Dr. MaryK Martin Geyer

How Safe and Effective is Your Child's Sunscreen?

In a new investigation of 923 name-brand sunscreens, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that 4 out of 5 sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns. Leading brands were the worst offenders: None of market leader Coppertone's 39 sunscreen products met EWG's criteria for safety and effectiveness, and only 1 of 88 products from Banana Boat and Neutrogena, the second- and third-largest manufacturers, are recommended by EWG.

Many products on the market present obvious safety and effectiveness concerns, including one of every eight that does not protect from UVA radiation This problem is aggravated by the fact that FDA has not finalized comprehensive sunscreen safety standards they began drafting 30 years ago. Overall we identified 133 products that offer very good sun protection with ingredients that present minimal health risks to users. Sunscreen Safety and Efficacy

Tests reveal high chemical levels in kids' bodies

"We are in an epidemic of environmentally

mediated disease among American children today," he said.

"Rates of asthma, childhood cancers, birth defects and

developmental disorders have exponentially increased, and it

can't be explained by changes in the human genome. So

what has changed? All the chemicals we're being exposed to."

To Read Full Article:  

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/10/22/body.burden/index.html

Healthy Home Tips for Parents

To View this Printable Guide: http://www.ewg.org/files/EWGguide_goinggreen.pdf 

Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce

Which Fruits and Vegetables Passed and Which Ones Failed?  Produce was ranked based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2005.  Peach Ranked WORST...want to find out more?

To View the Full Ranking and Get your FREE Printable Guide: http://www.foodnews.org/

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WARNING

Issued for Patients Taking Bisphosphonate Drugs

 (Fosamax, Didronel, Actonel, Boniva, Aredia, Reclast, Zometa)

"Bisposphonates may cause severe and sometimes incapacitating bone, joint, and/or muscle (musculoskeletal) pain. within days, months, or years after starting a bisphosphonate."  This pain may completely resolve, partially resolve, or not resolve following discontinuation of drug.   

To Read Full Article:

http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/clinical-care-research/20080109bisphosphonates.html