APRIL 2012 - Illinois Wesleyan University · salvestrol which is absent in plants grown with pesticides. 3) Finally, Don’t Just “Toss” Your Chemical Stockpiles — Throwing

APRIL 2012

www.iwu.edu/wellness

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Saturday, April 149:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.Shirk Center

Highlights Include: A Diversity of Exhibitors focused on Personal Health and the Environment

Mega Recycling Event: Electronics, CFL’s, Batteries, Plastic

Garden Pots, Textiles, Shoes and Confidential Paper Shredding

Kid’s Activity Zone

Cooking Classes with Chef Shamon Bell

Live Music & Renewable Fashion Show

Free Bike Tune-up & Valet Bike Parking

Electric Cars & Energy Efficiency

Twelve Great Workshops 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m.

Including the premier of Think Before You Pink 11:00 a.m.

Expo Selected Film: Living Downstream—3:00 p.m.

Everyone is Welcome— Free Admission

For more information www.islwe.org

With spring blooms emerging, homeown-ers, lawncare providers and farmers will be stocking up on chemical weedkillers. Roundup is one of the most popular, and most people consider it to be fairly safe and quick to dissipate. But recent research challenges this assumption, suggesting it’s not-so-harmless, and it’s everywhere — even in rainfall.

Everywhere? A recent government study in Mississippi and Iowa found glypho-sate (active ingredient in Monsanto-made Roundup) in every stream studied and in most air samples. It’s even falling in the rain. We previously believed that bacteria in soil broke down glyphosate before it reached ground water, but clearly it hangs around longer and travels further than we thought. We use a lot of this chemical. EPA reported 180-185 million pounds applied on U.S. farms in 2007 to “weed” crops like soybeans, corn, cotton — more than any other pesticide, and double 2001 amounts (likely a result of popularity of “RoundUp Ready” genetically modified crops). And that’s only for farms. Glyphosate is also the second most commonly used pesticide in U.S. yards (2-4 D is first) and homeown-ers use about 5-8 million pounds yearly (of the active ingredient glyphosate). Besides Roundup, other product names like Touch-down, Ranger, Rodeo, help us think we’re on the winning team when we use them. But are we?

Health Harms? These exposures are concerning amidst mounting evidence of health harms. Glyphosate has been linked to birth defects, endocrine disruption, DNA damage, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity and cancer. Even at ex-tremely low levels it can kill placental cells

and disrupt the human hormonal system. While glyphosate is not listed by EPA as highly toxic when inhaled, it may become so in the human digestive system where it is metabolized to N-nitrosoglyphosate — a chemical known to cause tumors. Fortu-nately, with ubiquitous exposure and health concerns on the rise, EPA has set 2015 for deciding if glyphosate should continue to be sold, or have limited use. But that does nothing to protect people (including vulnerable children) and pets today.

Glyphosate joins the growing list of other chemical weedkillers suspected of harming health. For example the popular 2, 4-D (short for 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; sold under harmless sounding names like Weed-and-Feed, Weed-B-Gone, Weedone, Miracle) was developed in the 1940s as a wartime defoliant, but for the last 50 years has been used in “home and garden weed warfare”. Disturbingly, 2, 4-D may be toxic to the immune system and has been linked to lymphomas (cancer of the lymph) in farmers, Vietnam veterans, golf course superintendants, and even dogs that live in homes with yards treated with 2,4-D. The

THE SAFER PATH

Weed Killers in the RainBy Laurine Brown

manufacturing of this chlorine-containing herbicide can also create highly toxic dioxins. In addition, the popular agricul-tural weedkiller atrazine, made by Syngenta and used since 1959, is currently under special review by the US EPA for health concerns such as endocrine disruption, links to prostate and breast cancer, chemical castration of frogs, and induction of abortions in lab animals. The European Union banned it nearly a decade ago, but the U.S. continues to apply over 76 million pounds annually, with 86 percent used to “weed” corn crops. Not surprisingly, it is commonly detected in rain during the planting season, and a U.S. Geological Survey found it in streams in farming areas 80 percent of the time.

What We Can Do?Amid our nearly universal exposures, and growing concerns of the health effects of chemical weedkillers, why take risks with your health? Here are three things you can do right away.

