6 Surprising Toxics Hiding in Your Home

by Janelle Sorensen

Do you know where toxic chemicals are hiding in your home? Many people assume they're in a corner of the garage or in a cabinet in the basement. You know what I'm talking about - that place where you stack all the cans and containers of paints and pesticides and other products carrying warning labels. But, actually, toxics are hiding all over your home, in seemingly innocuous spaces. We eat them, inhale them, and rub them on our skin without a second thought. But, you don't have to co-exist with these unwelcome guests.

Here's a "who's who" of some of the sneakiest offenders and how to avoid them.

1. Pesticides

What they are: Pesticides are a whole class of chemicals used to kill weeds, kill bugs, kill microbials - kill things in general. And, guess what - they're highly toxic (that's how they kill things) and have been linked to cancer, birth defects, reproductive effects, neurotoxicity, and hormonal disruption.

Where they hide: Be aware that weed and pest killing chemicals are highly toxic! Read the package for a laundry list of potentially ill effects. But, you may not be aware of a different common pesticide: triclosan, an antibacterial found in everything from soap and laundry detergent to socks and computer keyboards.

How to avoid them: Avoid products that have triclosan listed as an ingredient - soaps and detergents are the most obvious, but also look out for toothpaste, sponges, shower curtains, toys, shoes, computer keyboards or anything else that claim to be antibacterial.

2. BPA (bisphenol-A)

What it is: BPA is a hormone-disrupting synthetic estrogen. According to animal studies, even at very low doses, BPA's mimicry of estrogen resulted in an array of health maladies including prostate and breast cancer, early onset of puberty, obesity, hyperactivity, lowered sperm count, miscarriage, diabetes, and altered immune system.

Where it hides: BPA has been in the news a lot over the past year as parents have decried it's presence in the clear, hard plastic known as polycarbonate that is used to make some baby bottles and reusable water bottles. But, BPA hides in other places, too - like dental sealants, the lining of food and beverage containers (including infant formula cans and other canned goods), pizza boxes, toilet paper, and the thermal paper receipts printed by most digital cash registers.

How to avoid it: Currently, it's assumed that most of our exposure is from food sources. So, avoid buying canned foods; look for fresh, frozen, dried, or jarred. Use safer plastics, like those with the number 2,4, or 5 in the chasing arrows symbol on the bottom of the product.

3. PFCs

What they are: Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) are a family of compounds that are extremely persistent and accumulate in the human body - remaining detectable for years after exposure. They have the potential to disrupt fetal development, hormonal function and the immune system and increase the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Where they hide: PFCs are manufactured to give coatings a nonstick or water/stain repellent qualities. These coatings are used on cookware, carpets (prior to 2008), clothing, shoes, bedding, upholstered furniture, and fast food packaging. (For a full list of products, see Environmental Working Group's Shopper's Guide to PFCs)

How to avoid them: Stay away from greasy or oily packaged and fast foods, as the packages often contain grease-repellent coatings (like microwave popcorn bags, fast food packaging, and pizza boxes). Find out what's used in "stain-resistant" treatments for clothing, furnishings and carpet before buying. Avoid personal-care products containing ingredients that include the words "fluoro" or "perfluoro." Avoid Teflon® cookware. If you choose to continue using, be careful not to let it heat to above 450ºF. Discard if coatings show signs of deterioration.

4. Brominated Flame Retardants

What they are: There are over 175 different types of flame retardants divided into different classes. The brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are currently the largest market group because of their low cost and high performance efficiency. While they may be reducing fire-related risks in certain situations, there is increasing concern that they introduce a wide spectrum of other toxic and persistent risks to our health and environment that far outweigh their fire suppression benefits.

Where they hide: BFRs have been added to consumer products like furniture, carpeting, clothing, and electronics for several decades in an effort to reduce fire-related injury and property damage. One of the main hiding spots for flame retardants is in polyurethane foam - like that used in cushions, baby mattresses, nursing pillows, and other foam products. Fire retardant chemicals can make up to 10% by weight of foam in furniture and baby products and 30% plastic in electronics. Typically, the chemicals are not covalently bound, which means they can migrate out.

How to avoid them: The major sources of exposure to toxic flame retardants are household dust and food. So, first of all, wash hands regularly. Dust and mop often. And vacuum with a HEPA filter regularly. Swipe your screens. Some of the most contaminated dust is that found on TV and computer screens. And, eat less meat. Vegetarians have lower levels of PBDEs in their bodies than chicken or red meat eaters. When you buy new furnishings, research what type of flame retardant, if any, has been used.

5. Phthalates

What they are: Phthalates (pronounced "tha-lates") are chemicals used to soften plastics and are used for a variety of reasons in personal care products. They are suspected carcinogens and hormone disruptors that are increasingly being linked to reproductive disorders.

Where they hide: Phthalates are found in polyvinyl chloride (PVC, vinyl) products, including children's toys, shower curtains, backpacks, cling wrap, decorating and building products, and blood bags. They are also used as an additive in a wide variety of other consumer products, including wood finishes, cleansers, insecticides, and, perhaps most disturbingly, many personal care products. They are one of the most widely used components of "fragrance."

How to avoid them: Read labels and avoid any personal care products or cleaners that have "fragrance" listed in the ingredients, unless the manufacturer specifies it's "phthalate-free." Also check the ingredients for DBP (di-n-butyl phthalate), DEP (diethyl phthalate), and BzBP (benzylbutyl phthalate). Avoid PVC plastic (#3 in the chasing arrows symbol usually found on the bottom of a product.)

