Organic: A Choice For Our Children

Our guest blogger is Alan Greene, MD, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, Attending Pediatrician at Packard Children's Hospital, and Senior Fellow at the University California San Francisco Center for the Health Professions. He is also founder of DrGreene.com and author of Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care.


As parents, we want to feed our children healthy food. What parent would turn down the chance to give a child delicious, healthy food that is convenient, a good money value, that the child loves - and then responds with a, "Thank you, Mommy, that was great! May I help clean up?"

In practice, though, many powerful forces determine our food choices. Our children have tasted artificially flavored, partially hydrogenated, day-glow snack foods and clamor for more. Our kids tell us that their friends' "parents let them eat" the latest processed food fashion. Huge sums of money pay for artists, musicians, toy manufacturers, psychologists, and marketers to work together to carefully manipulate your child's food preferences.

We're busy and want something simple, quick, and preferably inexpensive. We return to the ruts of the unhealthy foods we ate ourselves as kids or that we know our own kids will like. We feel guilty because of our busy lifestyles and don't want to say "no" to our kids - especially if it means yet another battle.

And the last straw - we hear conflicting information about what is healthy. High carb or low carb? Low fat is good for kids. Low fat is bad for kids. Sugar doesn't affect behavior. Sugar causes ADHD. Aspartame is totally safe. Airplane pilots aren't allowed to eat foods containing aspartame because it affects their judgment.

Phew! What's a parent to do? Thankfully, making healthier food choices is simple and clear. Increasing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in the diet makes the diet healthier. Especially in our antibiotic-flooded age, eating foods that contain live active cultures of beneficial bacteria makes our diet healthier. Decreasing artificial chemicals in the diet and the environment, makes us all healthier.

Nutrition is not an all-or-none activity. The goal is to keep making choices that make the diet a little better.

A Stitch in Time
DDT used in the United States before 1966 may have caused an epidemic of premature births that has only now been detected! According to a fascinating study published in the July 14, 2001 issue of The Lancet, scientists who studied stored cord blood samples from mothers who had delivered at that time found elevated levels of DDT breakdown products among the group who had premature deliveries or low birth weight infants. This would make DDT responsible for a host of medical problems and the deaths of many children - but the link wasn't proven until more than 30 years later! DDT use in the United States was stopped in 1972 because it caused reproductive damage to birds (the bald eagle and brown pelican were nearly extinct), but DDT is still widely used in developing countries for insect control. I'm certain that the dangers of some chemicals in common use in the United States today will be proven in the future. I believe that toxic chemicals are one of the biggest health threats to our children. We may not prove the links until they are grown, but we must not wait until then to provide them with safe food, water, air, homes, and schools.

On a personal note, my wife has now recovered from a very malignant form of breast cancer. She has no family history of the disease, but toxic chemicals were used on her farm when she was a child.

What we now call 'conventional farming' is actually something very new. In the 20th century, our naïve optimism about science led to the over-exuberant use of antibiotics, infant formulas, surgery, pesticides, hormones, and fossil fuels. It's time to bring this back into balance.

Organic food has long been the standard for human nutrition. In contrast, many chemicals and hormones introduced post World War II do not have proven long-term safety. Some of them may be fine. Time will tell. I prefer organic for children where there is a good choice.

With the dramatic increase in organic farming in recent years, the new generation of organic farmers is developing innovative and earth friendly ways to increase yields and improve flavor. What is organic and why is it so important for our children?

Organic Defined
Organic refers to the way agricultural products - food and fiber - are grown and processed. It is an ecological system that relies on healthy, rich soil to produce plants that resist pests and diseases. Organic farming prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favor of innovative practices that work with nature, instead of against it, such as crop rotation, cover crop planting, beneficial insect release and composting. In the case of livestock, no antibiotics or synthetic hormones are permitted. Organic production also prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Organic practices mean:

• No pesticides to contaminate our soil and water or injure farm workers
• No fertilizers to runoff and contaminate rivers, lakes and oceans
• A healthier and more sustainable environment for us all

Pesticides In Our Food and Environment
Chemicals used in conventional farming pose many risks to human health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged with evaluating pesticides and setting "acceptable risk" levels of exposure. EPA's tests have largely been conducted on fully grown adult men or non-human animal species, exposing them to one chemical at a time. Evidence now shows that chemicals in combination - the way we are usually exposed to them in everyday life - may exponentially increase health risk.

Additionally, many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before extensive research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases. Now the EPA considers 33% of all pesticides as potentially cancer-causing.

Why Organic Especially for Children?
Children are developing organs to last a lifetime. Due to their smaller size, fast-growing speedy metabolisms, and less varied diets, infants and children are more vulnerable to health and developmental damage. In 1993, a congressionally mandated study by the National Academy of Sciences expressed concern that existing methods of risk evaluation for pesticide exposure were failing children. More recently, the Consumers Union and Environmental Working Group have released studies confirming that children are overexposed even if their exposure is within legal limits.

The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 mandated a review of agricultural chemicals in light of this new information about risk assessment. Included in this act is a requirement to impose a 10-fold margin of safety to protect children when setting standards for the use of pesticides on food. While safety standards have become more strict, buying organic products, if they are available and you can afford them, and supporting organic agriculture may be your best protection.

Why Does Organic Cost More?
Organic products do tend to cost more than their conventional counterparts. To some extent, this is changing as production capacity and demand for organic products increase, improving production efficiencies and lowering prices at the checkout. In addition, many involved in organic are striving for a sustainable agricultural system - one which is ecologically sound as well as economically viable. Paying farmers a fair price for their products is an important tenet for many involved in organic agriculture.

Raising a family on a budget can pose challenges at times. Watching pennies and doing "the right thing" for our families can sometime seem in conflict. For example, in the case of organic foods and fibers, it's understandable to question if the benefits are really worth the extra cost. Looking beyond the price of an organic product and considering the true value, may shed light on the subject. When considering products for your children, organic may indeed be a far better value.

