The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Trump brags about his administration’s environmental accomplishments while he repeals important safeguards

At White House event Monday, President Donald Trump touted his administration’s environmental record while at the same time repealing the Clean Power Plan, which had put the first national limits on carbon pollution from power plants.

Trump’s touting of his administration’s pristine environmental record is nothing short of nonsense, said Allison Fisher, outreach director for Public Citizen’s Energy Program.

“Trump has the worst environmental record of any president in history, which is hardly a surprise for an administration that has installed a coal lobbyist as head of the Environmental Protection Agency and an oil and gas lobbyist to run the Department of Interior,” said Fisher. “Trump’s repeal of the commonsense Clean Power Plan and Clean Car standards are proof of that.”

Think fireworks safety this Fourth of July to avoid injuries and deaths, the CPSC advises

For years, I’ve written about the dangers of fireworks approaching the Fourth of July. And, for years, kids keep getting their fingers blown off and sustaining other injuries and even dying.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Wednesday that at least five fireworks-related deaths were reported in 2018 – all associated with reloadable aerial devices.

“CPSC works year-round to help prevent deaths and injuries from fireworks, by verifying fireworks meet safety regulations in our ports, marketplace and on the road,” said Ann Marie Buerkle, CPSC acting chairman. “Beyond CPSC’s efforts, we want to make sure everyone takes simple safety steps to celebrate safely with their family and friends.”

Injuries

There were about 9,100 fireworks-related, emergency department-treated injuries in 2018, with 62 percent of them occurring during the month surrounding the Fourth of July. During that period, firecrackers were the number one cause of injuries, making up for 19 percent of the estimated injuries.  For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for more than half of the total estimated injuries.

Celebrate July Fourth with these safety and health tips

Do you want to have a Fourth of July that’s fun yet safe? Check out these tips from the Environmental Working Group.

Holiday barbecue

Before you head to the grocery store, check out the EWG’s resources on the healthiest foods, the cleanest produce, and the safest and most humanely produced meat and dairy. While you’re shopping, check out the hot dogs. To avoid nitrates and nitrites, which can cause cancer, choose natural hot dogs, or select a different protein. You can also make safe, healthy menu planning easier with EWG’s Healthy Living App, which lets you check in the store how well a product rates.

In addition, make sure you avoid charring meat to decrease your risk of cancer, and use a food thermometer to make sure it’s fully cooked so you can avoid food-borne illnesses such as E. coli.

More children’s cereals contaminated with cancer-causing weedkiller identified in new round of tests by EWG

A toxic weedkiller linked to cancer was detected in every sample of oat-based cereals and snack products in a new round of tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group.

All but four of the 21 products contained levels of glyphosate, the main ingredient in Bayer-Monsanto’s Roundup, higher that what EWG scientists consider safe for children’s health.

The highest levels of the weedkiller were detected in General Mills’ Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch at 833 parts per billion, or ppb, and Cheerios, with 729 ppb. The EWG’s health benchmark for children is 160 ppb. A child would only need to eat a single 60-gram serving of food with a glyphosate level of 160 ppb to reach the maximum dose considered safe by the EWG.

Baby boomers embrace summer with fun and practical ideas

What’s a boomer style summer look like? Summer boomer style looks like any other season – with thoughts and activities both practical and deep.

This week’s articles include:

• The dilemma older adults face on whether to dye their hair.
• How to reduce arguments about money.
• Hidden fees that most Americans pay regularly.
• An adventure sailing down the coast of Maine.
• How you can rebuild your creative “muscles” through different practices.
• How to cultivate your friendship garden.

Carol Cassara of A Healing Spirit writes about these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #600. Click here to get the links to the articles. And let us know your opinions in the comment sections. It’s fun to hear what our readers have to say.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Personal Finance Writer

Baby boomers express concerns about health

The hot topic among Baby Boomer bloggers this week is health, both the physical and mental kind. Tom Sightings of Sightings Over Sixty reports on the articles, which are better, he says, than a topic he just wrote about called the reasons we die. 

Boomer articles include:

• Most sunscreens contain possible harmful ingredients and don’t protect well from the sun.
• Easy affordable ways to help when someone is ill.
• How to reduce stress and anxiety by understanding how the brain works.
• The health benefits of leaving the city and moving to the country.
• The therapeutic benefits of dog sitting.
• The health benefits of helping others.

This is the Best of Boomer Blogs #598. Click here to get the links to the articles. And be sure to join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers appreciate hearing and learning from readers.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Personal Finance Writer

Most sunscreens contain possible harmful ingredients or don’t protect well from the sun, consumer group analysis shows

Researchers from the Environmental Working Group found that two-thirds of sunscreen products it analyzed offer inferior sun protection or contain worrisome ingredients, such as oxybenzone.

On Wednesday, the EWG released its 13th Annual Guide to Sunscreens, which rates the safety and effectiveness of more than 1,300 SPF products, including sunscreens, daily moisturizers, and lip balms with SPF values. SPF means sun protection factor.

In February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a proposal for updated sunscreen regulations. It’s a big step toward cleaning up a poorly regulated industry, with much-needed reforms that would better protect public health, said Nneka Leiba, director of the EWG’s Healthy Living Science program. Only 40 percent of the products on the EWG’s list contain active ingredients that the FDA has proposed are safe and effective, based on the agency’s new draft rules, according to the EWG’s assessment.

Jury awards couple $2 billion in lawsuit against Roundup

For the third time in less than a year, a California jury issued a verdict against Bayer-Monsanto, finding that the company’s Roundup weedkiller caused cancer in a California couple and awarding them $2.055 billion in damages.

The jury in Alameda County Superior Court found on Monday that glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, was the cause of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in both Alva and Alberta Pilliod of Livermore, who have used the herbicide since the 1970s.

It’s the third trial since August 2018 in which a jury found that glyphosate caused cancer. More than 13,000 similar lawsuits have been filed against the company.

What should adults and kids do for Earth Day 2019?

Today is the 49^th anniversary of Earth Day. What are things we can do to help the earth?

Top 10 tips for adults.

They include using less pesticides, buying organic food, and using non-toxic cleaners.

Environmental organizations that help the earth.

You’ll find links to groups such as the Environmental Working Group, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Washington Toxics Council.

Earth Day books.

“The Great Bear Sea: Exploring the Marine Life of a Pacific Paradise,” “Earth (Elemental Journey, #1),” and “No Place Like Earth” top the list.

Consumer group asks federal agencies to stop the sale of contaminated poppy seeds

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration need to crack down on the sale of contaminated poppy seeds and seed pods following the death of 12 Americans, the Center for Science in the Public Interest said.

The center asked officials at the agencies to clarify that it’s illegal to import and distribute contaminated poppy seeds and that those who do will be prosecuted. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arizona, has introduced legislation, the Stephen Hacala Poppy Seed Safety Act, to amend the law to ensure that contaminated poppy seeds can’t be sold to consumers.

Opiates such as morphine and codeine occur naturally in the opium poppy, which is why it can’t be grown in the United States. The DEA classifies “poppy straw” — all parts of the poppy plant other than the seeds — as a Schedule II controlled substance. While selling and importing poppy seeds is legal, seeds can become contaminated by poppy straw and sap in the fields and during processing. Importing contaminated poppy seeds is illegal.

Opiate contamination can be reduced to safe levels by washing and drying the seeds. However, potentially contaminated poppy seeds are available at several online retailers, including Amazon.com and Ebay. Recipes for poppy seed “teas” can be found on web sites such as Mercola.com and Chewworld.com.