1) Be Yard Smart. “Remember, it’s a garden, not a battle-field” report the authors of Cancer: 101 Solutions to a Prevent-able Epidemic. “Many North Americans spray-bomb their lawns, flowerbeds and vegetable patches with copious quantities of weedkillers, as if dandelions were a mortal enemy…It’s time to declare peace throughout your land.” Re-think “weeds” and weed-control. Weeding by hand, of course is great exercise; plus you can save on your food budget and boost nutrition by tossing freshly picked “dandelion greens” in salad (no

WEED KILLERS IN THE RAIN — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The Expo welcomes Bikes, Bikes and more Bikes! Ride your Bike to the Event! No worries about leaving your bike unattended or even locking it up. You can enjoy the Expo with free Valet Bi-cycle Parking provided by WGLT Good To Go and Friends of the Trail. Bike riders will get premium parking spots.

Maintenance/Repair/ Tune-upGetting your bike ready for riding season…members of West Bloomington Revitalization Project want to help. They will be available from 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. to make primary repairs to your bike!

They will inflate tires to proper level for optimum riding, adjust brakes, oil chains, and replace tires/tubes. If someone has training wheel that need to be installed they can do that too! There is no charge for these ser-vices, and will be provided on a first come first serve basis.

Don’t know what to do with bikes you no longer want? Put them to good use, donate them at the Expo!Working Bike Cooperative will be collecting bikes at the Expo that need a new home. These bikes do not need to be in working condition. This organization collects and ships over 6000 used bicycles a year to non-profit projects in developing countries.

So…ride your bike, park your bike, service your bike, and get rid of bikes that no longer provide a service for you or your family, in one location…The Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo.

kidding). For healthy lawns, mow high (3”) and often with sharp blades, nourish the soil with organic compost, and overseed in spring. If weedkillers are absolutely needed, only spot spray trouble areas. Consider replacing some turf with an aesthetic ground cover or better yet, low-maintenance native plants which thrive locally and invite butterflies, songbirds, and humming-birds. Resources: EcologyActionCenter.org (see Yard Smart), SafeLawns.org, OrganicLawnCareTips.com, Wild Ones at For-Wild.org/. Check local stores for natural yard products or GardensAlive.com.

2) Choose Organically Grown Foods, when possible which are grown without synthetic weedkillers or other pesticides. Ask your grocer to carry them. Visit local farmers markets, or join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). An added nutritional boost: organically grown foods usually contain higher levels of cancer-fighting antioxidants that attack free radicals, including salvestrol which is absent in plants grown with pesticides.

3) Finally, Don’t Just “Toss” Your Chemical Stockpiles — Throwing your unwanted weedkillers and other household hazardous waste (HHW) in the trash can be as harmful as using them. Many landfills are not designed for hazardous wastes, and leaks may pollute drinking water, air, rain, and us. Dumping them down the drain or sewer is equally toxic. Seek out an official HHW collection site in your community (In Illinois, see http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/hazardous-waste/household-haz-waste/). Unfortunately, budget cuts have eliminated many ongoing collec-tions. But see EcologyActionCenter.org for fundraising ef-forts in McLean County IL for a HHW event in Sept. 2012. Learn more about the efforts for this event at the Expo Workshop Clearing the Hurdles of Hazardous Waste, April 14, 2:00 p.m., Shirk North Classroom.

Additional references at www.iwu.edu/~wellness

WELLNESS TIBITS

Hoop Dance Fitness: The BasicsThursdays at 5:00 p.m. • April 5-May 24Shirk Center Practice GymHula Hoops are making a comeback! Learn how to take this well-known toy and transform it into a full body, high cardio workout. Maybe you couldn’t hoop as a child? No fear! In class you will go over the basic moves necessary to work your core, open your chest and hips, strengthen your back and tone muscles from head to toe. Everybody learns at their own pace in a fun, laid back atmosphere. Smile while you sweat! Comfortable natural fibers are best to wear. Adult sized hula hoops are provided during class. Please contact Wellness to register at 3334 or [email protected].

Spring Migration Walk with Given HarperSaturday, April 28 • 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m., Ewing ParkJoin us Saturday, April 28 at 8:00 a.m. as Professor Given Harper leads us on a bird watching walk in Bloomington’s Ewing Park. We will meet in the parking lot of Ewing Park off of Towanda Ave. The walk will last approximately two hours. Bring your field glasses and get ready to enjoy the great outdoors without leaving town!! If you would like to attend, please, RSVP the Wellness office, via phone (309) 556-3334, or email [email protected]. If you leave a message, be sure to include your phone number and/or email address.