An Opportunity to Support a Healthier Tomorrow
Our children are our most treasured resources, and we have the opportunity to protect them. By reducing toxic exposure, organic products can help us raise healthy, strong children. Through nurturing the soil and keeping toxic and persistent chemicals out of the environment, organic agriculture is one thing we can support to help us pass along a healthy and safe planet for future generations. The cost may be a little more, but the value for you and your family may be far greater.

Related Topics:

• How to Eat Organic Foods on a Budget
• Organic Buying Power
• Health eHome
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get the Parenting & Children's Health newsletter in your inbox weekly

One Hour + One Billion People = One Happy Earth

How an Hour of Darkness Can Shed Light on the World

by Janelle Sorensen

How often do you sit in the dark? I'm guessing never (unless, maybe you're an insomniac). This Saturday, I'm going to try sitting in the dark for an hour with my family. I think we'll either tell campfire ghost stories or play board games by candlelight.

Why?

Because we're voting for Earth. Not following me? Allow me to explain.

Saturday from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (your time zone) is Earth Hour, a global event where people all over the world turn out their lights for just one hour as a sort of unified honor the Earth moment. This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world's first global election, between Earth and global warming. Lights off – are a vote for Earth. 2,500 cities, towns and municipalities (up from a mere 370 last year) in 83 countries have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, and the event's coordinators are hoping to get one billion people to participate.

One billion people taking one simple action to show united, global support for addressing climate change. It will be an unprecedented moment. Never before have so many humans stood together on one issue.

According to EarthHour.org,

"The historic event will see millions of people gathered in parks, streets, town squares and homes around the world to witness the lights going out on iconic landmarks and city skylines, while taking in the atmosphere of some truly unique Earth Hour events. In Sydney, where Earth Hour began in 2007, every ferry in the city's famous harbor will sound its horn at precisely 8.30 p.m. to herald the beginning of Earth Hour in Australia, while in Melbourne a people-pedal-powered concert will be underway at Federation Square. On the other side of the world, arrangements will be underway for a host of concerts and parties in cities across Europe, including a 'circle of percussion' in Athens, where people will be given percussion instruments to play, led by a conductor, as the lights go out on the Acropolis. In Oslo's city centre, members of the public will take up the challenge of peddle-powered light bulbs, while residents in the city of Lisbon will sit down to an evening of outdoor candle-lit dining as they watch their city skyline go dark."

Earth Hour Executive Director, Mr. Andy Ridley, says Earth Hour is more than just a call to action on climate change."Earth Hour is an opportunity for the global community to speak in one voice on the issue of climate change, while at the same time coming together in celebration of the one thing every single person on the planet has in common - the planet," he said. "Whether it's joining your community in a town square to watch the city lights go dark or hosting a lights out party in your own home, I encourage everybody across the world to be a part of this historic occasion. Turn off your lights, celebrate the planet, enjoy the moment and cast your vote for Earth."

What about when the lights come back on? Many argue that this event is completely missing the point. That we need to do more than just turn out the lights for an hour. They're absolutely right.

So what are you doing? Or, what are you going to do? Today marks the launch of the "Healthy Begins Here" video contest challenge where we are asking you to submit a video less than 2 minutes in length that shows what you can do to make a healthy, green home (which helps support a healthy, green Earth).

But, we don't simply want you to show us what you do, we want you to have fun. Because if you make it fun, other people will be inspired to try it too.

Going green and living healthier doesn't need to be complicated, or a hassle, or a sacrifice. Talking about it shouldn't be doom and gloom or wrapped in contrived morality. It should be fun. And it CAN be fun.

Whether it's your great grandma demonstrating her old school chemical-free cleaning tricks, your dad skateboarding to work, or your dog taking out the recycling - send us a video under 2 minutes that shows us how you protect your little piece of the planet. Do whatever you do, but do it refreshingly different. Make it fun.

Visit http://www.youtube.com/user/HealthyChild to learn more.

Related Topics:

• Health eHome
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
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Lead in Lipstick, Parabens in Perfume: What Are You And Your Teenager Wearing These Days?

Our guest blogger is Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, founder and CEO of EcoStiletto.com, "Mommy Greenest" blogger and mother of Gabriel, Julia and Chloe. Rachel is also working on book called Mommy Greenest: Changing the World, One Small Step At A Time.

Photo Credit: SpooSpa

Apply. Lick. Repeat. That's my mantra when it comes to lips. Before meeting, after eating and, dangerously, while driving, I spend a lot of time applying lipstick or lip gloss to my lips. And according to the Environmental Working Group, all that licking means that I, an average woman, will eat more than nine pounds of the stuff over my lifetime.

Nine. Pounds.

All grossness aside, this fact wouldn't be so alarming if it weren't for another: In 2007, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, found two-third of lipsticks contained lead, a known neurotoxin that has been linked to brain damage and miscarriages, among other horrors.

Nine. Pounds. Containing. Lead.

That's enough to make me sit up, take notice, and dump the contents of my makeup bags into the trash (fearful all the time that I should be disposing of the stuff as hazardous waste).

But the news has gotten better: This year, Canada banned lead in lipstick. In August of 2008, a single vote in the State Assembly barred a similar ban in California. With a new introduction of the bill on deck for 2009, the geniuses at Teens Turning Green launched a clever "Lips Against Lead" petition, in which people are encouraged to apply lead-free lipstick and kiss an organic cotton petition, that will then be sent to the Assembly when the teens show up to shame them into passing it.

Now my kids are a little young to appreciate the value of a bunch of girls kissing a petition to legislate for lead-free lipstick. My son is 10 and lipstick, to him, is ludicrous; my daughter is seven and I'm trying to limit her to petro-free lip balm. The Barnacle (read: baby) just thinks it's food.

But the whole experience made me think of my niece, an amazing Gen Y-er whom I watched come into the world and who is on the tail end of "tween," the generation of eight-to-12-year-olds who are 20 million strong today and projected to hit 23 million by 2020, according to the U.S. Census. With 10-year-old Malia and eight-year-old Sasha Obama currently our Washington tweens-in-residence, all eyes are upon this potentially powerful group - especially beauty marketers.