6. Formaldehyde

What it is: Formaldehyde is a strong smelling, volatile organic compound (VOC) and common indoor air pollutant that is a known carcinogen. It is a naturally occurring chemical that is also produced synthetically in large quantities for consumer products, building products, and industrial purposes.

Why it's risky: Formaldehyde is a common ingredient in adhesives and finishes. Formaldehyde fumes can enter indoor air from plywood, particleboard, fiberboard, permanent press clothing and draperies, some types of foam insulation, fiberglass, and some paints and floor finishes. Woods made with urea formaldehyde resins emit higher levels of formaldehyde than those made with phenol formaldehyde. Some fingernail polishes and hardeners contain formaldehyde as well.

How to avoid it: Ventilate! Open windows and use fans and air conditioning to flush out air. In damp regions, dehumidifiers will also help reduce ?indoor moisture levels that promote off-gassing. Seal unfinished pressed wood items with a low or no VOC paint, varnish, or water-based polyurethane sealant. Look for formaldehyde-free products. Allow new particleboard furnishing and wood to release formaldehyde fumes outdoors or in a well-ventilated, unoccupied space (such as the garage) for a few weeks before bringing into the living space. Wash new clothing and bedding before use to remove formaldehyde-containing fabric finishes. Try to avoid buying permanent press fabrics.

Related Topics:

• 10 Affordable Ways to Make Your House – And the World – Safer and Healthier
• Pots, Pans, and Plastics: A Shopper’s Guide to Food Safety

What You Should Know About Hand Sanitizers and Your Health

by Janelle Sorensen

Michela Mongardi / CC BY 2.0

Are you carrying around hand sanitizer yet? During cold and flu season, especially during these days of pandemic flu, it's a smart, preventive tool to protect your health. But, what exactly is it? Are there any risks you should be aware of? Are some options safer than others? Read on to find out.

Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers
Most hand sanitizers are made from 60-90% ethyl alcohol (to be effective, the alcohol content must be over 60%.) Ethyl alcohol is an anti-microbial that's been recommended as a hand sanitizer for over 100 years and it's preferable to other alcohols because it doesn't dry out skin as badly.

Should you worry about applying alcohol to your skin? When used as directed, the alcohol in hand sanitizers poses no risk. What's absorbed into the blood is comparable to a tiny sip of wine and you don't have to worry about residue on your skin because it evaporates within seconds of drying. However, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can pose a serious poisoning issue to children under 6 if they ingest it. To be safe, hand sanitizers should be stored out of children's reach and used only with supervision.

In addition to alcohol, hand sanitizers can include:

• Glycerin - speeds repair of the skin's protective barrier
• Isopropyl Myristate - facilitates absorption
• Dimethicone - reduces sanitizer's greasy feeling
• Aloe vera gel - soothes skin
• Propylene glycol - antifungal
• Tocopheryl Acetate - acts as an antioxidant and moisturizer
• Triethanolamine - helps maintain pH of the product
• Carbomers - thickeners
• Aminomethyl Propanol - adjusts acidity
• Fragrances - make it smell nice. (But, fragrance mixtures are considered proprietary and manufacturers are not required to disclose what's in them. Approximately 1/3 of the 3,000 most common fragrances are allergens, asthmagens or respiratory irritants. Fragrances are also often where hormone disrupting phthalates hide.)

Alcohol is a serious microbial that wipes out germs and doesn't give them an opportunity to build up a resistance, but read your labels to find out if there are any extra ingredients you don't approve of. Here are some options to check out:

• Surya Brasil's Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer
• All Terrain Hand Sanz
• Burt's Bees Aloe Vero & Witch Hazel Hand Sanitizer (bonus points for using alcohol made from corn and while they do use fragrance, they never use phthalates)
• EO Hand Sanitizing Spray (bonus points for using non-GMO, corn-based alcohol)
• JAO Hand Refresher
• Method Hand Sanitizer (bonus points for corn-based alcohol, points docked for fragrance and dyes)

Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizers:
Some alcohol-free hand sanitizers rely instead on the antibacterial properties of chemicals like Triclosan and Benzalknonium Chloride. Ironically, both of these chemicals have promoted the growth of antibacterial-resistant strains of bacteria. In addition, they are both rated as a high hazard in the Cosmetics Safety Database. Instead, look into some of these options that rely on all natural ingredients with antimicrobial properties.

• CleanWell
• Grandma Minnie's Kid Gloves Hand Sanitizer
• Clean George (has ECOCERT*, Certified Organic, FSC* Certified ingredients)

Make Your Own?
The question with making your own is if you feel confident it's going to be effective. It's the case with some natural brands, too - there haven't been conclusive studies demonstrating their efficacy as hand sanitizers. But, even the claims that alcohol-based products kill up to 99.9% of germs is also a bit flawed (the tests were done on inanimate objects and not actual hands). Do your research, assess your needs, and make an informed choice.

If you decide to make your own, consider this recipe from Melissa Breyer of Care2.com:

"Dr. Lawrence D. Rosen, a New Jersey pediatrician who dispenses natural health advice on his blog, recommends his tried-and-true recipe for homemade hand sanitizer called thieves oil. His formula calls for cinnamon bark, lemon oil and eucalyptus. As legend has it, a group of 15th century European perfumers-turned-grave-robbers were able to defend themselves against the demons of bubonic plague (and other assorted bacterial maladies one might encounter while removing jewelery from corpses) by dousing themselves in a blend of essential oils, hence the name "thieves oil."

