Disinfecting wipes are loaded with pesticides

The choice to employ antibacterial and disinfecting wipes to clean dirty surfaces seems like a no-brainer. Not only are wipes convenient to use, fairly inexpensive and pleasantly scented, but they give the user the reassuring conviction that pathogens and dangerous microbes are being killed.

For most unsuspecting buyers of these wipes, that would seem like a win-win scenario, right? Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth!

Exposing the sickening truth about disinfecting wipes

It turns out that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates all disinfecting wipes as pesticides – because they are. If a product label makes claims towards killing, controlling, repelling, mitigating or reducing a pest – which can mean germs – it is officially a pesticide, and subject to specific regulations.

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, wipe containers that say “EPA” on the label must include specific instructions on how to use the product to kill pests – as well as first aid instructions in case of accidental exposure.

And, many disinfecting wipes include some toxic ingredients, particularly quaternary ammonium compounds – or “quats” – which can cause asthma, allergies and irritation of the skin, eyes and lungs. The words “n-Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride,” “Alkyl C12-18” and “Alkyl C12-14” are all tipoffs to the present of quats.

Another compound found in some disinfecting wipes, ortho-phenylphenyl, can cause cancer. And chlorine bleach has been linked to asthma as well.

Are your disinfecting wipes “premoistened?” If so, you can be assured that some type of chemical has been used to suppress bacterial growth in the package – including parabens, formaldehyde releasers and MI/MCI – all of which have been associated with adverse health effects.

Experts call for a sharp reduction in the use of disinfecting wipes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define “cleaning” as removing dirt and germs from surfaces, while “disinfecting” is the process of actively killing germs or inhibiting their growth.

And, in many cases, “cleaning” is just as effective. To the surprise of many, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has admitted that there is no evidence that cleaning with disinfectants is any better at preventing illness than cleaning with good old-fashioned soap and water.

Experts are now recommending that the use of disinfecting wipes be eliminated in standard offices and classrooms, and only used in specific areas – such as athletic mats and changing tables – or for certain situations, such as cleaning a cutting board exposed to raw meat, or wiping up bodily fluids from a contagious illness. In other words, they should only be used when their benefits will exceed their health hazards.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the hazards of pesticides in disinfecting wipes, due to their still-developing organs and smaller size. According to Healthy Schools, Inc., a non-profit organization that fosters environmental health in schools, children should never use disinfecting wipes.

Another excellent reason to avoid disinfecting wipes is the “hygiene hypothesis:” the fact that exposure to some living bacteria actually helps to strengthen the immune system. Scientists report that excessive use of disinfectants is actually contributing to the development of “superbugs” – microbes that are resistant to antibiotics.

Important to note: the rise of superbugs, such as MRSA, has been labeled a global public health crisis by the World Health Organization.

Substitute non-disinfecting wipes for routine cleaning

Instead of disinfecting wipes, you can use wet paper towels, good old fashion soap and water or essential oils in a spray bottle to clean surfaces – as well as hands.

When germs absolutely must be put on the run, experts recommend opting for certified “green” cleaning products and safer substances, such as hydrogen peroxide, lactic acid, caprylic acid and citric acid. The Environmental Working Group, a non-profit environmental organization, also advises the use of thymol – the active constituent in oil of thyme.

Of course, frequent hand-washing is one of the most effective ways to control germs and the spread of infection.

A final word of caution about disinfecting wipes

If you have to use a disinfecting wipe, keep in mind: not only are disinfecting wipes being used excessively, but experts say they are being used improperly.

Merely swiping them across a surface is not sufficient, because most disinfectants require a “dwell time” – in which they stay in contact with the surface for a full ten minutes – to effectively kill microbes.

(When’s the last time you saw anyone leave a disinfecting wipe or a cleaning product on a surface for that amount of time?)
In addition, the disinfected surface must be rinsed with water afterwards – and the object should be washed thoroughly before being used again. Disinfecting wipes should never be used on skin, and you should also wash your hands with soap and water after using them.

Finally, don’t use the same wipe on multiple surfaces – which can spread germs from one surface to another.

With an average of 20,116 cases of pesticide poisoning being treated in healthcare facilities every year, there’s no reason to expose ourselves to the hazards of even more toxins lurking in disinfecting wipes. With the exception of rare instances, it’s time to show them the door.

Plastic particles found in most tap water samples across the globe

 

 

 

The US had the highest rate, with 94% of tap water samples taken from various sites around the country contaminated with plastic particles.

Sure we’ve got plastic in the ocean and marine animals. We’ve got plastic compounds on our plates thanks to the fish that consume it and we’ve even got bits of plastic in our salt. Plastic, it’s what’s for dinner! And now to top it all off, it’s invading our tap water as well.