Being naturally gorgeous herself (and no, it's not just me who thinks so), C, as we'll call my niece (because she'd kill me if I used her full name), has not yet begun to rely on the pancake-base-powder-blush-eyeliner-mascara-lip-gloss makeup routine that many teenagers turn to each morning, "putting on their faces" in a way that I haven't seen since my grandmother refused to leave the house without her blue eye shadow.

But C has developed a serious penchant for lip gloss. And perfume. Not just any perfume, but the heavy, yummy-sweet stuff that you can only get from synthetic fragrances. Now this totally makes sense, as these are the scents that are marketed to her in the stores where she shops, like Forever 21, Claire's and the Gap. The marketing experts who work with these companies to sell perfume to teens and tweens prey on two factors: first, that these girls are incredibly insecure about how they smell as their body chemistries shift and change, and second, the fact that, to them, makeup is typically verboten, while fragrance is an acceptable step towards womanhood that won't raise eyebrows among their Gen X parents.

Perfume and lip gloss are just the tip of the iceberg. Once makeup is in the approved category, teen girls typically use more personal care products than women - an average of 17 as opposed to 12 - because they're experimenting with what they do and don't like. And because they're on limited budgets, typically these products are the least inexpensive in the category - think Bonnie Bell, Wet 'n Wild, Maybelline. Unfortunately, these cheap products are manufactured from the cheapest chemical ingredients.

In fact, the Environmental Working Group found that most American girls typically have 13 different hormone-altering chemicals in their bodies at any given time. Overwhelmingly, tests of a small sample of girls detected paraben preservatives - typically "methylparaben" and "propylparaben" - in their blood and urine. Parabens have been linked to an increase in prostate and breast cancer, genital abnormalities in male babies, a decline in semen quality in men and early onset of puberty in girls.

They're also in perfume.

The EWG's study used a small sample group - only 20 girls. Obviously tests need to be done on a larger scale. But bigger studies have linked these chemicals to cancer and hormone disruption - both problems that have spiked in children in recent years. Childhood cancer rates are up 30% in the last 30 years, according to the Progressive Policy Institute. Girls today are menstruating as early as eight. And scientists like New York doctor Frank Lipman are starting to look at the links between health risks and chemicals in personal care products. Although each product might have a low level of potentially dangerous chemicals, the 17 mixed together can pack a potent toxic punch.

How is it possible that beauty companies manufacturing teen products create them with ingredients that have been linked to serious health problems-even cancer? Because - newsflash - the beauty industry is unregulated:

• Companies are not required to test products or ingredients for safety before they're sold, manufacturers can use whatever chemicals they want in their products, and are not required to disclose their ingredients.
• The Toxic Substances Control Act was passed over 30 years ago and takes as its premise that chemicals are safe until they have been proven unsafe.
• The panel of scientists that make up the self-policing Cosmetic Ingredient Review is funded by-you guessed it!-the beauty industry.

It's hard to prove an ingredient is unsafe when your review board is paid by the companies that use it.

Now teenagers aren't known for worrying about safety. They're just trying to get through the day without too much anxiety about fitting in. And much of that fitting in involves identifying with their peers - through makeup and fragrance.

But as my niece's perfume affinity increases, so have her frequent headaches. And although I've avoided getting all heavy on her with talk about cancer and early onset menstruation, I did gently suggest that she might consider cold-turkeying her perfume habit in an effort to ascertain if the synthetic perfumes might be contributing to a fragrance allergy manifesting itself in headaches.

She just politely ignored me.

So my activism on behalf of C has taken another turn. I'm sending her a full set of Teens Going Green chemical-free beauty products for her birthday this year. I'm founding the Los Angeles chapter of the organization this spring. And the next time a petition makes it to New Orleans, I'm going to send her some lead-free lipstick to kiss it with.

Because there's no reason why she should be hurt by an industry that cares more about her money than her welfare. And the only way to convince her otherwise is to show her that products which don't contain chemicals work just as well.

Now if Teens Turning Green would just come out with a perfume...

Have you looked at the ingredients in your lipstick lately? Check your brand at www.cosmeticdatabase.com, then tell me what you think!

Related Topics:

• Natural Cosmetics: Are They Healthier for Your Skin?
• Beyond First Blush: An Up-Close Look at Natural Skin Care Products
• Health eHome
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get the Parenting & Children's Health newsletter in your inbox weekly

Leave Dirt at the Door: How Taking Off Your Shoes Can Improve Your Health

Our guest blogger is Laura Dern - Actress, Activist, and Mom to Ellery and Jaya.


In many cultures it's customary to remove your shoes before entering a home for spiritual or practical reasons. And as a mom, I encourage the practice because I want a clean home. But taking off your shoes not only helps keep your home cleaner, it also helps keep it healthier. Think about it. Where have the bottom of your shoes been? If you've stopped to fill up your car, you can track home gasoline on your feet. If you've walked through a freshly treated lawn or putting green, you can track home toxic pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Seemingly benign dirt can have traces of lead in it. You walk through it, then you walk through your home leaving traces on your rug, your baby crawls past, and then stops to put her hand in her mouth. Get the picture?

The professional cleaning industry estimates that we track 85% of the dirt in our homes in from the outside on our shoes or paws of pets. In a recent warning about lead exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) specifically recommends that shoes remain outside the house. According to a report called The Door Mat Study, lead-contaminated soil from the outside causes almost all the lead dust inside homes. It notes that wiping shoes on a mat and removing them at the door cuts lead dust by 60 percent. The study explains that limiting the amount of dust and track-in may also help reduce exposure to lawn and garden pesticides, wood smoke and industrial toxins, mutagens, dust mites, and allergens.

Wiping our shoes off as we enter the home reduces the amount of contaminated dirt tracked in. Large mats, that cover two or three strides, will ensure that even those that refuse to wipe will leave most of the dirt clinging to their shoes on the mat rather than your carpet

The BEST solution is to take off your shoes as you enter your home. It is a good excuse to buy some great socks or slippers. And your flooring will stay clean as well as keep dirt and potential toxic threats from getting into carpets. If going shoeless is not acceptable to family members, suggest that they wear house shoes (that don't go outside), slippers or socks.

