Eco-Fail: The more personal care products you use, the more synthetic musk you will have in your blood and yes, your breast milk, according to a recent study. Synthetic musk is added to shampoo, lotions, even laundry products, ostensibly to improve “the smell.” Yikes. Called polycyclic musks, they are long-lasting in the environment, and concentrate in body fat of humans and animals. They also cause cause endocrine disruption and reproductive problems in mice. Student-age people have the highest concentrations, since they tend to use the most personal care products. Six synthetic musks were found in the blood samples.

Green Chi Eco-Win: Choose products that only use natural essential oils for scent. Read labels carefully, because when a label says it contains a fragrance, that will be synthetic unless explicitly noted otherwise.

–Annie B. Bond, aka Detox Diva