WellesleyWeston Magazine

WINTER 2012/2013

Launched in 2005, WellesleyWeston Magazine is a quarterly publication tailored to Wellesley and Weston residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in two of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.

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Sara Frost Azzam, who was president of the WCPP from 2003 until this past summer, refers to the problem as our exposure to the "chemical stew" around us: This includes chemicals that are added to personal care products (makeup, shampoo, soap), those used in insecticides, or toxins in car exhaust. She says we need to be more educated con- sumers to cut down on the "stew" around us. For example, she notes, she loves the facial cleanser she uses, but it contains chemicals she would rather avoid. So, she cuts down on her total chemical exposure in other areas by using safer personal care products on other parts of her body and also using natural cleaning products in her home. Azzam, who lost her father to cancer, points out that, "Once upon a time cigarette smoking and asbestos were okay. Today, these are known carcinogens, and that is how we should think about chemicals in our environ- ment now. The more educated we are about them and the harder we try to eliminate them, the healthier we will be." She notes that a website where you can research personal care products is www.cosmeticsdatabase.org. Griffith points out that it's easier than many people think to avoid toxic chemicals. The group's website provides an extensive list of steps to take. According to the site, one step is to consider avoiding products that contain Phthalates, which are widely used in personal care products, plastics, paints, and some pes- ticides (you can click on the WCPP website to 135 winter 2012/2013 | WellesleyWeston Magazine

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