And walking around in soft slippers, socks, or barefoot does another wonderful thing - it helps us relax and unwind.

Sources:
EPA, Lead in Paint, Dust and Soil
Housekeeping Solutions, Floor Care: Rolling Out the Welcome Mat
Small Property Owners of America, The Door Mat Study

Related Topics:

• Health eHome
• Green Cleaning Spruces Up Environment
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get the Parenting & Children's Health newsletter in your inbox weekly

What the Heck is Household Hazardous Waste?

You may be surprised...

by Healthy Child Healthy World

Are you familiar with what household hazardous waste is? Sounds like a vat of bubbling green goo, but it actually comes in much more benign packaging. Most of what makes up household hazardous waste are products we casually purchase on a regular basis, like conventional cleansers, paints, pesticides, batteries, medication, antifreeze, glues, lighter fluid, even nail polish and perfumes. All of these unassuming products (and many others) are risky for human health and the environment and should be handled and disposed of with great care.

Quick Facts

• Hazardous products will have one or more of these characteristics in varying degrees: Ignitability, Toxicity, Corrosivity, Reactivity


• Hazardous products currently are labeled with signal words: Danger, Warning, Caution, Poisonous, Flammable (older products may not contain signal words)


• The term "inert ingredients" on product labels is highly misleading because it may convey the impression that these ingredients are nontoxic or otherwise not hazardous. Some inert ingredients are quite toxic or can make the active ingredients more toxic.

Quick Tips

• Buy only what you need. Try to find safer alternatives to common hazardous materials by looking for non-toxic, natural products. If you do buy a hazardous product, buy only as much as you need.


• Never pour pesticides, flammable materials, or solvent-based products down the sink drain.


• Never pour anything down the storm drain. Storm drains are directly connected to the nearest stream, lake, or ocean. There is no treatment of any kind before water is emptied into a natural body of water.


• Never put liquids or any toxic, corrosive, flammable or chemically reactive materials in the trash. No liquids - not even soda. Use up hazardous products according to label directions or dispose appropriately - not in trash! Triple rinse empty containers and pour/apply the rinse water to the same area you are treating. Do not use banned pesticides, outdated medicines, lead paint or old chemistry sets.


• Recycle. Bring leftover products to someone else who will use it. (Does not apply to banned pesticides, outdated medicines, lead paint or old chemistry sets.) Motor oil - call your local health department for recycling information.


• Take it to a household hazardous waste collection program. Call your Department of Health or Department of Sanitation for advice, dates & locations. Also, visit Earth 911 (www.earth911.org), or call 800-CLEANUP for more information on proper disposal or recycling of household hazardous products. Enter your zip code for local information.

Any additional questions? Visit the US Environmental Protection Agency's Household Hazardous Waste information page.

Related Topics:

• Health eHome
• WebMD Video: Household Poisons: Looking Beyond the Obvious
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get the Parenting & Children's Health newsletter in your inbox weekly

A Green Guide to Poison Prevention

by Janelle Sorensen

Did you know this is National Poison Prevention Week? I am personally thankful for the many Poison Control Centers across the country. When my older daughter was about 4, she climbed on top of our kitchen counter and reached high into the cupboard where we kept her vitamins, grabbed them, jumped down, and ate them all. I found her peacefully sitting on the couch next to the empty bottle, asked her what she had done, and called Poison Control (that number, by the way is 1-800-222-1222, keep it handy, you never know when you'll need it). The woman I spoke with asked me some questions about the brand of vitamin and my daughter's age and size. And, after a few tense moments of waiting while she entered the information into her computer, she kindly told me my daughter would be fine. Phew!

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), almost 2 1/2 million poisonings are reported each year - that's a call every 13 seconds. More than 90 percent of these poisonings occur in the home and almost 50 percent occur in children younger than six years old.

The AAPCC recommends a lengthy list of actions including locking cabinets, only using toxic products when you can completely focus on the task at hand, and keeping an ever watchful eye on your children. Great tips in general, but every parent knows how quickly distractions occur and how easy it is to forget taking precautions sometimes (hey, we're busy and sleep deprived and multitasking to the best of our abilities). So, I have a simpler suggestion - go green. Green products don't rely on the toxic chemicals used in conventional products. So, if you opt for green, non-toxic options, you're reducing the possibility of poisonings, reducing the number of precautions you need to take, and reducing worries.

What's poisoning our children and how do we prevent it?

Personal Care Products. Shampoos, lotions, and cosmetics contain hundreds of synthetic chemicals (read the labels to get a glimpse inside). Three steps can help you reduce this risk: eliminate unnecessary products (how many face creams do you really need?), look for natural and organic products (visit cosmeticsdatabase.com), and get back to the basics (olive oil makes a great moisturizer and I've heard you can wash your hair with baking soda if you really want to simplify).

Cleaning Products. Instead of worrying about “safe” use and proper storage of cleaning products, stop buying toxic products and make the switch to green cleaners or use basic ingredients like baking soda and vinegar. (If you mix up your own cleaner, label the bottle and list what ingredients you used.)

Pesticides. In 2006, there were over 77,000 calls regarding potential exposure to pesticides. Again, the advice is to lock up these poisonous products, but you can avoid having them altogether by taking preventative steps to avoid pests and using safer methods for killing them if you still end up with a problem. Visit BeyondPesticides.org for more information.

Plants. Plants are beautiful additions to any home and actually help purify your indoor air, but some can be poisonous for children and pets. Safe plants that have been shown to help clean up indoor air include Chinese evergreen, arrow head vine, English ivy, and spider plants.

Arts, Crafts, and Office Supplies. Kids love crafting, but chemicals in materials can end up being absorbed by their skin, eaten (if your kids are young), or inhaled. So avoid the risk and go green with your crafts and your office by selecting supplies made of natural materials.

