glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food or liquids.

– Use baby bottles that are BPA-free; in the last year, most major manufacturers have developed plastic baby bottles made without BPA.

Ortho Home Defense MAX Green pesticide alternatives – Roundup herbacide alternatives

easy eco blog — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:00:43 +0000

The Scotts Company sells the popular line of pesticides Ortho Home Defense MAX as well as Roundup. They produce everything from bug killers to rodent control products to Scotts Miracle Grow.

Roundup is a popular herbicide that is used to kill weeds. It is effective because it travels from the above ground portion of the plant into the roots and then kills the roots. The active ingredient is Glyphosate, which is also present in similar products. You need to be very careful in using this product because of all the injuries that have resulted. The Bugman recently talked about this chemical’s problems.

“Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide that will kill almost all plants it comes in contact with, including annual, biennial and perennial grasses, broadleaf and woody plants. The chemical is sprayed on the leaves, where it is absorbed and translocated through the entire plant. Roundup is non-selective, so it kills many kinds of plants, and can drift to unintended plants and harm or kill them.

There are concerns of irreversible damage to plants, beneficial insects and animals, and water contamination due to Roundup. Glyphosate itself is very low in toxicity to mammals, including humans, but it contains a surfactant known as polyethoxylated tallowamine (POEA) that is very toxic…”

Roundup is responsible for a high number of poisoning reports within California, probably because it is so popular. In 1998, California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation concluded that glyphosate ranks first among herbicides as the highest cause of pesticide-induced illnesses or injuries to people in California. Common symptoms of glyphosate poisoning include eye soreness, headaches, diarrhea, nausea, sore throat, gastrointestinal injury, and other flu-like symptoms. Long term toxicity is being probed.

“Glyphosate … is absorbed by the foliage and translocated rapidly throughout the plant” says this study from the Centre for Agriculture and Environment.

“Residues of the commonly-used herbicide glyphosate have been found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. Residues can be detected long after glyphosate treatments have been made. Lettuce, carrots and barley planted a year after glyphosate treatment contained residue at harvest” says Caroline Cox, staff scientist for the NCAP (Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides) and editor of the Journal of Pesticide Reform [43]

Time to eat organic fruits and vegetables.

Roundup is used extensively in farming. There are even Roundup Ready genetically engineered seeds that are immune to Roundup’s effects. Roundup’s owner, Monsanto takes legal action against farmers who even unknowingly plant contaminated seeds. Mother nature never sits still. Years of its use has lead to Roundup resistant weeds.

Ortho Home Defense Max

One of the more popular products sold at places like Home Depot is Ortho Home Defense MAX Perimeter & Indoor Insect Killer – “Kills bugs inside, keeps bugs out!” – It comes in a convenient 2 gal. Pull ‘N Spray so you can zap insects any time. “For long lasting residual control leave spray undisturbed. The product will keep killing for up to 12 months.”

You can to email or call for Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or find it online elsewhere.

Active Ingredients is listed as 0.05% Bifenthrin (MSDS)- It is virtually insoluble in water so it has high persistence in soil (half life = 7 days – 8 months) and consequently it is one of the longest residual termiticide, which can be good or bad. It is highly toxic to fish and aquatic arthropods, so it should not be used where it can affect them.

Australia has some analysis of the chemical showing that toxic to mammals. Australia suggests using more Integrated Pest Management.

Problems with Pesticide Runoff

This article echos the main concern that this pesticide flows into water systems through runoff into storm drains, causing problems for aquatic species.
“High levels of pyrethroid pesticides in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the number one river system on America’s Most Endangered Rivers List of 2009, has been linked to heavy urbanization in the region.”
If you are going to use this pesticide, please do not over use it and do not use it in areas that will drain to the sewer during watering or rain season.

A 2010 San Francisco Estuary Institute report found that urban runoff was more toxic than rural. Heavy loads of mercury and PCBs flowed into the Bay from culverts and creeks carrying storm water.

In August 2011, Roundup pesticide resistant pests were found in Northern Iowa. Monsanto sells genetically-modified corn seeds that are resistant to their Roundup pesticide. These insect-proof crops make farming much easier by allowing farmers to grow the same crop year after year. This violates a basic tenet of pest management, which states that using one method year after year gives pests an opportunity to adapt. Scientists now say that Roundup resistant superweeds have spread to more than 20 states. Monsanto was listed as the worst company of 2011.

The government requires that farmers who plant genetically-modified corn, plant as much as 20% non-modified corn on their farm. Some farms are allowed to plant as little as 5%, possibly leading to other problems.

If you must use Roundup, follow its directions carefully and apply it to a very small area.

Alternative Eco Friendly Green Pesticides

Herbicides should not be necessary for every garden. Physical weed management techniques such as mulching digging up weeds can be very effective. Eco friendly green pesticides include: mechanical removal, suppression with mulches, or maybe spraying with vinegar. If you must use an herbicide try to stick to the least toxic ones that utilize non-poisonous ingredients including clove oils and soaps.

Orange Guard is an eco friendly green insecticide. Alternatives to Home Defense Max: Natural insecticides like Pyrethrum from Chrysanthemum plants (Details), may be better that these chemicals.

Our other articles cover green termite pest control and green indoor pest control.

An Eco Friendly Green Back to School

easy eco blog — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 07:00:09 +0000

It is that time of year. Back to school!

Millions of people flood the stores to buy new clothes, backpacks, binders, computers, etc. Here are some tips to save money and be a little more green. Amazon has a back to school sale.

1) Stick with the same wardrobe. Buying a new set of clothes just to wear something new, is wasteful. Also try hand me downs, thrift shops.

2) Reuse school supplies. Look through your garage and dig up those old pens, markers, backpacks, binders, etc that can be reused. You don’t need the latest commercial fade advertised all over your stuff. Donate unwanted items so others can reuse them. If you need a new backpack buy one with natural fibers and skip PVC based ones. (Usually marked as #3)

3) Buy or use a re-usable lunch bag/box. Also pack items in washable plastic containers, reusable utensils, not throwaway plastic bags. Thermos work great for drinks. Forget about juice boxes, use refillable BPA free bottles. Avoid lunch boxes with lead paint, PVC (Usually marked #7) , BPA, or antimicrobial chemicals.

4) Upgrade your computer, do not buy a new one. Add some ram or a bigger hard drive. Clean off junk that is un-necessary. Defragment your hard drive. Consult our Green Electronics Article.

5) Plan eco friendly transportation. Bike or walk to school. Take the bus. Worst case, carpool with a friend.

6) Buy paper goods with high recycled content. Avoid PVC (#3) plastic. Binders, Binder paper, manila folders, notebooks, etc. At least 30% post consumer waste is good.

7) Art supplies can contain many toxic chemicals so stick to water based paints with natural pigments, avoid polymer clays as they contain PVC. Buy natural brushes and pens with recycled materials. Avoid petroleum products by sticking to soy or beeswax crayons. Water based glues are better than toxic ones or rubber cement.

Pencils should be plain wood, not painted, scented, or coated.

9) Cell phones should be low on the radiation scale and should be used with our tips.

Naked Binder, Eco-friendly binders

Naked Binder makes Eco-friendly binders, folders and tab dividers with sustainability and design in mind. Recycled and recyclable, strong as a bull and 130 choices to match your mood, class list or decor, these are the perfect binder for students or educators who care. Priced the same as most vinyl items.