The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

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.

Baby boomers enjoy spring

The wildflowers are blooming like crazy in Southern California due to the unusually heavy rains and mountain snows. And, so many people were flocking to see the blooming hillsides that local officials had to close down some areas because the flowers were being trampled.

Rebecca Olkowski of BabyBoomster gives us the flower report and tells us boomer bloggers are writing about how we make judgments, which fruits and vegetables have the most and least pesticides, whether age should be a consideration when electing someone to office, how yoga helps seniors, grand sitting mishaps, and good tours in a hometown.

Olkowski writes about these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #590. Click here to get the links to the articles. And be sure to join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Personal Finance Writer

What needs to be done for spring yard work?

Spring is here. I went on a cruise for seven days, and when I got back, the deciduous tree in my yard was beginning to leaf out.

I’ve seen people out already working in their yards. What’s a good plan for spring yard work?

Do clean up.

Rake up the leaves, branches, and other debris from the lawn and beds that have accumulated during the winter.

Pull weeds.

They’re only going to get bigger. The weeds at the bottom of the photo dry up and the seeds pop out when you touch them. Don’t use pesticides. Children and pets who live in homes where pesticides are used are more likely to develop cancer. If you don’t have time or have physical limitations, hire someone to help you.

Why hasn’t more been done to protect women from harmful breast implants?

It’s been in the news for decades. Women suffering serious health effects from breast implants. Why haven’t they been outlawed?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration needs to require extensive pre-approval testing of permanent implantable devices, including breast implants, Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, said Wednesday. 

Breast implants have caused many serious medical conditions in women, including scarring, pain, and hardening of the breasts when the implants rupture and leak silicone gel, said Sidney Wolfe, founder and senior adviser of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, a consumer advocacy organization.

“This also can cause an unusual type of cancer known as anaplastic large cell lymphoma and have been linked to autoimmune diseases,” Wolfe said.

Portable generators are being recalled by American Honda due to fire and burn hazard

American Honda is recalling about 200,000 portable generators. They can leak gasoline from the fuel valve, posing fire and burn hazards.

Honda has received 19 reports of fuel leaking from the fuel valve.  No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Honda EU2200i, EU2200i companion, and EB2200i portable generators. The recalled portable generators were sold with a red or Camo cover. The names “HONDA” and the generator model name are printed on the control panel. The serial number is located on a lower corner of one of the side panels of the generator.

Lists of fruits and vegetables with the most and least pesticides for 2019

Kale has higher pesticide residues than nearly all other produce found on supermarket shelves, according to the Environmental Working Group’s 2019 Dirty Dozen.

The EWG releases the Dirty Dozen as part of its annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. It analyzes U.S. Department of Agriculture test data to identify which fruits and vegetables are most and least contaminated with pesticide residues. The Shopper’s Guide also includes the Clean Fifteen, a list of the fruits and vegetables with the lowest amount of residues.

On this year’s Dirty Dozen list, kale ranks third, after strawberries and spinach.

Jury finds Roundup caused groundskeeper’s cancer

A California jury found in favor of a man who said his cancer was caused by exposure Roundup, a weed killer. The verdict on Tuesday is further evidence that glyphosate, the herbicide’s active ingredient, is carcinogenic to humans, said Environmental Working Group President Ken Cook.

The jury agreed with evidence presented by the attorneys for Edward Hardeman in Edward Hardeman v. Monsanto Co. that glyphosate was the cause of his non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“Today’s verdict reinforces what another jury found last year, and what scientists with the state of California and the World Health Organization have concluded: Glyphosate causes cancer in people,” said Cook.