Sunscreen Safety

It's only April, but with the ridiculously nice weather so far this spring, the kiddos have been playing outside in shorts & short-sleeves...which means it's time to think about sunscreen! I don't know about you, but I find it very confusing to pick a good sunscreen...and by "good" I mean one that protects from the sun AND is safe for our bodies!!

According to the Environmental Working Group's 2009 Sunscreen Investigation:

• Of nearly 500 name-brand sunscreens, 40% do not adequately protect skin from sun damage OR contain hazardous chemicals - OR BOTH.
• Some of the worst offenders are leading brands like Coppertone, Banana Boat, and Neutrogena.
• Twenty-one (21) sunscreens claiming SPFs from 55-100+ might tempt you to stay out longer in the sun, but they block just 1 to 2% more sunburn rays than an SPF 30 sunscreen.
• Four percent of high SPF sunscreens (SPF of at least 30) protect only from sunburn (UVB radiation), and provide poor protection from UVA, the sun rays linked to skin damage and aging, immune system problems, and potentially skin cancer.

It's helpful to understand that there are 2 different types of active ingredients in sunscreen:

• Mineral or "physical" blockers which reflect and scatter UV rays. The most common and effective physical blockers are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. According to the EWG, "little to no zinc and titanium absorb through the skin, and they provide stable UVA protection relative to the other ingredients."
• Chemical blockers which absorb and disperse UV rays. A common chemical blocker is oxybenzone (also listed as benzophenone-3), but is rated poorly by EWG due "to high absorption through skin, high rates of allergic reactions, and growing concerns about hormone disruption."
  

Mineral blockers are often rated highly because they are very effective in blocking both UVA and UVB rays and because of their low health hazard, but many people dislike them because they can be hard to rub in (and who wants to look like a ghost?). To counteract this, many sunscreens contain nano-sized particles of these mineral blockers, which unfortunately have not been fully studied for health effects yet!

So, just because an active ingredient is a 'physical blocker' doesn't necessarily mean it is effective or safe. Likewise, just because an active ingredient is a 'chemical blocker' doesn't necessarily mean it's dangerous! See...it's not just me...it IS confusing!!!

What's the bottom line?

• Avoid oxybenzone & benzophenone-3, since these are known endrocrine disruptors & easily absorbed by the skin. Also linked to allergic reactions & cancer.
  
• Opt for mineral-based sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium oxide (at least 7%), but avoid nano-sized versions of these 'good' ingredients
• Avoid powder and spray sunscreens, due to concerns about inhalation of small particles
• Avoid synthetic fragrances
• Avoid sunscreen-bug repellent combination products, as they can result in over-exposure to repellent ingredients due to frequent reapplication of sunscreen
• Aim for an SPF of at least 30, but be aware that super-high SPFs may give you a false sense of safety.
• Look for both UVA and UVB protection to provide broad band protection.
  

Best Bets, according to the Environmental Working Group:
from their 2009 report...an update for 2010 will be available soon!

1. Loving Naturals Sunscreen, SPF 30+
2. Badger Sunscreen Face Stick, SPF 30+, Unscented
3. Heiko Kids, 40 SPF
4. thinkbaby sunscreen, SPF 30+
5. Trukid Sunny Days Face & Body Stick, SPF 30+
6. Beyond Coastal Lip & Face Screen, SPF 30
7. Purple Prairie Botanicals Sunstick, SPF 30
8. Soleo/Wyland Organics All Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30+
9. Lavera Sunscreen Neutral, SPF 40
10. All Terrain TerraSport Performacne Sunscreen, SPF 30

If you really dislike mineral sunscreens, click here for a list of EWG's top rated non-mineral sunscreens.

Curious how your current favorites rate?? Check out Skin Deep SEARCHABLE Safe Cosmetic Database and get detailed information on all of the ingredients in your current favorites - for sunscreen, cosmetics, bath products & more! You can search by product, ingredient or company! Super handy. (I just wish they had an iPhone app with this info!)

Stay tuned here for a future blog post on cosmetics!

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) sign-up time!

According to an Iowa State University study, the typical American meal contains, on average, ingredients from at least five countries outside the United States! That’s a ridiculous amount of mileage for that carrot or potato to travel to get to your plate, resulting in increased fossil fuel use, carbon emissions, and the extra processing required to keep this so-called “fresh” produce looking that way after its long journey.

What to do? Join the Community Supported Agriculture movement this summer (some run through fall and winter too), and you can enjoy fresh-off-the-farm produce from a local source. Each CSA program varies, but generally speaking, you buy a share, and in return, the farm you choose provides a weekly share of its bounty to a local drop-site.

Veggies and greens that were in the soil that morning can be on your plate by dinner, with half the fun being the new foods that may appear in your share box, like kale, kohlrabi, chard or delicate squash! CSAs foster a closer connection with your food (now you know where and how it was grown), a heightened sense of seasonality – strawberries in June, tomatoes in mid-summer, and sweet corn in August - and better tasting food.