This is actually just the beginning of a very long list of the many different potentially poisonous materials we have in our homes the AAPCC receive calls about. It doesn't make sense to me that we so nonchalantly bring these things into our living spaces and keep them (and use them) around our children. Especially when we now know that it's not always the dose that makes the poison. For very young children or the developing fetus, small exposures can have lifelong negative health impacts even if there's no immediate signs of poisoning. In these cases it's the timing that makes the poison.

Your safest bet for poisoning prevention AND good health in general is to go green. Start using the Health eHome and HealthyChild.org today. If you're already taking steps to create a healthier home, kudos. Keep making progress and share your knowledge with friends, family, neighbors, and your community.

Related Topics:

• Health eHome
• Your Health and the Environment: Protecting Your Piece of the Planet
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get the Parenting & Children's Health newsletter in your inbox weekly

Dose Doesn't Always Make the Poison

Our guest blogger is Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, a pediatrician, epidemiologist, and internationally recognized leader in public health and preventive medicine. He is currently the Ethel H. Wise Professor of Pediatrics, Chair of Community and Preventative Medicine, and Director of the Children's Environmental Health Center at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

It goes without saying that it is imperative to know the appropriate dose of any medication you need to take. Take too little and you may feel no relief; too much and you could become sicker. In fact, it's actually quite marvelous that some things can be poisonous in large doses, but beneficial in small. Still, this rule does not always hold true.

For centuries, the basic tenet of toxicology has been "the dose makes the poison." Increasingly, scientists are finding "the timing makes the poison" - in other words, it's not just how much you are exposed to, but also when the exposure occurs. This new rule is especially important for fetuses who are uniquely susceptible to exquisitely small amounts due to their developing systems. In fact, many of these prenatal exposures leave the mother unscathed while causing injury to her fetus.

The growing brain appears to be the most sensitive, but scientists are also extremely concerned about the newest animal research suggesting that chemicals can alter gene expression. In essence, a single chemical exposure during a critical window of development can turn a gene on or off and subsequently predispose people to disease. Although the DNA is unchanged, isolated genetic alterations can be permanent, placing all subsequent generations at greater risk of diseases. Toxic exposures during these moments of heightened susceptibility can cause disease and disability in childhood and throughout life.

Though some chemicals connected to negative health or development impacts are now regulated in the United States, many remain unregulated Adverse health effects have been linked to chemicals at exposure levels commonly found in our everyday environments. Moreover, tests for developmental effects are not routinely required before a chemical is used in everyday products. So, we have an incredible gap in understanding because 80% of major chemicals in commerce have never been tested to see if they damage early development - the period of highest vulnerability.

What can you do to protect yourself and your children (whether you have kids now or are planning on having them in the future)? Prevent unnecessary exposures. Use the Health eHome and visit HealthyChild.org to find out how.

Related Topics:

• Health eHome
• Toxins and Pregnancy
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
• Get the Parenting & Children's Health newsletter in your inbox weekly

Environment and Cancer: Myths Vs Facts

Our guest blogger is Devra Lee Davis, PhD, MPH, Director, Center for Environmental Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and author of The Secret History of the War on Cancer.

At the Center for Environmental Oncology, our mission is helping to make prevention the cure for cancer. We translate scientific findings into educational materials and public policy recommendations to provide information on practical actions people can take to reduce the risk of cancer. Knowledge about cancer risks can empower people to make healthier choices for themselves their families and communities.

Myth: Chemical flame retardants in furniture and plastics are a "necessary evil" for preventing house fires.

Toxic flame retardants, long-lived chemicals that can accumulate in people and other animals, threaten the health of adults, children, the environment, and wildlife and are not proven to prevent fire deaths. Brominated Tris, a chemical used to make children's sleepwear fire resistant in the 70's, was banned in 1977 after it was found to damage DNA in laboratory tests and shown to leach into children's bodies. Its replacement, chlorinated Tris, was later banned after it was found to also damage DNA. (1)

Today, because of California law, much furniture and bedding foam is treated with a brominated chemical called poly brominated diphenyl ether (PBDE). PBDE's structurally resemble chlorinated Tris, which was a widely used fire retardant in furniture. Like chlorinated Tris, PBDE was recently deemed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to be "a probable human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence in animals." (2) most chemicals in this family, when tested in animals, have been found to cause health problems like cancer, sterility, thyroid disorders, endocrine disruption, and developmental impairment or birth defects, even at very low doses. (3, 4) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that residues of these and other persistent organic chemicals are found in children and women of reproductive age and in breast milk. (5) An analysis of fire data from 1980 to 2002 showed that, among the eight most populated states in the U.S., the rate of reduction of fire deaths in California (the only state with regulations leading to the use of fire retardant chemicals) is similar to seven other states that do not regulate the flammability of furniture. (6)

Myth: Asbestos, a known carcinogen, has been banned in the US.

Although restricted in use, asbestos is not banned and can sometimes be found in old brakes, roofing tiles, cement and insulation. Asbestos, the name given to a number of naturally occurring, fibrous silicate minerals mined for their useful properties such as thermal insulation and high tensile strength, is found in many products today, including roofing shingles, pipeline wrap, ceiling and floor tiles, paper and cement products, and in automobile parts such as the clutch, brake and transmission. Additionally, the EPA reports that 35 million American homes may be contaminated with asbestos in their attics in the form of Zonolite, the trade name for one specific type of insulation that was sold in the 1960s through 1980s and can contain an asbestos fiber called tremolite.

Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers that may become airborne when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed. When inhaled, asbestos fibers can lead to serious lung diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. If it must be disturbed or removed, asbestos should be handled only by a licensed inspector. Children should never play in attics or other areas where asbestos products have been used. (7) According to reports from several national cancer institutes (8), one in three cases of mesothelioma—a lethal and rare cancer uniquely tied with asbestos exposure—occurs today in a person who has never worked with asbestos, indicating that environmental exposures may play a role.

Myth: Personal care products are always safe to use.

