Cinco Vidas

Is tattoo ink a hazardous material? According to a 2004 lawsuit, it is. That year, the American Environmental Safety Institute (AESI) filed a lawsuit against Huck Spaulding Enterprises and nine other tattoo ink pigment manufacturers, distributors, and sellers, claiming that they failed to warn California residents about exposure to hazardous materials. AESI’s research found that the amount of ink needed for a medium-sized tattoo could contain between 1–23 micrograms of lead, more than the 0.5 microgram-per-day recommended limit. (more…)

Did you know that in 2005, as a result of a lawsuit, Proctor & Gamble conceded that its Crest brand of toothpaste contained high levels of lead?

“The research demonstrated that almost all toothpaste products contain significant levels of lead,” said the American Environmental Safety Institute, “a heavy metal known…to be hazardous to human health by causing cancer and birth defects.” (Toxic Beauty, Samuel Epstein, p.164) (more…)

Author Robert Alden is quoted as having said, “There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle.” For some reason, that single, teardrop flame atop a cylindrical body of wax has the power to bring peace and tranquility into almost any atmosphere. Candles have become so popular, people are now going beyond the traditional uses for romantic settings and emergency lighting, and firing up the wick for meditation, relaxation, aromatherapy, and home air freshening. Scents range from the citrus-based orange mango and lemon dream to nature-reminiscent ocean spray and evergreen forest to sweet-treat cinnamon apple and chocolate cherry.

If you’re a candle lover, we’re not here to put out your light. We just want to warn you that it does matter what kind of candles you buy, as some can release harmful toxins. (more…)

I love lipgloss, but I choose lead-free brands!

Lead: a highly toxic metal found in small amounts in the earth’s crust…and in many common brands of lipstick.

Huh?

Chronic exposure to this metal can result in increased blood pressure, decreased fertility, cataracts, nerve disorders, muscle and joint pain, and memory or concentration problems. Lead is used in a variety of products, including paint, ceramics, pipes, gasoline, batteries…and cosmetics.

But never fear: According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, “Since 1980, federal and state regulatory standards have helped to minimize or eliminate the amount of lead in consumer products and occupational settings.”

Thank heavens. But wait. According to recent tests conducted by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a whopping 61% of brand-name lipsticks contain detectable levels of lead, which can be toxic if ingested. (more…)