ecotip
Banish Bugs Safely Keep Winged Visitors
Away from Outdoor Events
Warding off summertime mosquitoes and flies to maintain outdoor fun is especially important given the new disease potential of the mos- quito-borne Zika and West Nile viruses. Here are some naturally protective measures. Remove stale, standing water outside the home—including swimming pool covers, clogged rain gutters and buckets—and turn over clay pots and plastic containers, as they all can be prime mosquito-breeding spots, suggests the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Alternatively, a toxin-free backyard
pond or water garden can be stocked with mosquito fish like gambusia that feed on and consume large quantities of insect larvae. Avoid applying potent perfumes, soaps and lotions prior to an outdoor event, because such scents attract insects. It always helps to wear light, long-sleeve shirts and pants to protect more skin. Grow plants with odors mosqui-
toes don’t like.
EarthEasy.com suggests citronella, horsemint (aka bee balm), marigolds, ageratum (floss flowers) and catnip.
WellnessMama.com also likes lavender, thyme, lemongrass, anything in the mint family and even basil; rub fresh or dried leaves on the skin or apply lavender flowers or oil, especially on hot spots (neck, underarms or behind ears). Use a non-toxic, plastic-free insect-repelling band for kids. Avoid conventional insect repellents, as many contain dieth- yltoluamide (DEET), one of the top five contaminants of U.S. waterways. Chemicals rinse off into shower and bath drains during later wash-ups.
globalbriefs
Unsafe Playfields Artificial Surfaces Pose Risks
As of January, there have been 200 nationwide cases of cancers in young athletes that played on synthetic turf—many of them lymphoma, which is uncommon in the age group. In 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protec- tion Agency withdrew earlier safety assurances and called for new, more comprehensive studies.
A majority of professional and college athletes strongly prefer natural turf because those playing on synthetic turf suffer about 50 percent more knee and ankle injuries. Other playfields use “crumb rubber” infill made of ground-up used tires for- merly considered hazardous waste. Thus, sports players may be exposed to dozens of chemical compounds, most of which have never been tested for health impact; some of those tested are believed to cause cancer, birth defects, developmental and reproductive disorders and infertility.
Primary source:
epa.gov
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Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA
NaturalAwakeningsMag.com
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