The FDA does not have the authority to require safety testing on personal care products. Many of the products that women, men, and children use every day contain known and suspected cancer-causing agents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has undertaken a human biomonitoring study, reports that some of the toxic chemicals found in personal care products - including those that can cause cancer, interfere with hormone function and cause birth defects - are ending up in our bodies. (9, 10) These toxic chemicals include: lead in lipstick, phthalates and formaldehyde in nail polish, and parabens, used as preservatives in many products. the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics created Skin Deep Database, which can be searched to evaluate make up; skin-, hair-, eye-, nail-, baby-, and oral-, care products; and products containing fragrance.

Myth: Diagnostic radiation is safe for adults or children.

In 2007, the American College of Radiology (ACR) noted that in the past quarter century, the amount of radiation the U.S. population receives each year from medical imaging has increased fivefold. (11) Just this past month, the FDA issued an advisory to physicians regarding the inappropriate use of diagnostic radiation in children (12), while the Image Gently national campaign is encouraging pediatricians to use as low as reasonable achievable doses. (13)
A single CT scan of a child's stomach or head can be equivalent to between 200 to 6,000 chest X-rays. (14) One group of researchers, recently estimated that in one year, 700 people will die from cancers associated with head CT's and 1,800 will die from radiation-induced cancer from abdominal examinations carried out when they were infants. (15) If a CT scan is recommended for a healthy individual, especially a child, it is important to consider whether another diagnostic tool, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or ultrasound (neither of which involve radiation) could be used, instead.

References

1. A. Blum and B.N. Ames, Flame Retardant Additives as Possible Cancer Hazards: The main flame retardant in children's pajamas is a mutagen and should not be used. Science 195, 17. (1977)
2. The National Academies, Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering and Medicine,"The Science Behind Today's News," [Website]
3. J.A. Dye, M. Venier, C.R. Ward, L.Y. Zhu, R.A. Hites, L.S. Flame retardants in animals: Pet cats in the U.S. have high polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) serum levels. Birnbaum Society of Toxicology. Annual meeting Abstract number 853. (2007)
4. Tomy, G. T.; Palace, V. P.; Halldorson, T.; Braekevelt, E.; Danell, R.; Wautier, K.; Evans, B.; Brinkworth, L.; Fisk, A. T., Bioaccumulation, biotransformation, and biochemical effects of brominated diphenyl ethers in juvenile lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). Environmental Science & Technology, 38, (5), 1496-1504. (2004)
5. Schecter A, Pavuk M, Papke O, Ryan JJ, BirnbaumL, Rosen R. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE's) in U.S. Mothers' Milk. EHP 111(14)1723-1729. (2003)
6. California fire deaths compared to other states: National Fire Protection Association, Fire Death Rates By State, [Website]
7. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/help.html#pastandpresent http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html
8. Davis, Devra. The Secret History of the War on Cancer, Basic Books, New York. (October 2007), pps. 310, 471.
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals [Website] (2001-2004)
10. Malkan S. Not Just Another Pretty Face: The Ugly Truth about the Cosmetic Industry. New Society Publishers; 1 edition (November 1, 2007)
11. Amis, E S, Butler, P. F., and Applegate, K.E., et al. (2007) American College of Radiology White Paper on Radiation Dose in Medicine. J AM Coll Radiol, 4, 272-284.
12. US Food And Drug Administration: FDA Public Health Notification: Reducing Radiation Risk from Computed Tomography for Pediatric and Small Adult Patients [Website]
13. American College of Radiology, Image Gently Campaign, [Website]
14. Brenner D, Elliston C, Hall E, Berdon W. 2001."Estimated risks of radiation-induced fatal cancer from pediatric CT." AJR 176(2): 289-96.
15. Brenner, D, Elliston C, Hall E, Berdon W., "Estimated risks of radiation-induced fatal cancer from pediatric CT." AJR 176 (2): 289-96/

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Nutrition Pleasures & Precautions During Pregnancy

Our guest blogger is Tara DelloIacono Thies, RD, LUNA Nutrition Strategist at Clif Bar & Company.

As much as women share in the experiences of pregnancy and motherhood, we all have our own individual challenges and circumstances. Deciding what to eat when you're pregnant may seem like one of those challenges.

Sure, there are common guidelines and precautions we all pay attention to. I however found the number of resources available to women on "what to eat" overwhelming and confusing.

Nourishing your body during pregnancy IS very important but it doesn't have to be difficult. Let me try to simplify the information for you.

You can easily nourish your body and your baby by focusing on variety, proportion, and intention. Do this on the front end and the nutrients will come on the back end. But first, keep in mind a simple list of food precautions:

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

• Unpasteurized juice & dairy products
• Raw or undercooked meats
• Large-size fish high in mercury: Tuna, shark, swordfish, king mackerel (how often do you really eat this anyway?) Use a tool like Environmental Defense Fund's Seafood Selector.
• Artificial flavors and preservatives such as sodium nitrates (found in most deli, aged, & cured meats like salami or bacon), partially hydrogenated oils & high fructose corn syrup

With those precautions out of the way, the fun begins! Here are some foods you deserve to enjoy that will help ensure nourishment and feeling good:

Whole Food Guide

Whole Grains

Rule of thumb: Choose whole grains whenever possible.
Tara recommends: Quinoa, LUNA Cookie, & whole wheat ziti.
Green & Healthy Rx: Buy in bulk to save money and reduce packaging waste.

Vegetables

Rule of thumb: Eat in colorful abundance.
Tara recommends: Spinach sautéed with garlic and oil, steamed broccoli with cheese, buttered squash with brown sugar.
Green & Healthy Rx: Look for locally grown veggies or try growing your own.

Fruit

Rule of thumb: Great dessert and portable snack.
Tara recommends: Have an apple or an orange on hand.
Green & Healthy Rx: Use the Dirty Dozen Pocket Guide to find produce with the lowest levels of pesticide residues.

Dairy

Rule of thumb: Eat a food with calcium at least three times a day.
Tara recommends: Milk, yogurt, cheese, and LUNA Bars.
Green & Healthy Rx: Organic milk is one of the most important organic investments you can make.

Meat/Legumes

Rule of thumb: Satisfy your hunger by including protein at each meal.
Tara recommends: Chicken apple sausages, hummus on whole-grain crackers, and edamame.
Green & Healthy Rx: Eat less meat and more legumes to lower your carbon footprint.

Fat

Rule of thumb: Choose plant-based fats.
Tara recommends: Olive oil, nuts, avocados, and ground flax seed.
Green & Healthy Rx: Eat smaller portions. It takes between 7-10 calories of fossil fuel to bring 1 calorie to your plate.

Drinks

Rule of thumb: Sip water all day long to get in at least eight glasses a day.
Tara recommends: A mixture of sparking water and a splash of 100% fruit juice.
Green & Healthy Rx: Use a reusable stainless steel bottle.

Treats

Rule of thumb: Enjoy something delectable a few times a week.
Tara recommends: A few pieces of dark chocolate, rice pudding, and banana bread.
Green & Healthy Rx: Choose those with organic ingredients to support more sustainable agriculture practices.

Time Savers

Rule of thumb: Focus on healthy conveniences.
Tara recommends: Use fresh or frozen, pre-cut, pre-washed vegetables. Stock up on healthy lunch items such as soup, whole-grain crackers, sandwich meat without sodium nitrates, cheese, and pita bread.
Green & Healthy Rx: Use glass or stainless steel containers when you need to keep your snacks handy.

Give yourself a break by keeping "what to eat" simple. My hope is that this relieves you from any of the confusion and conflicting information I found out there. Strive for a "do the best you can" approach, take your prenatal vitamins, and save the rest of your energy for the new someone in your life, who will need it so much more.

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Eliminating Pests Without WMDs

by Janelle Sorensen

Photo: Sean Dreilinger

Every winter, my husband and I marvel at the ability of mice to defy the laws of physics by contorting their molecular make-up in order to squeeze through any tiny crack or crevice they find in the exterior walls of our home. Usually they are heard and not seen - a little scratching behind walls or a nearly inaudible squeak. My husband strategically places traps around the house, and I imagine him releasing the captured mice at a rodent resort where they get poolside peanut butter service.

Believe me when I say that I respect the concepts of biodiversity and cohabitation with many species. I just don't want most of them in any proximity whatsoever to where I eat, sleep, or bathe.

One unfortunate day, when just my 4 year-old daughter and I were at home, a brave (or perhaps naïve) young mouse ran across our living room. Instead of bursting out in hysterical shrieks, I decided to set a good example for my daughter and calmly deal with the situation. Thus, I retrieved our broom and began my comical pursuit.

The mouse ended up running behind a large bureau where we engaged in a ridiculous dance. I poked my broom behind the bureau on the left side and it ran to the right. I ran to the right side and poked again and it ran left. Back and forth, back and forth. As the chase continued, my adrenaline pumped faster and faster until finally, I yanked the bureau away from the wall and went in for the kill. (Note to the squeamish: skip the next sentence). I hit the mouse with immense force (and not once, but over and over and over) until blood sprayed onto the walls and the broom handle snapped in half.

I stared in disbelief, my whole body trembling, and then remembered my daughter had been sitting on the couch witnessing the whole debacle. I took a deep breath, walked away from the murder scene and over to where she was sitting. She was perfectly silent, sitting absolutely still. I thought she must be permanently traumatized - how am I going to explain this? I asked gently, "Are you okay, honey? I know that may have been kind of scary to watch." She answered with complete nonchalance, "It's okay Mommy. That mouse couldn't live here and there's a lot more mouses. Can I watch PBS?" Sure, sweetheart. You'd never witness anything as inappropriate as that on Sesame Street.

What's the point of this story? As I said earlier, I really don't like bugs or rodents in my home. Not surprisingly, neither do most other people. And, while I beat my unwanted guest to a pulp, others opt for less physical methods, like poison or bug bombs. Neither way is ideal. In fact, even though pesticides likely won't give your kids nightmares, they may cause permanent health impacts. They're linked to a wide range of health problems including asthma, brain damage, and even cancer.

The best way to get rid of rodents and bugs is actually not to get them in the first place. Well, duh, tell me something I didn't know, right? Really, though. Keep your house clean and uncluttered. Keep foods in your pantry in airtight containers. Clean spills immediately. Regularly wash out your garbage can and recycling containers. Dust, dirt, and crumbs are like a free buffet for bugs and critters. And you may as well have a flashing neon sign inviting them in if you have a torn screen or cracked foundation. Don't provide dinner and don't provide a way in, and you should be okay.

If that fails, try a safer remedy like Boric Acid or food-grade diatomaceous earth. Of course these ingredients aren't a panacea for your pest problems. There are specific tips for every kind of invader and you can learn all about them at BeyondPesticides.org.

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Kate Hudson Says You're in Charge!

Healthy Child Healthy World

What are you in charge of? Your life, your home, your purchases, and so much more. It's not as though you needed permission, but it's important to remember nonetheless - especially as you start to create a cleaner, greener, healthier home. You're going to encounter a lot of rules - do this, don't do that, avoid this, buy that - but you need to take charge and choose what's right for you.

As Kate Hudson says in our book, "When it comes to living a healthier life, I really feel you have to call your own shots. You have to begin by deciding to make positive changes. I started by making certain things myself. I've made lotions, candles, homeopathic remedies, and aromatherapy treatments, mainly as fun hobbies that then developed my interest in the types of ingredients used in products and their effects on us and the environment...It's all about taking charge...I can do something - quite a lot, actually."

She's right. You'll find that small actions quickly turn to habit and before you know it, you're feeling healthier and happier than ever. Many of the ideas will help you save money, too! Want to make your own lotion like Kate? For less than a dollar per bottle and with only three ingredients, you can make a natural moisturizing lotion. Replace that apple cinnamon plug-in air freshener with some real sliced apple and cinnamon - just simmer in some water on the stove to make the whole house smell like apple pie. Simple tricks like these save you money, reduce your exposure to unnecessary chemicals, and help protect the planet.

Where should YOU start creating a healthier home? Take the Health eHome quiz to find out.

*****

Kate Hudson's quote taken from Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.

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No One Can Do Everything

by Christopher Gavigan

Eat your (local and seasonal) vegetables. Clean the kitchen. Pay your bills online. Life is filled with demands, tasks, and responsibilities. All these big and little things we're supposed to do everyday, and the list is always growing. Toss in loving and attending to your children's needs, and each day becomes a whirlwind of activity. There never seem to be enough minutes in the day.

As if you didn't have enough to worry about already, there is a constant onslaught of fear-based headlines about chemicals in plastics, toxics in toys, and contaminants in food - all of which can make you confused, overwhelmed, and near immobile. What are you supposed to do? What's important? What do you do first? Who has time to research all of these issues?

Every so often something comes along that actually makes your life easier. Right now is one of those times.

WebMD has aligned with Healthy Child Healthy World, a nonprofit leader dedicated to inspiring parents to protect children from harmful chemicals, to bring you the all new Health eHome. This interactive, educational tool offers you the easy tips, practical solutions, and most trusted advice about healthy, safe, environmentally sensible living. (Life just got easier.)

Explore it, bookmark it, and refer to it whenever you read an alarming headline, hear a fellow parent express concern, or see a product claim that makes you wonder what you can realistically do to protect your health. We know you're busy and you have better things to do with your time, so we'll try to make it all quick, easy, and maybe even entertaining (RSS this blog for that part).

And if we inspired you to be even more interested about nontoxic options and safer products (it's ok to be an uber-greenie), there is MORE, much more, to discover at HealthyChild.org, our nonprofit's main site.

Please always remember, while trying to protect your health and the planet can seem very overwhelming, every little bit you do helps. Promise. Try to live with this mantra in mind: No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

So, visit the Health eHome when you can get those free 10 minutes and pick one thing to do today. It matters! And you'll be joining a movement of parents eager to create a healthier tomorrow for our children.

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The Benefits of Breast Milk Outweigh Any Risks

Our guest blogger is Sandra Steingraber, PhD, a biologist, award-winning author, mother of two, and cancer survivor. Formerly on faculty at Cornell University, she is currently Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York.

Stories in the media about the chemical contamination of human milk have made many mothers wonder if bottle-feeding might be an equally healthy alternative to breastfeeding. It is not.

The choice is very clear: Your own breast milk is, hands down, the best food for your baby - far better than its inferior pretender infant formula. This is the conclusion I reached after more than two years of studying the data on the chemical contamination of breast milk. It's why I nursed Faith for more than two years.

Let's first look at the benefits breast milk offers your baby. And then we'll examine the contamination issue.

Breast milk is not just food. It is also medicine. It swarms with antibodies and white blood cells drawn from your own body. By drinking it, your infant comes to share your immune system.

And benefits mightily from it. Breastfed infants:

• have lower rates of hospitalization and death;
• develop fewer respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections, ear infections, and meningitis;
• succumb less often to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; and,
• produce more antibodies in response to immunizations.

Studies also consistently show that children who were breastfed as infants:

• suffer less from allergies, asthma, diabetes, colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis;
• have higher I.Q. scores; and
• are less likely to develop obesity and cancer.

Breast milk even contains special substances that help guide the development of the brain after birth. And breastfeeding protects your own health. You will:

• bleed less after childbirth;
• lose less blood during the chaotic days of early motherhood, because breastfeeding suppresses menstruation;
• be at lower risk for hip fracture after menopause; and
• have lower rates of ovarian and breast cancer.

And there are practical benefits, too. Breastfeeding can be done one-handed. (Indeed, I'm nursing my son as I'm writing these words.) Bottle-feeding, which takes two hands, makes multi-tasking impossible. Breast milk is so digestible that comparatively little comes out the other end. Less poop. And it has no offensive odor. Really.

On the other hand, the chemical contamination of breast milk is not a trivial issue. When it comes to persistent organic pollutants, breast milk is the most contaminated of all human foods. It typically carries concentrations of organochlorine pollutants, such as dioxin, PCBs and DDT, that are ten to twenty times higher than those in cow's milk. And children who were breastfed as babies have higher levels of chemical contaminants in their bodies than those who were formula-fed. (Remember, in spite of this fact, breastfed children are healthier, less prone to cancer, and smarter.)

Breast milk is particularly vulnerable to chemical contamination because it exists one rung higher on the human food chain than the food that we adults eat. For chemicals that magnify as they move up the food chain - and the most serious toxins do - our breasts offer the poisons one more chance to concentrate.

DDT and PCBs remain the most widespread contaminants in human milk around the world. Other common contaminants of mother's milk include ingredients of flame retardants, pesticides, wood preservatives, toilet deodorizers, and dry-cleaning fluids.

Take these steps to provide your baby with the best nutrition possible:

Breastfeed. Your milk is unsubstitutable. Your baby needs it and will thrive on it. Indeed some researchers believe that breast milk can actually help "rescue" the baby from certain kinds of prenatal toxic damage. The healing powers of breast milk are unsurpassed.

Continue to avoid home and garden pesticides after your pregnancy. These chemicals can easily find their way into your milk through breathing and skin contact. For information on alternatives to pesticides, see Pest Control Without Pesticides.

Eat healthy by choosing a low-contaminant diet. While most chemical contaminants in breast milk are drawn from fat reserves that have been laid down over the mother's lifetime, you can at least reduce your current daily intake of harmful chemicals by:

• eating organic when possible. See Why Go Organic and Ten Fruits and Vegetables to Buy Organic.
  
• watching your fish consumption. The U.S Food and Drug Administration advises nursing women to avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. But, the Environmental Working Group and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group recommend greater caution, suggesting that nursing mothers avoid tuna steaks, sea bass, oysters from the Gulf Coast, marlin, halibut, pike, walleye, white croaker and largemouth bass.

Continue to avoid dry-cleaning fumes and other solvents from paints and finishes , glues and other building products.

Support efforts to phase out any and all toxic chemicals that accumulate in mother's milk. To help, contact Making Our Milk Safe (MOMS). Enjoy these days as a soon-to-be lactating mother. You are in full bloom.

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