Damian Carrington at The Guardian reports on an investigation by the non-profit news organization, Orb Media, finding microplastic contamination in tap water in more than a dozen countries around the globe. In total, 83 percent of the samples were found to be contaminated with plastic fibers. Which, given its ubiquity in the environment, sadly may not be that surprising. Carrington writes:

The scale of global microplastic contamination is only starting to become clear, with studies in Germany finding fibres and fragments in all of the 24 beer brands they tested, as well as in honey and sugar. In Paris in 2015, researchers discovered microplastic falling from the air, which they estimated deposits three to 10 tonnes of fibres on the city each year, and that it was also present in the air in people’s homes.

For the Orb research, scientists tested 159 samples from countries near and far, including the United States, Europe countries, Uganda, Ecuador and Indonesia. The testing was done at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, using a standard technique that ensures no outside contamination would be present. The analyses measured particles of more than 2.5 microns in size (one micron equals 1 / 25400 inch).

With an average of 83 percent of samples harboring plastic, the U.S. fared the worst with a whopping contamination rate of 94 percent. And it’s not like the samples were taken from sketchy locations; plastic fibers were found in tap water coming from places like Congress buildings, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters, and Trump Tower in New York. (OK, maybe a little sketchy, but you know…)

Lebanon and India had the next highest rates, Carrington reports, with the UK, Germany and France having the lowest rates – though still an abysmal 72 percent.

The average number of fibers found in each 500ml (16.9 ounces) sample was between 4.8 in the US to 1.9 in Europe.

While the source of plastic pollution in the ocean is pretty obvious, how these microplastics are ending up in our drinking water is not so clear. The atmosphere is one obvious source, notes Carrington, “with fibres shed by the everyday wear and tear of clothes and carpets. Tumble dryers are another potential source, with almost 80% of US households having dryers that usually vent to the open air.”

“We really think that the lakes [and other water bodies] can be contaminated by cumulative atmospheric inputs,” says reaseracher on another study, Johnny Gasperi, at the University Paris-Est Créteil. “What we observed in Paris tends to demonstrate that a huge amount of fibres are present in atmospheric fallout.”

Washing machines as well are likely releasing all kinds of plastic fiber into the water, with one study finding that a single wash cycle can deliver 700,000 fibers into the environment.

While photos of sea creatures tangled up in plastic trash has become the rallying cry for plastic pollution, understandably and rightly so; it’s the unseen contamination that is potentially so deleterious for us. There are the tiny particles, of course, but there are the chemicals and/or pathogens that microplastics also have to offer.

“If the fibres are there, it is possible that the nanoparticles are there too that we can’t measure,” says Anne Marie Mahon at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology who has conducted research on the topic. “Once they are in the nanometre range they can really penetrate a cell and that means they can penetrate organs, and that would be worrying.”

Microplastics can attract bacteria found in sewage, and can contain and absorb toxic chemicals that can be released in the body.

Prof Richard Thompson, at Plymouth University, UK, told Orb: “It became clear very early on that the plastic would release those chemicals and that actually, the conditions in the gut would facilitate really quite rapid release.”

It’s all an enormous mess. Water treatment systems don’t filter drinking water to the degree that microplastics would be caught. Bottled water is not immune, as microplastics were found in bottled water samples tested as well. And spring water may not be any better off. The samples from Beirut, Lebanon were from natural springs; 94 percent of the samples were contaminated.

We write about plastic almost daily here on TreeHugger, and we’re not alone in our concern. Carrington cites another study, noting that 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been created since the 1950s, with the authors warning of a potentially dire future.

“We are increasingly smothering ecosystems in plastic,” says study leader Roland Geyer, from the University of California and Santa Barbara, “and I am very worried that there may be all kinds of unintended, adverse consequences that we will only find out about once it is too late.”

I always like to end gloomy stories like this with some kind of positive action or proactive workaround ideas, but honestly, I'm at a loss here. The best I can offer is we all need to be supporting research that is finding the sources of contamination like this and looking closely at the health impacts. We need to encourage better waste management, and most importantly, we need to be checking our own plastic use and habits to ensure that we're not adding to the problem. As Orb suggests, "The only way to keep plastic out of the air, water, and soil is to radically rethink its design, uses, sale, and disposal."

