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toxics

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    Ask Umbra on shower caps, computers, and junk mail

    Q. Dear Umbra, I’ve taken to washing my hair less and less often to keep it from drying out. Since I’ve switched to the “no-‘poo” method (baking soda followed by a vinegar rinse) it stays cleaner longer. However, I still take a shower (brief and lukewarm) most days. To keep my curly hair from becoming […]

    Ask Umbra® Culture

  • Seventh Generation launches anti-toxics campaign with wee gimmick

    Seventh GenerationAt first blush, one’s enthusiasm for the Million Baby Crawl would seem to depend largely upon three things: 1) enthusiasm for babies, real and animated; 2) a penchant for baby-related puns (we’re going to rattle Congress!); and 3) interest in frittering away time on the interwebs. But that does a disservice to the intention […]

    Katharine Wroth Technology

  • Ask Umbra on her hotness, corporate gift baskets, and more

    Send your question to Umbra! Q. Dear Umbra, I am worried that your hotness may be contributing to global warming. I’m not sure what can be done to fix this. O Zone A. Dearest O, You are making me blush. But I am using your letter as a springboard to report some exciting news: In […]

    Ask Umbra® Culture

  • Heat makes honey toxic, and other myths of the hive

    Dear Lou, I heard a rumor that honey is toxic when placed in hot water. Is that true? Doesn’t the whole world drink honey in hot tea? Also wondering about the harvesting of honey — is it harmful to the bees and their sustainability? Honey Lover from Vermont Dearest Honey Lover from Vermont, I didn’t […]

    Lou Bendrick Food

  • Ask Umbra on Halloween treats and costumes

    Send your question to Umbra! Q. Hi Umbra, Do you have any suggestions for an environmentally friendly Halloween treat, and something that parents won’t worry about? Thanks,Kim W.Ann Arbor, Mich. A. Dearest Kim, Or there’s the ever-popular “hot mama Earth” costume.Grist TVWe’ve said lots about Halloween over the years, but there’s always more to say. […]

    Ask Umbra® Culture

  • Ask Umbra on anti-idling campaigns

    Send your question to Umbra! Q. Dear Umbra, My daughter’s Girl Scout troop wants to start an anti-idling campaign at her school. We need help justifying why a car should be turned off for more than 30 seconds. Although they have found that it saves gas and wear and tear on the engine and other […]

    Ask Umbra® Culture

  • Ask Umbra on that new-car smell

    Send your question to Umbra! Q. Dear Umbra, I have an old and dying Cash for Clunker-eligible SUV with well over 210,000 miles on it … My problem is I find the VOC offgassing of new cars intolerable. Is there any way to offgas a new car before I drive it so that I am […]

    Ask Umbra® Culture

  • Can we protect kids from the toxic trappings of modern life?

    From Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring to current headlines in the news, there’s long been mounting evidence that we’re being poisoned by everyday items in our lives. I was crushed by the revelation that my trusty Nalgene bottle was leaching bisphenol A into my Brita-filtered water. The first time I had to purchase my own housecleaning […]

    Vanessa Kerr Culture

  • EPA’s failure to publicize drinking water data prompts rethinking in agency, Congress

    This story was written by Danielle Ivory. There is some evidence that Congress — and the Environmental Protection Agency — are rethinking their policies on a commonly used weed-killer after disclosures that the EPA failed to notify the public about high levels of the herbicide in drinking water. As the Investigative Fund revealed last week, […]

    Huffington Post Investigative Fund Uncategorized