The Story of Cosmetics

What are all those chemicals in your shampoo, your lipstick, your aftershave?  And what do they have to do with asthma, breast cancer and learning disabilities?

To find out, watch The Story of Cosmetics -a 7-minute film exposing the ugly truth about personal care products - brought to you by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, Annie Leonard's Story of Stuff Project, and Free Range Studios.

While Canada does somewhat better than the U.S., many of the issues outlined in The Story of Cosmetics are Canadian problems too. Our Canadian and U.S. markets are closely connected, and cosmetics laws on both sides of the border need a makeover.

The good news is that Canada is currently updating its Cosmetics Regulations. This means that now is the time to ask the federal government for better protection from harmful substances in cosmetics and personal care products.

excerpt taken from the Environmental Defense newsletter

Tech Talk - Cost Savings with microfiber

by Candi Bezte, Norwex Science & Technical Advisor

North Americans may finally be catching on!

We've all known about the amazing benefits of microfiber cleaning for awhile - hospitals in Sweden and Finland have been using our products, or products very similar to ours for over a decade, yet, North Americans always seem to feel the need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to many environmental innovations.

This spring, the following article appeared in the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society Journal (volume 29, Issue 3, author Shelagh Damas) "Fighting Costs and Bacteria with Microfibre Cleaning." The article discussed how in the past "couple" of years a number of hospital facilities have switched to microfiber cleaning methods with the following results: The University of California Davis Medical Centre found a 60% decrease in lifetime cost savings for mops, a 95% reduction in chemical costs associated with mopping, and a 20% decrease in labour costs when they switched to a microfiber mopping system; Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC found significant savings in energy; The University of Massachusetts Sustainable Hospital Project noted decreased water, sewer, and chemical costs and found that the microfiber mops lasted 10 times longer than their traditional loop mops; and even more importantly, St. Jerome Hospital in Quebec was able to control their previously high levels of Clostridium difficile. Eight weeks after changing to microfiber cleaning methods, the number of infections dropped from 39 to 6, and over a year there was a 76% decrease in C. difficile infections in this facility.

The problem with C. difficile is that it forms resistant spores and so is difficult to kill - of course - WE know that removing is always the way to go ... and the microfiber was simply able to remove the spores from the surface, thereby dramatically reducing infection rates

CBC Doc Zone: The Disappearing Male

CBC Doc Zone recently ran a documentary on The Disappearing Male.

watch the episode (44 minutes)

This episode looks at how chemicals in our environment affect male development, fertility and reproduction. The falling male birth rate is a global phenomenon and is occurring in all species from frogs to humans. Beyond looking at chemicals in your home it also looks at heavily contaminated areas such as Sarnia, Ontario where the male birth rate has dramatically dropped by 50%. There is also a detailed look at the effects of Phthalates and Bisphenol A on human development

Phthalates: Are They Safe?

Chemicals called phthalates, found in soft plastic products we use every day, are so ubiquitous that traces of them can be found in everybody. Are they safe or harmful? Lesley Stahl of 60 minutes investigates.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Oven & Grill Cleaner Bottle Label

NORWEX OVEN & GRILL CLEANER

• Water-based, non-caustic cleaner safe for use on stainless steel, ceramic, chrome, Formica, plastic and painted surfaces
• Bio-based, all natural and biodegradable

DIRECTIONS:
Oven Cleaning: Pre-heat oven to 38C/100F and turn oven off before applying product. Apply Norwex Oven & Grill Cleaner. Close oven door. Do not turn on oven or self-cleaning cycle during this period. Allow to work for 5 minutes. Wipe clean with a damp cloth or a sponge. Stubborn deposits may require additional application. After cleaning, heat oven to 95C/200F for 10 minutes before using.

For daily touch-ups, spray spots and wait 30 seconds to a minute, then wipe clean.

Wear rubber gloves for sensitive skin. Do not spray electrical connects, switches, light bulbs, heating elements or thermostats. Do not use on microwave ovens nor continuous-cleaning ovens. Can be used on self-cleaning ovens provided that the self-cleaning cycle is not used in combination with Norwex Oven & Grill Cleaner.

Grill Cleaning: Remove the cooking racks from grill and place on several layers of newspaper. Spray product and agitate cooking rack with a stiff brush to remove any remaining foods. Allow product to work for 5 minutes and wipe rack with a damp cloth or sponge, rinsing frequently.

Agitate with a stiff brush to remove loose residue. Apply Norwex Oven & Grill Cleaner liberally to entire grill surface. Allow to work for 5 minutes. Gently clean heavily soiled areas with a stiff brush. Wipe clean with a damp cloth or sponge rinsing often with warm water or rinse with water and allow to air dry. Repeat if needed. Place cooking racks back on grill and allow the whole grill to air dry. Allow an extra five minutes of heating time the next time you grill to make sure any cleaning residue has burned off. For sensitive skin, wear rubber gloves.

Store in frost-free environment and out of direct sunlight. Do not use on wood or other delicate surfaces.

MAY IRRITATE EYES & SKIN. Do not mix with acids. Do not get in eyes, on skin or clothing. Do not breathe fumes. Keep out of reach of children.

FIRST AID TREATMENT: Contains enzymes (amylase, protease), bacillus subtilis, & polyoxyethylenelaurylether. If swallowed, call a Poison Control Centre or doctor immediately. Do not induce vomiting. If in eyes, rinse with water for 15 minutes. If on skin, rinse well with water.

Made in USA

revised: February 8, 2010

Self-Cleaning Ovens - Manual Warnings

I had heard somewhere that some "Self-Cleaning" Oven manuals recommended you NOT USE the Self-Cleaning cycle if there were nesting birds in the area? So, I decided to pull out the manual for my Frigidaire Self-Cleaning Gas Oven to see what it said. Here is what I found:

(click on image to enlarge)

Huh ... and I thought it was just a bit of fear mongering. I'm curious what other Self-Cleaning Oven manuals say.

Once vented to the outside the fumes are diffused and are therefore less concentrated - but it does make you wonder. No surprize I never liked being on the same floor as my oven when it was in the self cleaning mode....

Tech Talk - Biofilms Are Everywhere

 

by Candi Bezte, Norwex Science & Technical Advisor

BIOFILMS ARE EVERYWHERE

Bacteria are often thought of as solitary organisms, but in nature, the majority of microorganisms actually live together in larger numbers attached to a surface that is referred to as a “biofilm”.

A mature biofilm can be quite complex - have layers, clumps and ridges or microcolonies can be arranged into stalks or mushroom-like formations. The organisms in a biofilm may be a single species or there may be a diverse group of microbes distributed in various regions of the biofilm. Surrounding them is a matrix made up of sugars, DNA, and proteins, which are often (scientifically) referred to as slime – this helps them adhere to the surface and also offers protection from environmental stressors.

Dental plaque is a biofilm on our teeth (Norwex has the Silvercare Toothbrush). Biofilm on our fruits and vegetables can be effectively removed with Norwex Fresh Wash. Simply soak in a dilution of 5 sprays/cup for a couple of minutes, and for maximum benefit, follow with a wipe of a microfiber cloth (TIP - choose one colour from the Antibac Kitchen Pack for this purpose).