Workshop ScheduleSaturday, April 14 • Shirk Center Classrooms • 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Film: Living Downstream—3:00 p.m.

Come join an array of presenters as they explore topics related to Living Well & Living Green.

10:00 am 4 Steps to a Sustainable Rainwater Harvesting System

Presenter: Adrienne Tucker Heartland Green Institute

*11:00 am Think Before You Pink Presenter: Robyn Stoetzel

Breast Cancer Action

NOON Getting Started with Natives Presenter: Sherrie Snyder

Illinois Prairie Wild Ones

1:00 pm What Are You Breathing? Presenter: Martine Davis

Indoor Environmental Testing, Inc

2:00 pm Clearing the Hurdles of Hazardous Waste Presenter: Michael Brown

Ecology Action Center

Green the New Color of Investment OpportunityPresenter: Julie Smith

Ameriprise Financial

Reducing Home Energy ConsumptionPresenter: William Rau

All About Green BuildingPresenter: Andy Scott

Energistics

The Impact of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation on Health & the Environment Presenter: Karen Hudson

Illinois Citizens for Clean Air & Water

Hypnobabies-Hypnosis for ChildbirthPresenter: Christina Haney

Nurtured Birth, Childbirth Services

*11:00 am— Shirk Practice Gym: Hula Hoop for Everyone—Presenter: Suzanne Richardson Come and experience the latest fitness craze, Hooping! No experience necessary.

*11:00 am—Kids’ Zone: Adventures in the Wild World with Story Teller Brian “Fox” Ellis

Saturday April 14 • 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.Northeast Corner of the Shirk Parking LotOne Day, One Time, One Place

Just drive up, we’ll unload!Recycle many things at once!

• Electronics(TVs,computers,VCRs,phones,smallkitchenappliances, etc.)

• HouseholdBatteries(alkaline,watchbatteries,rechargeables) • Clothingandtextiles(usableornot) • Shoes(usableornot) • CompactFluorescentBulbs(CFLs) • PlasticGardenPots • Bicycles(usableornot) • ConfidentialPaperShredding

The Expo’s Mega Recycling Event

TIME NORTH CLASSROOM SOUTH CLASSROOM

Residential Wastes ONLY—no business wastes accepted

NO HAZARDOUS WASTES, CHEMICALS, PAINTS OR LARGE APPLIANCES ACCEPTED

For more information call IWU Wellness at (309) 556-334 or Ecology Action Center at (309) 454-3169

P.O. BOX 2900

BLOOMINGTON, IL 61701-2900

The Expo’s FREE-4-AllDon’t throw it away! Give it away! In the tradition of Ecology Action Center’s semi-annual FREE-4-ALL, we will be creating an opportunity to give away your unwanted stuff and to take what you like — FOR FREE! Last year’s FREE-4-ALL was a big success. So let’s do it again! Here are the rules:

Household Items— Knick-knacks, lamps, vases, paintings, prints etc. Items must be

clean and in good condition. — No large furniture

Men’s & Women’s ClothingThis year we are going to attempt giving away gently used clothing. — Adult men & women’s clothing only— Clothes must be clean and in good shape

And for the Kids! FREE-4-ALL Toy Giveaway! Bring in your gently used toys to give away to others! — Toys must be in good shape (all parts and pieces etc.) and clean.

Please bring items that deserve a second life to the IWU Wellness Office by April 6. Please contact us with questions or if you need help

with pick-up, x3334 or [email protected].

Donated items will be available at the Illinois Sustainable Living & WellnessExpo•April14•9:00a.m.-4:00p.m.•ShirkCenter

2012 Expo Selected Film

Living DownstreamSaturdayApril14•3:00p.m.

Shirk North Classroom

ISLWE will host a screening of Living Downstream, a feature-length documentary based on the acclaimed book by locally-educated ecologist, IWU alum, and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D. in the Shirk North Classroom at 3:00 p.m. “This poetic film follows Sandra during one pivotal year as she travels across North America, working to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links. After a routine cancer screening, Sandra receives some worrying results and is thrust into a period of medical uncertainty. Thus, we begin two journeys with Sandra: her private struggles with cancer and her public quest to bring attention to the urgent human rights issue of cancer prevention. But Sandra is not the only one who is on a journey—the chemicals against which she is fighting are also on the move. We follow these invisible toxins as they migrate to some of the most beautiful places in North America. We see how these chemicals enter our bodies and how, once inside, scientists believe they may be working to cause cancer.”