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Finding an Eco-Friendly Business Suit

Dear Green America,

Thanks for your past recommendations on building an eco-wardrobe. Any ideas where I could find an Earth-friendly business suit?
— Jean in Albuquerque, NM

Yes, there are a few forward-thinking companies that offer suits in eco-fabrics.  For men, Sandstone Designs offers a casual hemp/cotton blend suit in five colors (877/222-2668, www.sandstonehemp.com). Rawganique (877/RAW-HEMP, www.rawganique.com) offers a hemp sports coat, as well as hemp dress slacks. To finish up your look, try a hemp tie in one of six shades from Grass Roots Natural Goods (800/226-0924, www.grassrootsnaturalgoods.com).

            For women, Sandstone Designs sells a “simple but elegant” hemp pantsuit, and Under the Canopy (888/226-6799, www.underthecanopy.com) sells an organic cotton beige blazer with matching low-rise trouser, as well as a linen mid-thigh, double-breasted blazer with matching linen pants. To polish off your look, add some fair trade jewelry from Jewels of the Trade (727/528-9431, www.jewelsofthetrade.com), which offers handmade items from Chilean and Indonesian workers who earn living wages in healthy working conditions.

Dear Green America,

I’ve heard mosquito repellents containing DEET are potentially very toxic. Are there any non-DEET alternatives that work as well?
— Bitten up in Michigan

You’re right to be concerned about DEET. The EPA maintains that DEET is only “slightly toxic.” However, a recent study by Duke University pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia details an extensive list of neurological harms caused by DEET and other conventional insecticides, from memory loss to tremors to slurred speech. The study also found DEET caused brain cell death and severe behavioral changes in rats.

While DEET does provide the longest-lasting protection against bites, a 2002 study in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found that many non-DEET repellents containing natural ingredients (including citronella, cedar, peppermint, lemongrass, geranium, and soybean) were just as effective at keeping mosquitoes at bay as DEET. The catch is that one application won’t protect you as long as DEET will, so you’ll have to be judicious about re-applying them.

The NEJM study found soybean oil to be the most effective natural repellent. The difference was that DEET’s repelling capabilities lasted longer than the soybean oil—301 minutes to 94.6 minutes. Green Ban (319/446-7495, available at www.ediblenature.com) provides plant-based, chemical-free insect repellents containing soybean oil. And Bite Blocker (800/805-BITE, www.biteblocker.com) offers another DEET-free, all-natural, soybean-based repellent. A study by researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, found that Bite Blocker reduced mosquito bites by 97-99.2 percent, competitive with OFF! Skintastic repellent, containing 6.65 percent DEET, which reduced bites by 85-100 percent. (Repellents with 100 percent DEET were more effective than OFF! Skintastic.)

The NEJM study found that citronella (widely available in candles, incense, and lamp oil) and other natural oils also provided sufficient protection against mosquitoes when applied to the skin, although for a much shorter period of time (about 20 minutes) than DEET. A follow-up NEJM study found that eucalyptus was also effective, lasting anywhere from 60-217 minutes.

To enjoy the benefits of citronella and eucalyptus, as well as other essential oils, try Jade and Pearl’s “Beat It Bug Buster” (800/219-9765, www.jadeandpearl.com). The spray combines citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and other natural ingredients in a base of aloe vera and coconut. 

Remember, before you use any product containing essential oils, try a small amount on a patch of skin first to check for allergic reactions. You may also want to consult with your doctor, especially if you are pregnant or nursing.

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