Now there are any number of stories circulating about this legend, and just as many recipes, many of them with a vinegar base. But going on Dr. Rosen's fail-safe recipe and the proven efficacy of cinnamon oil, I like the formula which includes equal amounts of cinnamon bark, lemon, eucalyptus, clove, and rosemary therapeutic grade essential oils. Mix them with jojoba or olive oil as a carrier, and use on hands as a sanitizer. (Note: pure essential oils can be very potent; it's important to test some on a small patch of skin to check for any adverse reactions.)"

How to Use Hand Sanitizers Effectively
Just with any soap or cleanser, it only does the job if you do it right.

How much should you use? Vigorously rub all sides of your hands with enough product to get them wet, and rub them together until they are dry. According to the C.D.C. guidelines for alcohol-based hand sanitizers, to be most effective, a dime-size dollop of alcohol gel should be rubbed into the hands for 30 seconds. For other hand sanitizers, you may need to contact the manufacturer to find out how to properly use the product.

Keep in mind that washing your hands is the best bet. Hand sanitizers don't cut through dirt and grime well, so soiled hands should be washed first if the sanitizer is to be effective. And, if you have access to wash your hands, you don't really need a hand sanitizer (except in isolated situations). If you're on the go and you know you won't be near a sink (especially with young kids whose hands are bound to get dirty) - you may want to bring wipes and a hand sanitizer. Then you can wipe the dirt and grime off before applying the sanitizer.

Additional Resources:

• GoodGuide's top rated hand sanitizers
• EWG's Cosmetics Safety Database
• Alternatives to Antibacterials and Disinfectants

Chemicals in Everyday Products Turning Boys into Girls?

by Christopher Gavigan

Neil Mallett
/ CC BY-SA 2.0

A new report from the Danish Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), highlights the critical risks facing toddlers from gender bending chemicals in everyday products. Chemicals like phthalates (found in PVC and fragrances), parabens (found in lotions and sunscreens), and pesticides are increasingly being linked to hormone disruption - and two year olds have more in their blood than any previous generations.

What does it mean?

• Today's boys have less sperm. Sperm counts are falling so fast that young men are about half as fertile as their fathers (and have about one-third the amount of sperm per milliliter as a hamster if you care to compare.)


• More boys are playing like girls. The DEFRA report highlights research from Rotterdam's Erasmus University that found that boys whose mothers were exposed to certain hormone disruptors were more likely to dress up in girl's clothes and play with dolls and tea sets.


• Fewer boys are being born. According to coverage of the report in the Telegraph, "A Canadian Indian community living on ancestral lands at the eastern tip of Lake Huron, hemmed in by one of the biggest agglomerations of chemical factories on earth, gives birth to twice as many girls as boys. It's the same around Seveso in Italy, contaminated with dioxins from a notorious accident in the 1970s, and among Russian pesticide workers. And there's more evidence from places as far apart as Israel and Taiwan, Brazil and the Arctic."


• Boys' unmentionables are getting smaller. Scientists at the University of Rochester in New York discovered that boys born to women exposed to phthalates had smaller penises and other feminization of the genitals.

Many of the chemicals being criticized have received their fair share of criticism in the past. What's new about this report is the emphasis on "chemical cocktails" - or the fact that these chemicals mixed together are far worse than they are alone. And, this is how we are exposed to them - in mixtures from our everyday environments - not isolated like they are often tested in the laboratory. Beyond the machismo these occurrences may invoke in many a male, the overwhelming concern is the threat to reproduction.

What can you do?

Reduce your exposure to hormone disruptors like pesticides, plasticizers, and chemically-laden personal care products.

• Eat organic food, whenever possible. Some of the offending chemicals mentioned in this report are stored in fat. So if you eat meat, choose low-fat cuts and remove excess fat. Also, choose low-fat dairy products.


• Avoid using plastic containers, especially for food and beverages. Use glass or stainless steel instead.


• Find safer personal care products. Cut back on how many and how much you use. And, maybe even try making your own (simple olive oil makes a wonderful skin moisturizer).


• Avoid using pesticides. Don't give pests food or shelter. Clean up spills immediately, fix leaks, repair cracks, and mend torn screens. Yank weeds or pour boiling water on them instead of resorting to herbicides.


• Find safer toys, teethers and clothes for your family. Help friends out, too by sharing some handy pocket shopping guides.

BPA Found in Cans Marked BPA-Free

by Janelle Sorensen

Just when you thought the BPA issue couldn't get any more confusing...Consumer Reports just published a study where they found BPA in food from nearly all cans tested - including those marked "BPA-Free."

According to the release:

"Consumer Reports' latest tests of canned foods, including soups, juice, tuna, and green beans, have found that almost all of the 19 name-brand foods we tested contain some BPA. The canned organic foods we tested did not always have lower BPA levels than nonorganic brands of similar foods analyzed. We even found the chemical in some products in cans that were labeled "BPA-free."

The debate revolves around just what is a safe level of the chemical to ingest and whether it should be in contact with food. Federal guidelines currently put the daily upper limit of safe exposure at 50 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight. But that level is based on experiments done in the 1980s rather than hundreds of more recent animal and laboratory studies indicating serious health risks could result from much lower doses of BPA."

Consumer's Union, the non-profit organization behind the publication, immediately wrote the FDA and urged for tighter regulations. Not surprisingly, the American Chemistry Council (ACC), which represents BPA-makers, is highly critical of the report for being "inconsistent with findings of regulatory bodies all over the world."

Meg Kissinger of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel summarizes the ACC statement:

"Eleven global regulatory bodies - including the European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada - have recently completed scientific evaluations and found BPA safe in food-contact products, including canned foods and beverages," said Steven Hentges, the group's chief lobbyist

He noted that a study funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and published last week in the journal Toxicological Sciences found that exposure to BPA - including very low doses - had no effects on a range of reproductive and behavioral activities measured."

Interestingly, critics of this new study say it was rejected by a more prestigious journal (Biology of Reproduction) and endocrinologists ravaged the manuscript. One of the authors of the original manuscript withdrew his name after seeing the reviews from the endocrinologists.

Perhaps the biggest flaw in the study? The strain of rat used was at least 2500 times less sensitive to estrogens than other animal models. No wonder it didn't respond to BPA.

Other BPA news:

• Jeremiah McNichols from Z Recommends recently published an exclusive report that provided extensive evidence that Gaiam water bottles previously marketed as "BPA-free" were likely to contain the endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol-A. Shortly afterwards, the company quietly added information to its retail website which admits to independent lab test results showing leaching levels at 23.8 parts per billion. These findings are more than ten times the detection limit SIGG said revealed no leaching from their own bottles and over 18 times more than the leaching levels found in independent testing of SIGG bottles shared with ZRecs by an anonymous source.


• Liz Szabo from USA Today writes: "The National Institutes of Health will devote $30 million to study the safety of bisphenol A, or BPA, an estrogen-like chemical used in many plastics, including sippy cups and the linings of metal cans. According to the NIEHS, animals studies link BPA with infertility, weight gain, behavioral changes, early onset puberty, prostate and breast cancer and diabetes. New research will focus on low-dose exposures to BPA and effects on behavior, obesity, diabetes, reproductive disorders, asthma, cardiovascular diseases and various cancers. Researchers will also see if the effects of BPA exposure can be passed from parents to their children."

Learn more about BPA and how to reduce your exposure.

Related Topics:

• Safer Food For A Healthier You
• Pots, Pans, and Plastics: A Shopper’s Guide to Food Safety

Does Your Child's,Halloween Face Paint Contain Lead and Heavy Metals?

Healthy Child Healthy World

sara.atkins/
CC BY 2.0

According to recent product tests, many children's face paints contain lead, which can impact brain development at extremely low doses, as well as nickel, cobalt and chromium, which can cause rashes and lifelong skin sensitization. Because these substances are not listed on product labels, parents shopping for Halloween make-up have no way of knowing which products are safe. While this is particularly concerning for parents at this time of year, the lack of cosmetic safety standards is a problem that extends to all cosmetics sold in the United States.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of nonprofit health and environmental groups, sent 10 children's face paints to an independent lab to test for heavy metals, and also reviewed ingredient labels of Halloween products sold at a seasonal holiday store. The findings include:

• Ten out of 10 children's face paints contained lead at levels ranging from .05 to .65 parts per million (ppm)


• Six out of 10 children's face paints contained the potent skin allergens chromium, nickel and/or cobalt at levels ranging from 1.6 to 120 ppm - far exceeding safety recommendations of industry studies of 1 ppm


• Snazaroo Face Paint, labeled as "non-toxic" and "hypoallergenic," contained some of the highest levels of lead, nickel and cobalt found in the study

sara.atkins/
CC BY 2.0

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control specifically recommends that parents avoid using cosmetics on their children that could be contaminated with lead. "Lead is dangerous to the developing brains of children at any level. It is now widely accepted in the scientific community that there is no threshold level below which lead is safe," said Dr. Phil Landrigan, Director, Children's Environmental Health Center Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Nickel, cobalt and chromium are top allergens in children, and early-life exposures increase the chance that kids will become sensitized and develop contact dermatitis. None of the four heavy metals found in the face paints were listed on product labels because contaminants are exempt from labeling laws.

sara.atkins/
CC BY 2.0

The report also found several other hazardous ingredients in Halloween hair-color sprays and make-up products, including butane (persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic), thiram (possible carcinogen), alumina (toxic to the brain), propylene glycol (possible carcinogen) and the dyes pigment green 7 and pigment blue 15, which are not approved by FDA for use in cosmetics.

"Parents should not have to worry that face paint contains lead and other hazardous substances. Companies are not making the safest products possible for children, even though children are particularly vulnerable to toxic exposures," said Lisa Archer, national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics from the Breast Cancer Fund.

"It is clear the system is broken - we need to update the laws so that companies are required to remove lead and all other harmful substances from body-care products, and make the safest products possible." In the meantime, here are some tips for a safer Halloween:

Choose costumes without face paint or masks (which can also have toxicity problems, as well as safety concerns due to interference with vision and breathing), or make your own face paint from natural products and ingredients.

sara.atkins/
CC BY 2.0

Founding members of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics include Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, Breast Cancer Fund, Clean Water Fund, Commonweal, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, National Black Environmental Justice Network, National Environmental Trust and Women's Voices for the Earth.

Take Action!
Support safety: Sign the Petition for Safe Cosmetics, which calls for the removal of toxic chemicals in all cosmetics and personal care products - from face paint to baby shampoo, and body lotion to deodorant.

Additional resources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Lead Prevention Tips
• FDA: Hypoallergenic Products

What's in Your Carpet? You May Not Want to Know

Healthy Child Healthy World

Andy Melton / CC BY-SA 2.0

Most homes have carpet in them somewhere, but one problem with carpeting is that it's a perfect home to microorganisms such as mold, mildew and dust mites. It is also a reservoir for everything you track indoors on your shoes: soil, lawn chemicals, lead dust, asbestos fibers from automotive brake linings, animal feces, and anything else found on the ground outdoors.
Wall-to wall carpeting is virtually impossible to clean thoroughly, but here are some tips to help:

1. Encourage family members to remove shoes upon entrance into the home. Pesticides, pollutants and dirt come indoors on shoes and are tracked onto carpets. If going shoeless is not acceptable to family members, suggest that they wear house shoes (that don't go outside), slippers or socks.


2. Vacuum two or more times per week. Frequent vacuuming helps reduce the level of dust mites, which trigger asthma and allergy attacks. It also means getting rid of surface dirt on carpets before it has a chance to get ground in. A vacuum cleaner with strong suction, rotating brushes and a HEPA filter, so the dirt and dust won't get blown back out in the exhaust, is best. Go back and forth over the same spot several times, especially in high traffic areas, to get all of the dirt and dust!


3. Clean up spills on carpets immediately to prevent stains. Soak up liquid spills by covering them with clean white (or light-colored) towels or paper towels. Scrape sticky substances off carpets with a spatula or spoon. Don't rub the spill. That will damage carpet fibers and make the stain spread. To clean the stain, mix 1 cup warm water and 1/2 teaspoon mild liquid soap, such as dishwashing liquid or fine fabric detergent. Apply a small amount, blot by pressing a clean white towel into the carpet and lift. Then repeat the process until the stain is removed. Don't scrub. Be patient. After stain is removed, rinse the area with a solution a few teaspoons of white vinegar to one cup water and blot with another clean towel.


4. Use household ingredients to clean carpet stains. Club soda removes red wine stains. Use an ice cube to harden gum and candle wax, then scrape off. Sprinkle greasy stains with baking soda, corn starch or corn meal. Let stand six hours or overnight. Then vacuum. Mix 1/3 cup vinegar with 2/3 cup warm water and apply to the stain. Then blot with a clean towel and repeat until the stain comes clean.


5. As a last resort carpet stain remover, try rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Test first on a hidden spot of the carpet as either substance may lighten or bleach the carpet. Apply a small amount to the stain, then blot with a clean, white towel. Repeat until the stain is gone.


6. Use baking soda to remove odor from carpets. Carpet deodorizers and fresheners often contain fragrances that merely mask the smell. Baking soda soaks up the odor. Just sprinkle baking soda over the surface of the carpet. Let it stand for 15 - 30 minutes. Then vacuum.


7. Steam clean carpets with plain water. Don't bother with the detergent. Just use water and operate the machine as directed. The hot water will remove a considerable amount of dirt, even without detergent. Alternatively, use a mixture of 1 cup white vinegar and 2-1/2 gallons of water. (Add another cup of vinegar for a stronger solution.) This is an effective way to remove shampoo residues from earlier cleaning attempts.


8. Ventilate well during and after carpet cleaning. To speed drying time and prevent mold growth, keep windows open and use fans. Avoid carpet cleaning on humid or damp days.

Related Topic:

• Video: Sofa and Carpet Choices
• The Best Non-Toxic Ways to Clean Your Home

Obama Administration Endorses Chemical Regulation Overhaul

Healthy Child Healthy World

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said the time had come to strengthen EPA's authority to regulate toxic chemicals, which are ubiquitous in the environment and human bodies. She will ask Congress to draft a tougher law to overhaul the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), passed in 1976.

"The American people are looking to the government for assurance that chemicals have been assessed using the best available science and unacceptable risks haven't been ignored," Jackson said in a conference call with reporters before a formal announcement in San Francisco. "Unfortunately, the current law does not allow us to grant them that assurance." She reaffirmed that chemical management reform is a top priority for the agency.

The new law would require chemical manufacturers to provide the EPA with sufficient data and information to regulate properly. Under current law, manufacturers are not required to develop or supply data on toxicity and exposure that doesn't already exist, which has led to chemicals being used in products that have not been adequately screened for safety. Jackson stated that six chemicals, including BPA and PFCs, will be subject to immediate review.

Many of the reforms the administration has suggested largely mirror those advanced by the chemical manufacturing industry, which is concerned about a patchwork of regulations at the state and local level.

That there is general agreement on many issues is significant, and make TSCA reform more likely to pass Congress. The proposed overhaul has been through an interagency review process and has the backing of the White House. The principles Jackson outlined to guide Congress in creating new legislation include:

• Chemicals must pass muster under a safety standard that protects human health and the environment;


• Responsibility for providing data rests with the chemical industry, not taxpayers;


• EPA must have clear authority to take quick action to restrict use of chemicals that violate the safety standard;


• Manufacturers and EPA should assess and act on priority chemicals, both existing and new, in a timely manner


• • Vulnerable populations, especially children, must be given special consideration when setting safety standards;


• Green chemistry, which will lead to safer chemicals, should be encouraged and the public's right to know about chemicals must be ensured;


• The EPA should be given a sustained source of funding for implementation and the chemical industry must pay its fair share to implement the new standards.

Related Topic:

• 10 Affordable Ways to Make Your House – And the World – Safer and Healthier

Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products

Healthy Child Healthy World

A new database was recently released which has the results on over 900 common products tested for toxic chemicals including lead, cadmium, mercury, bromine, chlorine (PVC) and arsenic. Using an XRF analyzer, researchers at the Ecology Center analyzed the ingredients of pet products, cars, women's handbags, children's car seats and more, creating the largest database yet of independent tests of toxic chemicals in consumer goods.

The results can be found on the user-friendly website, HealthyStuff.org. Visitors can look up products by manufacturer, brand, or product type and easily generate lists of highly rated and poorly rated products. HealthyStuff.org tested for chemicals based on their toxicity, persistence and tendency to build up in people and the environment. Such chemicals have been linked to reproductive problems, developmental and learning disabilities, liver toxicity and cancer.??

"The more we test, the more we find that the presence of toxic chemicals is widespread in everyday consumer products," said Jeff Gearhart, Research Director at the Ecology Center, who created the site. "It should not be the responsibility of public health advocates to test these products. Product manufacturers and legislators must take the lead and replace dangerous substances with safe alternatives.

For the past several years the Ecology Center has spearheaded groundbreaking research on toxic chemicals in toys, cars and children's car seats at HealthyToys.org and HealthyCar.org. HealthyStuff.org is a compilation of all of these findings and more.

New Key Findings From HealthyStuff.org:

• Pet Products - HealthyStuff.org tested over 400 pet products, including beds, chew toys, collars and leashes. Since there are no government standards for hazardous chemicals in pet products, it is not surprising that alarming levels of toxic chemicals were found. One quarter of all pet products had detectable levels of lead, including seven percent with levels higher than 300 ppm - the current Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standard for lead in children's products.


• Automobiles - HealthyStuff.org tested nearly 700 new and used vehicles, from 1980 to 2010 model year vehicles. The US-made Pontiac G5 and Chevy Cobalt rated best overall 2009 vehicles. Levels of some chemicals found in vehicles are 5-10 times higher than in homes or offices. Since the average American spends more than 1.5 hours in their car every day, this can be a major source of toxic chemical exposure.


• Children's Car Seats - Infant and child car seats contain chemical additives that can have adverse health effects on babies and young children. Over half (58%) of car seats contain one or more hazardous chemicals, including PVC, BFRs and heavy metals. Three examples of car seats that had none of the chemicals tested for are: Baby Trend Flex-Loc; the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat; and the Graco Turbo Booster. Despite the toxic chemicals, it is vital to use a car seat for your child because they do save lives.


• Back-to-School Products - HealthyStuff.org screened over 60 common back-to-school supplies, including backpacks, pencil cases, binders and lunchboxes. Far too many of these supplies are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and 22% contained detectable levels of lead. Overall nearly 90% of back-to-school supplies contained one or more chemicals of concern.



• Women's Handbags - HealthyStuff.org tested over 100 women's handbags and detected lead in over 75% of the bags analyzed. Sixty-four percent (64%) of the bags contained lead over 300 ppm - the CPSC limit for lead in children's products. Over half of the handbags contain more than 1,000 ppm lead.

Read the original press release.

Hand Washing Double Bonus

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.

kokopinto / CC BY-SA 2.0

Hand washing does something cool that I bet most parents never think about. Most parents do know that hand washing before eating can greatly reduce the risk of bacterial and viral infections and is a cost-effective way to keep your family healthier. Hand washing can save your family tissue-strewn days dealing with runny noses or tummy-ache days dealing with with diarrhea. It can also help prevent pinworms, one of the most common parasitic infections in kids. But hand washing isn't just for reducing cooties and germs. It's an important step in protecting your child from toxic chemicals in the environment.

A recent study of chemical flame retardants known as PBDEs illuminated an important route of exposure in kids: dust to hand to mouth. PBDEs are known to disrupt hormones in people and other animals. These chemicals have been added to many household items - especially those made from petroleum products that would otherwise be very flammable. They are found in carpets, computers, and the foam in chairs, beds, and other furniture. The PBDEs are gradually released over time, where they end up in house dust.

The chemicals stick to their hands with dust or with direct contact. They get into their bodies when their hands come to their mouths when eating, especially with finger foods. Children average 10-fold higher estimated exposure than adults.

Clean hands before eating offers the invisible bonus of lowering exposure to PBDEs and other chemical pollutants. House dust and germs may be worse in the winter. Read more about arsenic and the importance of spring and summer hand washing.

Stapleton, HM, SM Kelley, JG Allen, MD McClean and TF Webster. Measurement of polybrominated diphenyl ethers on hand wipes: Estimating exposure from hand-to-mouth contact. Environmental Science and Technology. 2008; 42(9):3329-3334.

Last reviewed February 2009. As research is on-going, you may want to check several sources for the latest information.

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New Resources to Help You Understand Toxic Flame Retardants

by Christopher Gavigan

There is a major battle underway in the State of California to amend a decades old provision requiring manufacturers to add flame retardants to children's products made using polyurethane foam (car seats, breastfeeding cushions, and much more). California is the only state in the country that requires this and it has led to the use of millions of pounds of halogenated flame retardants (which are the cheapest, but also pose a variety of health risks). Since manufacturers don't like making different products for different states, it means that children's products sold across the continent have flame retardants added to them - even if California is the only state to require it. This issue impacts all of us and many people think the practice is a completely unnecessary risk to children's health and development.

Two new fact sheets developed by the Consumer Federation of California help make the issue clear. Here are some highlights from what they've put together:

Toxic Flame Retardants Endanger Public Health
Halogenated fire retardants - the least expensive and most likely chemicals used to meet this regulation - have been linked to endocrine disruption, neurological and developmental impairments, cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities such as attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity, and a host of other health disorders.

When certain fire retardant chemicals burn, they form highly toxic dioxins and furans. In November 2006, the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine published an analysis of 32 studies that found that fire fighters have significantly elevated rates of four types of cancer: multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostate, and testicular cancer, likely resulting from chemical exposures. For that reason, many firefighter groups across the nation have been active in support of efforts to reduce or eliminate the use of certain toxic fire retardants in consumer products.

Low-income residents and communities of color are the most likely to be exposed to these chemicals and fall victim to these diseases as they purchase products laden with the toxins at the big box stores. Other communities can opt out by purchasing more expensive imported or toxic-free product lines of baby products. Furthermore older or second-hand products are more likely to have crumbly foam that will escape and cause the greatest health hazard.

As a result of these public health dangers, both the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the International Association of Firefighters have also opposed their use in favor of other, less toxic, but fire-safe, alternatives.

Toxic Flame Retardants and Fire Safety Alternatives
Children's products such as strollers and changing pads do not pose a fire hazard. According the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there is no evidence that these toxic chemicals actually reduce fire deaths in California; they just slow them for an estimated six to twelve seconds.

Fire deaths declined by 38% in California from 1980 to 1999; but the decline was similar or even greater in other states that don't have standards leading to the use of these toxic chemicals. Considering that most victims of fires die from smoke inhalation and not the actual flames, alternative fire-fighting measures like smoke detectors and sprinkler systems have proven more effective.

In fact, the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association has NEVER been sued by anyone, anywhere, because their "flame retardant free" products were associated with a fire hazard.

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The opinions expressed in the WebMD Blogs are of the author and the author alone. They do not reflect the opinions of WebMD and they have not been reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance or objectivity. WebMD Blogs are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified health provider because of something you have read on WebMD. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.

Healthy Body Care Tip #5: Antibacterials Are Not the Answer

by Christopher Gavigan

There is no doubt that personal hygiene is important to good health, but how much is enough? Sales of personal care products for children have jumped significantly in the past decade in part because marketers continue to redefine the "needs" of children in order to increase profits. One of the biggest new "necessities" is antibacterial products. Marketers have done a brilliant job at making parents feel like they need a scrupulously sanitized home and if you scrub enough with enough antibacterials and disinfectants you can rid the world of germs and bacteria and keep your family safe and healthy.

Guess what? Antibacterials are not all they're cracked up to be. Consider these facts, shared with Healthy Child by Jay Feldman of Beyond Pesticides:

• The most common illnesses (colds, flu and gastrointestinal upsets) are caused by viruses. Antibacterials have little or no effect on viruses.
• Antibacterial products target good bacteria as well as bad, but our bodies need those good bacteria. They help us digest our food, for example, and keep harmful microorganisms from entering our bodies through our main orifices like our mouths and nose.


• The bad bacteria we encounter typically have no impact on a healthy immune system. In fact, only 1 percent to 2 percent of microbes are likely to make us sick.


• Bacteria are so prevalent and reproduce so fast that it's impossible to eliminate them anyway. In addition, a large number of recent studies have found substantial evidence that certain antibacterial products actually promote the emergence of bacteria resistant to antibiotic medications and antibacterial cleansers


• Research shows that plain soap and water is just as effective for hand washing as products containing triclosan. The Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee, which advises the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), voted 11-1 that antibacterial soaps and washes were no more effective than regular soap and water in fighting infections-both work equally as well.


• The overuse of triclosan (and other antibacterials) could potentially be increasing the incidence of allergies. The "hygiene hypothesis" theorizes that there is a correlation between too much hygiene and increased allergies and asthma. Studies have found an increase in the frequency of allergies, asthma and eczema in persons who have been raised in more sterile and hygienic environments. Through over-cleaning ourselves, The theory states, the body's immune system is not challenged, and thus it is prevented from developing and maturing.


• Even the American Medical Association concludes, "Despite their recent proliferation in consumer products, the use of antimicrobial agents such as triclosan in consumer products has not been studied extensively. No data exist to support their efficacy when used in such products or any need for them...it may be prudent to avoid the use of antimicrobial agents in consumer products."
  

Visit Healthy Child Healthy World to learn safer ways to keep germs at bay.

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Healthy Body Care Tip #4: Make it Yourself

by Christopher Gavigan

With a growing awareness of the questionable chemical concoctions manufacturers are allowed to sell to unassuming consumers, kitchen cosmetics are increasingly in vogue. While there are certain things that don't translate well to homemade, there are plenty that you might find superior to their store bought counterparts.