Melanoma (skin cancer) found to be easily prevented with Niacin

Melanoma (skin cancer) found to be easily prevented with low-cost Vitamin B-3

Researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia believe that nicotinamide (vitamin B3) can be used to prevent the incidence of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. The study, published in Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, and Photomedicine, demonstrates the efficacy of vitamin B3 in reducing or even reversing DNA damage and inflammation caused by ultraviolet radiation. Authors of the review say that more research into the topic is necessary but conclude that should their data be further verified, it could lead to a cheap and potent solution to skin cancer.

The team noted that nicotinamide costs around $10 per month if taken at the recommended dosage of one gram a day. This is significantly less expensive than conventional cancer therapies, which usually include chemotherapy sessions and various forms of medications.

The vitamin therapy was observed to be effective in decreasing the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer among high-risk individuals. Dr. Gary Halliday, senior author of the study said that randomized placebo controlled trials are now needed to confirm a similar effect among high-risk melanoma patients. (Related: Fight skin cancer through nutrition not sunscreen.)

A primer on vitamin B3 and melanoma

Vitamin B3 is known by many names including niacin, niacinamide, nicotinic acid, and nicotinamide. It can be sourced through the consumption of lean meats, brewer’s yeast, whole grains, and nuts. Most people, however, tend to get their vitamin B3 through supplements.

Vitamin B3 is essential for healthy nervous and digestive function and promotes skin health. Those with cholesterol problems can also take the vitamin to balance their triglyceride levels. There is some evidence that also points to the vitamin’s use in the production of bile salts and the synthesis of sex hormones.

The vitamin is mostly recommended however for improving brain health. Certain psychiatric symptoms are claimed to be alleviated with an ample dose of vitamin B3. Preliminary studies also suggest that vitamin B3 can prevent dementia.

While no side-effects have been seen in taking niacin through food, sourcing the vitamin through supplements can lead to various adverse conditions. An overdose of niacin can lead to stomach irritation, nausea, liver damage, gout, and blurred vision.

Vitamin B3’s exact uses and functions are still being determined by medical science. One of the areas that scientists are looking into is the vitamin’s capacity to prevent cancer.

Melanoma is a type of cancer that usually forms on the skin. It begins when the pigment-producing cell, melanin, begins to mutate and multiply rapidly. Because melanoma forms on the skin, it is relatively easy to detect and treat early. Doctors say that 90 percent of all melanoma cases are caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays from natural and artificial sources, including indoor tanning beds. The remaining ten percent takes into account family history, genetics, and other environmental factors.

The prognosis for melanoma is normally good, although this depends on how early the cancer is detected.

It is important that you are aware of the warning signs of melanoma. This means consistently checking for abnormal moles, brown spots, or growths on the skin. Take note of these red flags:

• Asymmetry – Draw a line in the middle of a mole and see if both halves match. Moles that are asymmetrical are more likely to be cancerous.
• Border – Benign moles have smooth, even borders. Watch out for moles that have scalloped or notches borders.
• Color – Noncancerous moles are usually one color. Having a mole that has a variety of colors is a warning sign that something is wrong.
• Diameter – Malignant moles are normally larger than benign ones.
• Evolving – Moles that seem to change over time can be cancerous.

Excess sugar depresses immunity and fuels viral replication

Flu ALERT: Excess sugar depresses immunity and fuels viral replication

 

Did you know that eating certain kinds of sugar can raise your risk of catching the influenza virus? Chances are, you’ll never hear this information from a conventionally-trained physician. (But, it’s true)

Most people are aware of the health risks of sugar and simple carbohydrates. The rise in glucose levels can lead to diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease, and a range of other health problems related to inflammation – including a higher risk of cancer.

High glucose levels also cause an increase in LDL cholesterol, while decreasing your levels of HDL cholesterol.  However, excess sugar has another harmful effect that isn’t as widely known: it suppresses immunity. (keep reading to find out how)

Yikes! Sugar found to damage the healthy behavior of white blood cells

Research dating as far back as the 1970s has confirmed this. A study from Loma Linda University from 1973 looked at the effects of sugar on white blood cells – the powerhouses of the immune system. After fasting overnight, subjects received 100 grams of either fructose, glucose, sucrose, orange juice or honey. Blood was drawn before and after ingestion of the different forms of sugar and then exposed to the staphylococcus bacteria strain.

The presence of any of these types of sugar in the bloodstream reduced the immune response significantly. In all cases, there was about a 50 percent drop in the white blood cells’ ability to surround and fight off the bacteria.

Immunity suppressing effects of sugar can last up to 5 hours

Research has found that viral replication in bugs like the influenza virus are dependent upon the amount of glucose available in the bloodstream. In short, sugar is food for bacteria and viruses.  The more sugar that’s present in the bloodstream, the better the chances of survival for these invaders.

