EARTHTALK®: HOW HEALTHY ARE PERFUMES?
E – The Environmental Magazine Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss September 29, 2012 — Dear EarthTalk: I’ve always suspected that perfumes and colognes must not be too healthy simply because of the way the smell of most of them bothers me. Am I correct? Is there information available on this issue? — Lucinda Barry, Minneapolis, MN Ahhh…the sweet smell of petrochemicals! The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports that, while many popular perfumes, colognes and body sprays contain trace amounts of natural essences, they also typically contain a dozen or more potentially hazardous synthetic chemicals, some of which are derived from petroleum. To protect trade secrets, makers are allowed to withhold fragrance ingredients, so consumers can’t rely on labels to know what hazards may lurk inside that new bottle of perfume. “A rose may be a rose,” reports EWG. “But that rose-like fragrance in your perfume may be something else entirely, concocted from any number of the fragrance industry’s 3,100 stock chemical ingredients, the blend of which is almost always kept hidden from the consumer.” The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition of over 100 groups seeking transparency about chemicals in cosmetics, commissioned independent laboratory tests that revealed 38 secret chemicals in 17 leading fragrances. The top offenders?: American Eagle Seventy Seven topped the list with 24, followed by Chanel Coco with 18 and Britney Spears Curious and Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio each with 17. “The average fragrance product tested contained 14 secret chemicals not listed on the label,” reports EWG, which analyzed the Campaign’s data. “Among them are chemicals associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products.” EWG adds that some of the undisclosed ingredients are chemicals “with troubling hazardous properties or with a propensity to accumulate in human tissues.” Examples include diethyl phthalate, a chemical found in 97 percent of Americans and linked to sperm damage in human epidemiological studies, and musk ketone, which concentrates in human fat tissue and breast milk. EWG explains that ingredients not in a product’s “hidden fragrance mixture” must be listed on the label, so makers disclose some chemicals but “lump others together in the generic category of ‘fragrance’.” EWG blames the U.S. government in part, pointing out that the Food and Drug Administration “has not assessed the safety of the vast majority” of secret chemicals used in spray-on products such as fragrances. “Fragrance secrecy is legal due to a giant loophole in the Federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1973, which requires companies to list cosmetics ingredients on the product labels but explicitly exempts fragrance,” reports EWG. As such, the cosmetics industry has kept the public in the dark about fragrance ingredients, “even those that present potential health risks or build up in people’s bodies.” For more information, check out EWG’s May 2010 “Not So Sexy” report, available on the group’s website. Also, EWG’s SkinDeep database serves as an evolving source of information on the ingredients (and their health risks) in thousands of cosmetics and related products widely available on store shelves. CONTACTS: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, www.safecosmetics.org; EWG’s “Not So Sexy,” www.ewg.org/notsosexy; Skin Deep, www.ewg.org/skindeep. EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E – The Environmental Magazine ( www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe. Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.
PICKWICK PLAYERS COMMUNITY THEATRE HAS SANTEE TIES
By Rebecca J. Williamson September 29, 2012 (Santee) — Founded in 2006 the Pickwick Players Community Theater has some Santee ties: namely Cameron and Alisa Williams—who are also teachers at Carlton Oaks School in Santee. Teachers by day, at night Cameron is an artistic director and Alisa is the group’s choreographer; you can throw in weekends and summer breaks as well to those nights. Their artistic choices have included some plays that evoke chuckles just by seeing the titles—“Martinis ‘N’ Mistletoe” to “A Taffeta Christmas.” But they are not just going for the laughs—they have also staged “Oliver,” “The Crucible” plus others. Where does character analysis come into play? Not therapy, but part of what they teach kids about the art of learning theatre. Add in stage terminology, historical relevance, and personal responsibility and Pickwick is educating future thespians–a mix of kids and some adults. Not much of a stretch to see why Mr. Williams has also taught an elective class on Shakespeare at the K-8th grade school. Theatre is one of his loves. The other is his co-worker and wife, Alisa, who has also acted in Pickwick Productions whose home is typically the Moxie Theatre in East San Diego. Williams’ next production will be “Once On This Island” to run October 4-13 at the C3 Performing Arts Complex in Mission Valley. East County kids will be performing in this song and dance number. Education, either the 3Rs or theatre, must be in the Williams’ family genetic code. As they say in the theatre for good luck – may they “break a leg.”
