[OKC] The Green Lantern: Should I Stay Funky?

[Miles, Karen]

the green lantern 

Should I Stay Funky?


On the greenness of deodorants and antiperspirants.

By Nina Shen Rastogi
Posted Tuesday, July 20, 2010, at 6:57 AM ET 
________________________________

During the recent heat wave, I tried to keep my air conditioner use to
an absolute minimum. To keep my stink at bay, I loaded up on
antiperspirant. Which got me thinking: What are the environmental and
health impacts of deodorant?
Let's start off by clarifying some terminology. Antiperspirants, as
their name suggests, reduce sweating. The active ingredients in these
products are thought to work by temporarily plugging up the sweat ducts
in your armpits. Deodorants, on the other hand, mask funky smells with
perfume or eliminate them with antimicrobial agents. (Sweat by itself
doesn't stink; it's the combination of sweat and bacteria that produces
B.O.)
Green-living acolytes don't seem to be as concerned with the
environmental impacts of these products as they are with the potential
health effects. The ingredient with the worst press is aluminum. A few
research papers-and quite a few e-mail forwards-have suggested that
aluminum might contribute to both breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
But according to the National Cancer Institute, there is no conclusive
evidence <http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo>
connecting deodorant or antiperspirant use to the subsequent development
of breast cancer, although it notes that more research is necessary.
(The Institute says the same thing about parabens
<http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo> , an
estrogen-mimicking preservative that's in some underarm products.)
Meanwhile, the Alzheimer's Association notes
<http://www.alz.org/national/documents/brochure_basicsofalz_low.pdf>
(PDF) that studies have been unable to confirm a causal link between
aluminum and Alzheimer's, and that "few experts believe that everyday
sources of aluminum pose any threat." (You can read more about the topic
here
<http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=200
137&documentID=99&pageNumber=1> .) People with kidney disease
<http://www.aakp.org/aakp-library/Aluminum-Antiperspirants/> , however,
should consult a doctor before using antiperspirant. 
To continue reading the article, go to URL: 
http://www.slate.com/id/2260432/
 
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