Don’t be fooled — sunscreen is a first-degree health hazard, and the all-natural junk that’s all the rage this summer might be some of the most dangerous slop of all.
The fancy-schmancy ingredients like “green tea extract” and “sweet almond oil” in these pricey new goos form of a screen of their own — and hiding behind it are two of the most frightening members of the nanotech rogue’s gallery: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
As I’ve told you before, nanotechnology is rapidly on the rise in everything — despite the fact that NOBODY knows how safe it is, and what little we do know is terrifying.
One new study finds that nano particles of zinc oxide could be deadly if accidentally swallowed. The study, published in Chemical Research in Toxicology, found that nano-tized zinc oxide killed human gut cells in a lab setting.
Do yourself a favor: Don’t try to find out what happens outside a lab setting.
And if you think our waters are dirty now, wait until you see what happens when all those nano-particles are suddenly floating around in the lakes, rivers, streams and oceans.
If you’re just entering school, go for marine biology. You’ll never be out of work.
But let me get back on topic here, because reader Sharen recently asked for some advice on “safe sunscreen products.” Here’s my advice, Sharen: Find a good tree. When you’ve had enough sun, stand under it — because that’s your safest sunscreen product.
I’ve already told you about “natural” sunscreens. The regular stuff is even worse, loaded with known carcinogens and hormone-disrupting chemicals. And all sunscreens exist on the basis of the absurd lie that you need to fear the life-giving rays of the sun.
Don’t be afraid of the great outdoors – just pack a little common sense instead of sunscreen. Bask in the all-natural daylight, let your body make some of its own vitamin D and then get inside — or at least look for that tree — when you start to turn pink.