KIDS CARE FEST GIVES BACK TO COMMUNITY TO MEET CHILDREN’S NEEDS
By Janis Mork September 29, 2012 (La Mesa)—At Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Briar Patch Campus, families flocked to the 11th annual Kidscare Fest, a free event just for kids. Over 1200 kids were in attendance at the September 22 event. As the children arrived, they and their families checked in with student nurses from Sharp’s Grossmont Hospital and received a free goodie bag. There were about 50 exhibit booths offering free services for the kids. Volunteers from many businesses set up booths which included free books, dentistry, doctors, chiropractor, the Union Tribune, fire and police departments, the San Diego County library/La Mesa branch, mentoring programs, YMCA, and even astro and bungee jumps, plus pony rides. A free lunch was provided to the kids by volunteers from the La Mesa United Methodist Church. This event was especially targeted for kids under age 12. Sponsors for the event included Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Rady’s Children Hospital, KUSI-NEWS, Radio Latina XL TN 104.5 FM, U-T San Diego, San Diego Family Magazine, Ralphs Grocery Co., Sparkletts Water Co., and the La Mesa Parks and Recreation Foundation. Debbie McElvary, president of the Board of Directors and a pharmacy manager at Costco, handed out flu shots, which was started at last year’s event, to those in need and agreed to an interview. “I get the board to pay for the flu shots and I hand them out for free, “ she told ECM. This event was started “by the board of the district to give back to the community and meet the health care needs of the district,” she explained. It was called ‘Kidscare Fest’ because “It’s directed to the children of our district. We have a lot of people in East County that don’t have health insurance, and kids are victims. There are health care screenings etc.” The number of kids that come each year increase each year, and over 1,000 were expected for this event. It takes place in September because “it’s back to school and children are being in need of screenings before they got to school. We bring up healthy eating; childhood obesity is such a problem. Several years ago, we collaborated with the district and many businesses to have this event here.” It takes a full year to plan out the event, she concluded. “As soon as the event is over for the year, we start planning for next year. We have many people, volunteers, that help us put it together.” For more information, visit: http://kidscarefest.org.
SHERIFF PRAISES HEROISM OF DEPUTIES WHO SHIELDED AND RESCUED FALLEN OFFICERS
September 29, 2012 (Lakeside)—Sergeant Craig Johnson has been released from Scripps Mercy Hospital and is recovering at home with his family, Sheriff Gore reported today. Johnson, along with Deputy Ari Perez, were shot by a child abuse suspect with a high-powered rifle. Perez remains hospitalized following surgery. Sheriff Bill Gore praised the heroism of a third officer, who went to the apartment with Perez and Johnson to arrest the suspect. According to Sheriff Gore, the unnamed deputy “physically shielded his partners” after the potentially lethal shooting began. “This deputy was able to assist Craig Johnson to a position of safety in the adjoining vacant apartment. Several responding deputies rushed toward the apartment in an effort to not only rescue their fallen comrades, but keep others from harm.” Daniel Robert Witczak, the suspect, was arraigned yesterday at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest, where he remains hospitalized for bullet wounds sustained in the shootout. Sheriff Gore commented, “I wanted to take this opportunity, while the events of Tuesday are fresh in the minds of the public, to recognize the efforts of the many deputies, individually and collectively, who put their own lives at risk to save two of their own. I have never been more proud to be their Sheriff than I am today.”
EXCESSIVE HEAT, ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER FORECAST
September 28, 2012 (San Diego)—Extremely hot temperatures and dry conditions are forecast for Sunday through Wednesday,creating elevated fire weather concerns. Temperatures could reach 110 in the low deserts and 100 in high desert areas. In San Diego County valleys, 95 to 105 degree temperatures are forecast, with highs up to 95 in coastal and mountain areas. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated beverages. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity and wear light, loose-fitting clothing during these extremely hot days. A cooling trend is expected Thursday and Friday of next week, as onshore wind flows return.