Joining a CSA will also save you money. A recent Massachusetts study found that a $470 share was equivalent to $700 worth of conventionally purchased produce. Yet, farmers actually receive a greater return when they’re supported directly.

A typical share of approximately ¾ of a bushel of produce delivered weekly for 18-20 weeks will cost between $500-$700, although there is significant variation from farm to farm. A Minnesota CSA Directory is available online through the Minnesota Land Stewardship Project, so check the farm websites for details on the types of produce offered, the length of the delivery season, subscription options, and drop-off locations.

And keep in mind that a single CSA share can be a lot for one kitchen. To avoid wasting food, consider splitting a share with a friend or opting for a half-share (offered by some farms). Read carefully the description of how much food—and what types of foods (some farms even offer fruit, cheese, meat, and coffee) are typically delivered to help you make that decision.

Check out this list of CSAs with metro-area drop-sites to get a taste of the variety and option available! Some may already be sold out!!

• Big River Farms: veggies & greens, plus option for fruit share and chicken, weekly deliveries, Jun-Oct (18 weeks), with option for fall extension. Barter boxes avail. Nonprofit that provides immigrant training, $535. http://mnfoodassociation.org
  
• Driftless Organics: veggies & greens, weekly deliveries, plus option for every other week delivery, Jun-Oct (20 weeks), with option for fall extension. $575. http://www.driftlessorganics.com
  
• Earth Dance Farm: veggies, greens & fruit, with optional egg share, weekly delivery with limited home delivery, mid-June-Oct, $525. http://www.earthdancefarm.net
• Grass Run Farm: grass-fed meat, 5 monthly deliveries, May- Sept, $500, http://www.grassrunfarm.com/
  
• Harmony Valley: veggies, plus options for fruit, coffee, & cheese shares, weekly or bi-weekly deliveries, mid-June-Oct (20 weeks), with options for fall & winter extension, $700. http://www.harmonyvalleyfarm.com
  
• Laughing Stalk Farmstead: veggies, greens & some fruit, unique Build Your Own Box (BYOB) structure…you pick whatever & how much from their weekly market stand, once or twice a week, $200-$400. http://laughingstalkfarmstead.blogspot.com
• North Creek Community Farm: veggies & greens, weekly deliveries, Jun-Oct (18 weeks), $550. http://www.northcreekcommunityfarm.com/
  
• Treasured Haven: veggies & greens, plus option to get more of your favorites, weekly or bi-weekly deliveries, mid-June-Oct (18 weeks), offers multiple share sizes (small, basic, large, bulk), $440 http://www.treasuredhavenfarm.com

Sources:
Lang, Tim. 2001. “Food Safety and Public Health: Will the Crisis Ever End?” Cardiff Law School Public LectureSeries: 4. Thames Valley University., cited in http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/pubs/staff/files/food_travel072103.pdf
http://www.cuesa.org/sustainable_ag/issues/foodtravel.php
http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/eatlocal/
http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/csa.html

Earth Day Kid Book List

Happy Earth Day! Here's a short book list to help get kids interested in Earth Day & environmental issues! Some old favorites, some new ones...

• The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss. A classic.
• Michael Recycle, by Ellie Bethel, illustrated by Alexandre Colombo. A new green super-hero!
• We are Extremely Very Good Recyclers (featuring Charlie & Lola), by Lauren Child
• We Planted a Tree, by Diane Muldrow, illustrated by Bob Staake
• The Curious Garden, by Peter Brown
• The EARTH Book, by Todd Parr
• Sesame Street's Let's Help the Earth (a pop-up book)
• Curious George Plants a Tree
• One Child, One Planet, inspiration for the young conservationist, by Bridget McGovern Llewellyn
• Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth, by Mary McKenna Siddals.
• The Waterhole, by Graeme Base
• Earth Smart Crafts: Transform toss-away items into fun accessories, gifts, room decor & more! by American Girl
  

Some of these books are even printed on recycled paper with soy ink!

The links in the above list are to descriptions from Amazon.com, but try to purchase from a locally owned bookstore like Linden Hills own Wild Rumpus instead of a big chain or online, and save the environmental costs associated with shipping!

What are your favorites??

The Blog is BACK

Just in time for Earth Day 2010, I'm pleased to announce that the EcoParents Blog is BACK...after a hiatus of about two months due to just general life craziness! Apologies...

I'm aiming for at least 3 blog entries per week, so check back often to find out about green living, eco-friendly products, events, and other happenings!! If you know of an upcoming event or anything blog-worthy...shoot me an email at ecoparents@lindenhills.org and let me know the details.

Follow me on my gardening adventures this summer, as we make our first real attempt at a vegetable garden! Step 1 is building raised beds this weekend. Stay tuned... :-)

It's good to be back!