In the aftermath of the devastation in Japan, the ongoing news about damaged nuclear reactors has put the world on high alert about levels of radiation around them. This is a serious concern for those in Japan and around the globe. I hope, for the safety of everyone, that radiation levels are kept to a minimum and do not contaminate the local water and food supplies. This imminent danger caused by a natural disaster got me thinking about how much radiation, or other toxic materials, we voluntary expose ourselves to on a daily basis. Is it harmful? Is it dangerous to use our cell phones as much as we do? How about microwaves, computers? Or the things we put on or into our bodies, such as self-tanners, Botox, etc.? There is so much in this world we do not have control over, like what will happen with the nuclear reactors in Japan. We can only hope for the best, especially for those in Japan. On a local level, we, as consumers, do have control over what we use on a daily basis and the materials we put in our own bodies. Perhaps we should look at our immediate surroundings and start asking what is good for us and what is not. If you have any useful tips or sources to pull from, please let us know. Here is a link to an interesting article on the use of cell phones. There have been several studies done, but no clear conclusion on whether cell phones cause cancer or are dangerous in other ways. I do believe it is important to educate ourselves on the products we use on a daily basis. — Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher