Cancer Prevention

Parabens in Our Lotions and Shampoos

Q
Are parabens dangerous?
Asked by CC • 4 votes

A
Parabens are old-time chemical preservatives – they were first introduced in the 1950s after bacteria-contaminated facial lotions caused a small outbreak of blindness. Today, they are used in a wide range of personal care items – from cosmetics to toothpaste, as well as some foods and drugs.

GreenSpace: More evidence that BPA is harmful

Lowering BPA Exposure

Some studies suggest that infants and children may be the most vulnerable to the effects of bisphenol A. The National Institute of Environmental Health Studies offers these tips for reducing exposure:

BPA Among Toxic Chemicals Driving Up Health Care Costs, Experts Say

Health care spending in the U.S. has surged more than eightfold since the 1960s. Skyrocketing in that same time: Rates of chronic disease, use of synthetic chemicals, and evidence that many of these widely used substances may be wreaking havoc on human health.

"We know that these chemicals are reaching people. We know that chemicals can cause disease," said Dr. Philip Landrigan, chairman of the department of preventative medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

"Those diseases cost money," Landrigan added.

Pepsi One contains higher levels of potential carcinogen, report says

Caramel color is an additive that gives your bubbly soda that distinct amber hue.

But some of the artificial coloring also contains a potentially carcinogenic chemical called 4-methylimidazole or 4-MeI.

Although there are no federal limits on its use, California added the chemical to its Proposition 65 list of carcinogens in 2011. That required any food or beverage to carry a health warning label if it exposed consumers to more than 29 micrograms of 4-MeI a day.

Toxic chemicals in children's clothes, explained

A new report by Greenpeace has found toxic chemicals in a wide range of children's clothing. DW sheds light on what the chemicals are, the risks they present and what can be done about the problem.

The Dangers of Bud Nip in a Compact Sweet Potato Project

The dangers of bud nip, a chemical herbicide also known as Chlorpropham, become clear in a simple yet illuminating message from a young lady named Elise. In the video below, Elise, a slight girl in a blue shirt, is nervous and sweet as she tries to remember her lines and looks down at her cue cards to explain her “Potato Project.”

White Wine and Beer Important Sources of Arsenic

White wine, beer and Brussels sprouts can be major sources of the toxic metal arsenic in people's diets, according to a new study.

Researchers analyzed the diets of 852 people in New Hampshire, and the levels of arsenic in their toenails, which show long-term exposure to the chemical.

Chemicals and kids can be a deadly combination

Surprisingly, children’s environmental health is still a new field. Many medical conditions result from what youngsters breathe in, eat, drink and touch. A recent international conference in Jerusalem discussed the issues.

2013: A year of protests, conflicts of interest and lingering mysteries

It was a year when people were fed up. With pipelines in Canada. Fracking in the UK. Coal trains along the Columbia River. A crematorium and an oil refinery in the San Francisco Bay Area. A waste recycling plant in Ohio. Fluoride in Portland, Ore.

Fashion at a Very High Price

From cheerful red handbags to festive green belts, colored accessories are often mandatory for the style-conscious during the holiday season. But what many fashionistas don’t know is that many of these products may be tainted with high levels of lead — and the brighter and shinier they are, the greater the risk.

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