Editor's note: In the newest edition of Red, Green and Blue, writers Shirley Siluk Gregory and Jimmy Hogan take a look at the "smaller" concerns of environmentalists, and whether it's worth worrying about such issues when there are much greater and more pressing matters affecting our lives and health.
Shirley: When the Environmental Working Group last week announced its release of an updated and expanded "Skin Deep," its online database of chemicals in cosmetics, my first reaction was, "That's great. At least someone is keeping an eye on what goes into the stuff we put on our faces, hair and skin." (The EWG says it created Skin Deep to provide consumers with information that's not required by the federal government — i.e., whether the ingredients in our personal-care products are proven to be safe, or not.)
But as I spent a little time exploring the extensive data online, I started wondering, "Are we worrying too much about every little thing instead of focusing our energies on the greatest environmental hazards?" That is, should we be as concerned about the potential dangers of parabens in lipstick, phthalates in toys and possible endocrine disruptors in pesticide-sprayed produce when we've got global warming, depleted topsoils, desertification, shrinking biodiversity and other far-reaching problems?
Ultimately, I think, the short answer is, yes. While it can be overwhelming trying to keep track of every possible environmental hazard, I find that every bit of information I gain about the "little" dangers helps me make better decisions that might also diminish the "big" dangers. Maybe phthalates in toys and shower curtains might (or might not) interfere with my toddler son's normal endocrine development, but if I choose all-natural wood toys or hemp shower curtains instead, I'm adding a little less plastic to the world and supporting companies that are probably smaller, more sustainable and more environmentally aware. I'm not going to live in fear of every bit of plastic or every synthetic substance that might be lurking in my home, but the less of it I have, the more responsibly and healthily I believe I'm living.
Skin Deep: The Cosmetics Database