As the West Nile virus season kicks into high gear (according to the CDC, most cases occur during late summer and early fall), it becomes more important to protect ourselves against mosquito bites. But you may not want to spray yourself with DEET every day either (I know I don’t!): although considered safe for usage in small quantities by CDC & EPA, some studies have shown detrimental health effects in regular users. On the other hand, mosquito-born diseases like West Nile can be very dangerous. Fortunately, there are two alternatives that provide protection comparable to repellents with low-levels of DEET. First, there is Picardin, which is considered healthier than DEET. And there is an effective plant-based repellent, lemon oil eucalyptus (click here to read more). Of course it also helps to stay inside at dusk and dawn when mosquitos are most active and to wear long clothing is mosquito-heavy areas.
If you aren’t already using mineral sunscreens, you might want to consider making the switch this summer season. Mineral sunscreens protect from the sun by physically blocking UV rays from reaching your skin (hence the white tint that they leave on your skin). Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, work by chemically absorbing UV rays once they reach your skin. Research has shown that several of these chemicals research have estrogenic effects, potentially disrupting users’ hormone systems. Chemical sunscreens also frequently contain a host of other potentially harmful ingredients, including parabens, phthalate laden chemical fragrances, and urea preservatives.
The Green Guide’s Sunscreen Buyers Guide offers more information about the problems with chemical sunscreens as well as product recommendations for mineral sunscreen (I personally use Alba Botanica Fragrance-Free Mineral Sunscreen, available at Whole Foods). Maybe the white tint that mineral sunscreens leave on your skin isn’t so bad after all…
Another good resource is the Environmental Working Group’s 2009 Safe Sunscreen Guide (updated 7/13/09).
If you are health-conscious, you probably give a lot of thought to what you eat. But do you think about the health implications of what you put on your body? Unfortunately, many personal care products contain ingredients that are potentially harmful or about which we have little safety information.
Fortunately, there’s Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Group’s database of cosmetics that matches ingredients in more than 41,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases. Search Skin Deep to learn about the safety of your favorite products.
