The CT General Assembly has a great website listing bills and contact information for your state rep and senator.  Participate in this spring’s legislative session and be heard - here is the cga website

Many people wanted to know how to get hold of that great recipe book we highlighted on last week’s show.  Perfect for those looking to ease into vegetarian cooking.  Here is the link for Anne Tegtmeier’s website and cookbook - happy green eating.

Do you think a solar powered home is out of the question?  Well learn the facts and see how your neighbors are doing it.  A tour of a solar home in Canton CT will take place at noon and 3 PM on Saturday May 3rd and another opportunity, this time displaying solar dentist office will occur on Saturday May 17th.  But you need to sign up in advance so:   For ticket information, call 860-651-7449. For tour information, call (860) 693-4813 or go to the People’s Action for Clean Energy website, www.pace-cleanenergy.org.

Some air purifiers can actually worsen your indoor air by spewing ozone into the room.    Ozone is highly toxic and we spend millions (billions?) societally to control ozone levels outside where we call it smog.  There are misguided air purifier companies who actually think they can help you breathe by pumping smog into your home.  Ozone will attack chemicals in the air but will also attack your lungs, possibly causing damage or worsening asthma.  And the ozone that comes from these machines can turn the chemicals in your home’s air - including what comes from cleaners, fragrances, and air freshener - into more toxic chemicals.   So avoid ozone generators.  All the bad press on these devices has caused the industry to change their promos away from mentioning ozone - they may now say “Mountain-fresh air” or “Cleans your air like lightning” - beware and check out this listing from California state govt on which brands to avoid because of ozone.

Check this out from a student from BC:

Thanks for the post Emma S

Are you hosting an Earth Day event or need a speaker for a club, luncheon, or library event.  See if Dr. G is available.  My email works at www.whatstoxic.com, so GREENIFY Away.

Check out these segments from Better Connecticut (WFSB-Channel 3 TV) in which Dr. G schools the very teachable and entertaining Scott and Kara on Green Cleaning Products and Toxic Toys.

WTIC has been great about providing a home for greener living radio and blog. However, the email is not working yet. Sorry if your emails to me have ended up in a cyber-dumpster. You can actually reach me and get a response at www.whatstoxic.com - Dr. G

BPA or bis-phenol A is the main ingredient in polycarbonate bottles, the hard clear non-breakable kind that most baby bottles are made from. Unfortunately, some BPA leaches from the bottles during heating of the milk, new research showing 5-7 ppb. This is a trace level but still has potential health risk to an infant due to inappropriate hormone exposure. BPA is an estrogen mimic (originally developed as hormone replacement therapy for post-menopausal women) and so should be avoided, especially in early life when imbalances can be “imprinted” for a lifetime. Glass bottles is one alternative. Another is Born Free, a plastic baby bottle that is free of phthalates and BPA.

Chantal Laliberte has survived a major speed bump and has gone on to do something she never dreamed of before she became sick - hike Mt Kiliminjaro, a 19,000 ft mtn in Africa.  As a recent breast cancer patient, she was hiking to benefit the Komen foundation.  Click here to learn more about the hike and charity.   Listen to the 3/01 podcast to hear her story.