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It also includes a handy reference guide to use when A New Strategy to Nurture Life on Earth shopping, to make sure that you find what will work best Today there are many programs designed to protect all in protecting you from the sun. life forms on Earth. Just stopping the use of sunscreens The body is designed to manufacture the natural sun- will produce great benefits not only for coral, plankton protective chemicals it requires to protect itself—if given and fish but also for all of our children, including those the raw materials it needs to do so. The sunscreens of ' who are yet to be born. They can have a less toxic the future will most likely include antioxidants, in environment that protects their fragile development in combination with advice to consume high concentrations — the womb and during the first critical years of growth. of antioxidant-rich foods. Since antioxidants are a simple antidote, there is no need to keep contaminating our planet and its water Lessons from Australia’s SunSmart Program systems. Let everyone know to stop using sunscreens in The rest of the world can learn from Australia’s — their current harmful formulations and help create a safe SunSmart program with its media messages that and healthy environment for all life forms. encourage common-sense protective behaviour and the The world's ecosystems are being affected, as these use of special clothing to shield the sun's rays. It has chemicals are now being found in all aquatic and marine brought back into fashion clothing styles that cover more __ species tested and we are seeing a cumulative build-up in of the skin, including clothing cover-ups for children. We the food chains in both environments.” A study in do need to make vitamin D in Europe found sunscreen our skin, so covering up from chemicals in lakes and rivers.” the sun completely is not a good These findings indicate that idea. Additionally, the tan that However, be wary of the ese chemicals have already develops from exposure to the cloth or clothing designed contaminated the water systems sun is beneficial in protecting of the world. the cells from damaging solar and manufactured to We need to stop purchasing radiation. We can start by provide UV protection, ese products and call on wearing clothing with longer n9.9 manufacturers to develop safe sleeves and skirts or hante ag as It Is impregnated and effective products that will well as hats and gloves, as our with...nanoparticles. protect us when we need to ancestors did just half a century spend excessive amounts of ago. When swimming in Hawaii ime in the sun. We should be in 2011, | noticed that more able to work and play in the sun parents had their children wearing swimwear with — without concern that the chemicals that we are placing extended sleeves and legs. on our skin to protect us are going to do more harm than However, be wary of the cloth or clothing designed and _ good. manufactured to provide UV protection, as it is The answer on how to protect our children, our families impregnated with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide and ourselves is not complicated, but it does require a nanoparticles. This is not the answer, as the © shift in our lifestyle and our relationship to the sun. It nanoparticles in the material which lies against the skin requires a combination of improving our diet and not can be absorbed. Also, these nanoparticles are washed continuing to believe that we can stay in the sun 10, 20 or off to such a degree that the clothing no longer provides 30 times longer than our body can handle. We need to protection after about 20 washes. Additionally, the — respect what our body can manage safely and work with it nanoparticles end up in our waterways via washing-water _ to let it protect itself naturally. 00 runoff and disrupt our aquatic ecosystems. Australia's SunSmart promotion has resulted ina About the Author: reduction in melanoma incidence and mortality in the — Elizabeth Plourde, CLS, NCMP, PhD, is a clinical laboratory younger population.’' Unfortunately, the SunSmart scientist and medical researcher as well as an author and program with its "Slip! Slop! Slap! Seek! Slide!" message international speaker specialising in hormones and promotes the use of sunscreens as part of the protective — hormonal balance. She is certified by the North American weenannn NAw nw wae Cn tae. It also includes a handy reference guide to use when shopping, to make sure that you find what will work best in protecting you from the sun. The body is designed to manufacture the natural sun- protective chemicals it requires to protect itself—if given the raw materials it needs to do so. The sunscreens of the future will most likely include antioxidants, in combination with advice to consume high concentrations of antioxidant-rich foods. However, be wary of the cloth or clothing designed and manufactured to provide UV protection, as it is impregnated with...nanoparticles. About the Author: Elizabeth Plourde, CLS, NCMP, PhD, is a clinical laboratory scientist and medical researcher as well as an author and international speaker specialising in hormones and hormonal balance. She is certified by the North American Menopause Society as a menopause practitioner. Her expertise has been essential in explaining the full impact that sunscreens have on humans and other life forms on this planet. Dr Plourde’s book Sunscreens - Biohazard: Treat as Hazardous Waste was reviewed in NEXUS 19/01. To obtain the book and for more information, visit the website http:/Awww.sunscreensbiohazard.com. A pdf of this article, with extensive endnotes, can also be downloaded. process. What we need to take from this program is the advice to be smart about how we interact with the sun. Do not stay in the sun for more time than your body can handle, depending on your skin type. Spend only a reasonable amount of time in the sun. Sit in the shade. Use fabrics and materials that have a tight weave to block out the sun's rays; the tighter the weave, the better to protect your body and ultimately all life on the planet. 34 * NEXUS FEBRUARY - MARCH 2012 www.nexusmagazine.com