Consuming the amount of sugar found in two cans of soda has an almost immediate negative impact on immunity. These effects against the immune system begin 30 minutes or lessafter ingestion and can continue suppressing immunity for five hours or more.

Other factors may exacerbate the negative effects of elevated glucose in the body on the immune system, such as current health status, stress levels and the amount of sleep an individual has been getting.

Cancer cells also use sugar as food

In addition to all of the other reasons to maintain a healthy blood glucose level, supporting a healthy, effective immune system is high on the list. Coming down with the influenza virus and other illnesses is only exacerbated by blood glucose levels that are higher than normal.

High blood glucose raises cancer risk for similar reasons. Cancer cells use glucose as food, and the increased inflammation triggered by a high intake of ‘sweet’ foods and elevated blood glucose levels creates an environment that’s more conducive to cancerous tumor growth.

So, while you might think drinking that sugary drink is giving you a boost when you’re feeling under the weather, you could actually be supporting the bug or condition that’s dragging you down.

 

Protect your liver health naturally with probio

An imbalance of gut bacteria in the digestive system contributes to numerous ailments, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s, cognitive issues, immune system suppression and even cancer. But, that’s not all: recent research is now showing that a gut imbalance can also have a negative impact on liver health.

The presence of certain bacteria and the absence of others can lead to a host of liver health issues, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Research has shown probiotics can help to regulate gut bacteria, and by extension support liver health. One of the ways this helps is through the prevention of fat accumulation inside the liver.

Unbalanced gut bacteria can lead to insulin resistance and fatty liver disease

A 2003 research study at Johns Hopkins University examined the connection between intestinal bacterial overgrowth and NAFLD. The researchers found intestinal bacteria was relevant to hepatic insulin resistance related to liver disease.

When the researchers fed mice a high fat diet their gut microbes transformed choline, a key fat metabolizing nutrient, into methylamines. These methylamines can only be produced in the intestines, and their presence can lead to insulin resistance.

Since choline is required to transport fat from the liver, changes to choline metabolism can contribute to the accumulation of fat. This, in turn, can trigger NAFLD. Improving the balance of intestinal microbes with probiotics could help to reduce the chances of insulin resistance, NAFLD and other related health problems.

In addition to liver health, probiotics hold the key to heart health and lower cancer risk

Imperial College of London researchers also found that altering the microbiome assisted in improving insulin resistance. Their study confirmed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is likely caused by an imbalance in gut bacteria.

Up to 85 percent of the normal intestinal flora found in the gut microbiome are either harmless or beneficial to health and well-being. This “good” bacteria help to create essential nutrients as well as generate by-products that reduce risk for certain health problems including digestive disorders, metabolic syndromes, cancers, heart disease and liver disease.

The aging process as well as the use of antibiotics can disrupt this important balance in the gut environment. The loss of good bacteria allows the unhealthy bacteria to become more prevalent. This can then set the stage for a host of health problems.

How probiotics can help to support gut health and healthy blood sugar levels

Insulin is created in the pancreas to deal with elevated blood sugar. It pushes glucose from the bloodstream and into the cells for conversion into energy, effectively regulating blood glucose levels. Insulin resistance can lead to fatigue as well as the production of triglycerides, which lead to the deposit of fatty acids in the liver. Intestinal imbalance is one of the factors of insulin resistance.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can re-colonize the gastrointestinal tract with positive flora to bring a number of health benefits. Remember, this is an excellent way to prevent the accumulation of fat around the liver.

Naturally, a healthy diet and exercise are essential, but never underestimate the power of probiotics to enhance overall well-being.

Bottom line: if you have any digestive health problems – do NOT ignore these issues.  Your digestive tract IS the foundation for your life – physically, mentally and emotionally.

Push back the dangerous spread of smart meters and 5G technology

A NEW strategy to push back against the dangerous spread of smart meters and 5G technology

 

osh del Sol Beaulieu, the filmmaker who brought you the investigative “smart” grid documentary film Take Back Your Power, has teamed up with some extraordinary individuals to launch the InPower Movement, an actionable solutions-based follow-up offering a method to hold accountable those who continue to cause harm with smart meters and 5G technology.

The award-winning 2013 documentary film investigates the so-called “smart” utility meters and smart grid, revealing the shocking cost increases and corruption, privacy and surveillance, home fires, health effects, hacking vulnerability, and global agenda to place a “smart” meter on every home and business in the world. As part of the InPower launch, the team has just re-released Take Back Your Power 2017.

