Mamma Mia A New Demography for American Motherhood


The state of motherhood in the United States has shifted strikingly in the past two decades, according to a Pew Re- search Center survey. Compared with mothers of newborns in 1990, today’s mothers are older, better educated and less likely to be either white or married. The ideal number of children for a family is still two, as it has been since the 1970s. Pew projects that 82 percent of U.S. population growth through 2050 will be from immigrants that arrived after 2005 and their descendants.


Sources: PewForum.org, National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau


Breathe Easier Great Days for Clean Air


For nearly 100 years, discharges from two of Edison International’s coal plants have polluted the air over the city of Chicago, exposing area families to dan- gerous levels of chemicals while adding to the Earth’s greenhouse gases. But the people fought back and won, because the city has quit using coal. For more than 10 years, Chicago


residents have been demanding their right to clean air and a safe climate. Now, the Fisk coal plant, in Pilsen, and the Crawford operation, in Little Vil- lage, will shut down in 2012 and 2014, respectively. Clean air activists in Ohio and


Pennsylvania recently claimed simi- lar victories. Utility provider GenOn will close seven coal plants in the two states, including one in Portland, Pennsylvania, which has been deemed responsible for more than 500 asthma attacks and 54 heart attacks. “These victories are not only for the


people of Chicago, Ohio and Pennsyl- vania, but for local activists all over the country that are working to shut down dirty coal plants in their communities,” says Kelly Mitchell, of Greenpeace, in celebrating the announcement.


ecotip


Beauty Detox Put Your Best Face Forward Safely


The Environmental Working Group (EWG) estimates that the average woman uses at least 12 personal care products—including soaps, shampoos, cosmetics and lotions—every day, many of which contain potentially toxic ingredients. The David Suzuki Foundation states, “U.S. researchers report that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are carcino- gens, pesticides, reproductive toxins or hormone disrup- tors.”


Stacy Malkan, of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics,


advises, “Beware of bogus claims like ‘certified hypoal- lergenic’, meaningless marketing terms like ‘clean and simple’, and companies that do not list the product ingredients on their website.” One of the most troublesome additives is paraben, a chemical preservative found in numerous products that mimics estrogen and may disrupt normal hor- mone function. Others include diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA), hormone disrupters that can form cancer-causing nitrates and are common ingre- dients of shampoos, shaving creams and body washes. Various artificial fragrances are among the top five allergens around the world,


and can also contain neurotoxins. Triclosan and triclocarban, antimicrobial pesticides used in liquid and solid soaps, are toxic to the aquatic environment and disrupt thy- roid function and reproductive hormones. Sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate—deter- gents common in facial cleansers, shampoos and shower gels—may be contaminated with carcinogens and neurotoxins and can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. The EWG also suggests avoiding anti-aging creams with lactic, glycolic, AHA and BHA acids; hair dyes that contain ammonia, peroxide, p-phenylenediamine or diaminobenzene, and all dark, permanent hair dyes; nail polish and removers with formaldehyde; and skin lighteners containing hydroquinine. Forego sunscreen sprays and beware of oxybenzone; instead, use products containing at least 7 percent zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Children’s products are not immune, either. Steer clear of play makeup, includ-


ing lipstick, nail polish and perfume; diaper cream that contains boric acid or sodium borate; baby wipes with Bronopol; and fluoridated toothpaste for youngsters under 2. The EWG’s Skin Deep database (ewg.org/skindeep) provides easy-to-navigate


safety ratings for many personal care products and ingredients. Their Quick Tips for Safer Cosmetics wallet guide informs shoppers how to read personal care product labels and make smart choices.


Sources: ewg.org; Environment.NationalGeographic.com; SafeCosmetics.org Health Shoppe


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