Ask Johnson & Johnson to Stop Using Carcinogens in Baby Products

From our partners:

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released a report revealing that toxic chemicals, like 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde, are in baby products. Both of these chemicals cause cancer in animals, and formaldehyde is also known to cause skin rashes in people who are sensitive to the chemical.

Johnson & Johnson responded by saying "The trace levels of certain compounds found by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics can result from processes that make our products gentle for babies and safe from bacteria growth,” and the Campaign should stop “alarming” parents. Please email Johnson & Johnson and let them know that that "a little bit of carcinogen in baby shampoo is OK" is NOT an acceptable stance! Click here to act http://bit.ly/jjaction.

Sunscreen safety

Turns out that most sunscreens don't protect you and may in fact contain harmful chemicals.

Lots of chemicals used today have not been tested for safety, and those in sunscreens are no different. The Environmental Working Group, as part of the Safe Cosmetics Campaign, has put together a study on sunscreens showing that many of the most popular brands have never been tested by the FDA. It also has recommendations as to the safest sunscreens out there.

For more information, check out the study.

Our E-Waste Problem

Many of us have gotten used to the idea of keeping up with new technology by buying new computers, cellphones, and other electronic gadgets and getting rid of the old. But trashing our old electronics creates lots of new problems, for instance exporting our lead- and mercury-filled machines to poor countries where they are "recycled" by people who have access to little or no protective clothing and releasing those toxins into the air and water. While some chemicals are used in smaller amounts in newer machines, the problem still lingers. States like California and Maine are creating their own computer recycling programs, but it seems up to us consumers to pressure the companies who create our computers to set up their own recycling programs and force them to deal with the problem.

Find out if your computer company has a recycling program, and learn more about e-waste here.

We're in chemical overload

It seems like everyday, there are new studies and articles about how chemical toxins are invading our lives. Even the most environmentally-conscious of us have unknown amounts of toxins in our bodies, and many of these toxins have been linked to health risks such as cancer and other diseases.

Here's a great article from Canada that sums up the issue and talks of a recent study done by the country's Environmental Defense office. You can learn more about the toxins campaign, including how you can remove toxins from your house, at www.toxicnation.ca.