Watch “TAKE BACK YOUR POWER 2017” – Free viewing

Take Back Your Power uncovers the spiraling problems and harms behind the global “smart” grid agenda. In the few years since its world-wide release, viewers have been consistently shocked, dismayed, disillusioned, and outraged. They have widely shared the film, engaged in conversations, and publicly unveiled their own stories about how “smart” meters have negatively impacted their lives, their homes, and their health.

The impact of this film has been transformative. People were awakened to the world-wide crisis in our midst, but also felt lost when confronting a broken leadership system. As the film’s creator, del Sol noticed that people were inspired to affect change, but felt disempowered in the face of an industry and a government that seemed to have gone off the rails. He says, “Now people know something is wrong. They want to fix it, but they don’t know how or where to start. People repeatedly asked me, ‘So, what can we do?’”

The InPower Movement is the answer to that question about 5G technology dangers

It presents a revolutionary new process of enforcing the individual commercial liability of corporate executives and government representatives who are causing egregious harm. As del Sol explains, “We are bringing power back to the people with an open source, crowd-funded movement that is of, by, and for the people. This is a societal solution, and anyone can take part, anywhere, whether you have a ‘smart’ or analog meter on your home.”

WATCH episode #1 of the INPOWER docu-series – below:

This is a fundamentally different paradigm of accountability over 5G technology.  And there are already indications that it works. Over the last two years, InPower ran a seed campaign with 200 participants in three regions, with impressive results. Del Sol says, “It is definitely to a paradigm shift, to realize that we have the power to change the decisions of high-level officials and executives who are involved in agendas causing harm.

And if just a couple dozen (or less) of us can do that, then a few thousand (or hopefully more) can put an end to these 5G and other wireless agendas entirely.”

Cal Washington, InPower Strategic Director, explains in Episode One, “I’m trying to teach you how to play the game at their level. And this is what scares them. Because they have to take the liability.”

A significant development toward these goals comes out of Hawaii. In early 2017, Debra Greene PhD, health and environmental consultant, led a group in Hawaii to send several dozen Notices of Liability (and Non-Consent) to the Maui Electric president.

The parent company, Hawaiian Electric, had been planning on a blanket-installation of smart meters throughout multiple islands. But, in a sudden reversal, Hawaiian Electric recently announced their complete shift to an “opt-in” plan, in which the utility must receive explicit consent from the homeowner in order to install a ‘smart’ meter.

Greene reports that they also strangely denied ever having a plan for blanket installation, despite it previously being public knowledge.

Watch the 20-minute video podcast on the liability action in Hawaii:

InPower’s roadmap includes a website functioning as a hub for individuals, groups, and communities, a place where people can come together, discuss the issues, support the movement, and most importantly, take action. They have also boldly announced intentions to adapt their process to help solve other critical problems where harm is being done.

On InPower’s current site, they have already freely posted the very same document templates and guides used by their seed groups to considerable effect, for any utility customers that want to use them. And they aim to offer a next-level participant experience.

Different in scope than other action-related processes, the website provides everything that is needed to move through the process. The steps are straight-forward and free. Their Action Center will provide interactive video content and tutorials, support options, and semi-automated generation your customized documents.

InPower’s “Phase 2” goal is to simplify, support, and expand the liability action against 5G technology.  They are currently running an Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign through September 3, 2017 to help complete development and launch the next phase.

Del Sol explains, “This is about reclaiming our future, for ourselves and our families. Those in so-called positions of power are putting profits before people – this is painfully obvious now. Until now there hasn’t been any real remedy, due to the collusion between industry, government and the corporatized justice system.”

“But as their language is money, a powerful motivator for action can be commercial liability. Until now, it hasn’t been common knowledge how we can actually properly use the system of commerce to balance the scales.”

“Because of the critically-important window of time we’re in, we are actually giving all of our work away for free – and trusting that as people catch on to what we’re doing, they’ll want to see it grow. As each of our ‘seed’ groups have obtained results, we are initiating a new method of accountability in our world. We invite everyone who resonates with this desire to take part in our free educational resources and action process.”

Take action today. Start here to InPower yourself

After watching Episode #1, go to InPowerMovement.com, and subscribe your email for access to Episode #2, next steps and updates.

Share the InPower website & videos!

Consider backing InPower’s next phase, on IndieGogo.

InPower is about awareness, action, and conscious revolution. As del Sol reflects, “Coming into our power is indeed a profound shift. I believe it is time we write a better story – and that is what we are setting out to do.”

About the author: Alison Main is a freelance writer with an expertise in environmental health, electromagnetic safety, chemical safety and tech addiction. Her published work has appeared in Paleo Magazine, Best Self Magazine, Notre Dame Magazine, News of Pelham, and JolieTalks.com. Read more at AlisonMain.me