Instead of relying upon synthetic chemicals to clean or soothe the skin, you can use natural ingredients that have been relied on for centuries. Things like extra virgin olive oil which attracts external moisture without clogging pores or compromising skin function, calendula which is an extremely gentle way to treat skin irritations and minor infections, and chamomile which is a useful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent.

Here are a few simple recipes to get you started.

Baby wipes:

1 1/2 - 2 cups distilled water
1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel
1 Tbsp. Calendula oil
2 tsp. organic liquid soap
2-3 drops tea tree oil
2-3 drops lavender oil
roll of paper towels (cut in half to make short rolls)
1 plastic container that the roll fits in

Cut roll in half and remove center cardboard. In plastic container, mix liquid ingredients, and place half of roll in container (cut side down). Put on lid and tip upside down until paper towels are fully saturated. To use, pull out from center.

Rash Soother: Protect skin and prevent rashes by rubbing a little olive oil on your baby's bum after each changing. At the first signs of redness, bathe your baby in warm water with a little baking soda or apply a small amount of aloe vera gel.

Oatmeal Baby Bath: 1 cup whole oats. Whirl in blender or food processor until they become powder. Mix as desired into bath water. The oatmeal softens the water and your baby's skin (you may be tempted to try it yourself!)

Baby Oil: Almond oil, olive oil, apricot oil, or calendula oil.

As with any product, the first time you use something on your child, watch closely for any type of reaction. For more recipes and tips pick up a copy of Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home or visit HealthyChild.org.

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Healthy Body Care Tip #3: Know What You Need to Get What You Want

by Christopher Gavigan

America is the land of impulse shopping and if you don't know what you want, you'll end up buying a lot of things you don't need. In the case of personal care products, if you don't know what you need, you can end up buying products with a laundry list of chemicals that you don't want.

The variety of personal care products and cosmetics available is quite stunning and Americans buy 11 billion every year. While it would be nice if you could trust marketer's claims and make purchases based on which products you liked the smell of or that had the most attractive container, it's not that easy. If you want the safest products, you have to know what you need and want.

Luckily, the internet provides a wealth of information right at your finger tips. Two places to begin your search for the safest products are GoodGuide.com and CosmeticsDatabase.com. These two sources detail the health and environmental performance of thousands of products. You can refer to these in order to create your own personal shopping list, so you know exactly what to look for at the store.

Still, the best products you find in these databases are not always the ones you'll find on your local store shelves. In that case, turn to the internet again and shop on-line. There are a growing number of mindful manufacturers offering pure personal care products that don't use chemicals, fillers, or preservatives. A few of Healthy Child Healthy World's favorites are: Perfect Organics, Weleda, California Baby, Earth Mama Angel Baby, Aubrey Organics, Dr. Bronner's, and Dr. Hauschka. And as for cosmetics for mom, my wife tells me Josie Maran Cosmetics and CARE Cosmetics are outstanding.

Be intentional. Buy intentional.

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Healthy Body Care Tip #2: Learn Label Lingo

by Christopher Gavigan

"Natural," "Hypoallergenic," "Herbal," "Organic" - they all sound like exactly what any parent would want to apply to their child's delicate skin. But while these terms are tempting product descriptions, don't judge the book by its cover. Currently, there is only one clear-cut hallmark of safety and that is the USDA Certified Organic seal. This seal is the only one that has defined standards and is actually regulated.

Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of Certified Organic body care products available and they typically cost much more than most families can afford. You can still make safer choices, but you have to be a savvy consumer. Use these two label-decoding tips to help you find the safest products:

1. Read the actual ingredients list. Even though marketing claims are largely unregulated, manufacturers are required to list the actual ingredients of products in order of volume. Still, reading product ingredients is like reading another language.
   
   Here are the top toxic ten to try to avoid: Parabens, Phthalates, DMDM Hydantoin, Fragrance, Triclosan, Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate, Formaldehyde, Toluene, Ceteareth and PEG compounds, Anything with "glycol" or "methyl."
   
   It may be difficult to always avoid everything in this list, but do your best to cut back as much as possible.


2. Go fragrance-free. The one loop-hole in ingredients lists is "fragrance" (aka "parfum"). Fragrances of products are considered industry secrets and that single component can actually be made up of over a hundred other ingredients that do not need to be spelled out in the ingredients list. Play it safe by avoiding it. And, again, it does not matter if the label says "unscented." Read the ingredients to ensure that this suspect element is not present.

Worried you won't remember what to watch for? Go to Healthy Child Healthy World to print a pocket guide to keep with you when you're shopping.

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The Golden Rule for Reducing Exposure to Chemicals from Personal Care Products

by Christopher Gavigan

I've considered myself green for many years, but becoming the CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World and then becoming a father has certainly increased the hue. Everyday is a learning experience, whether I'm researching issues that pertain directly to being a father or I'm watching the headlines for breaking news or the latest studies at work. One area of environmental health that never ceases to shock or exasperate me is personal care products.

Allow me to share some of the jaw dropping statistics about the products you rub into your scalp and skin and trust on your baby's body and even use to clean your mouth every day:

• Even though the average person uses about ten products a day constituting hundreds of individual ingredients, safety testing of these products is voluntary and conducted by the product manufacturers.


• Eighty-nine percent of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have never been evaluated for safety by any publicly accountable institution.


• The FDA has banned or restricted only nine personal care product ingredients. For comparison, the European Union has regulated over 1100.

For me, for my wife, for my son, this is entirely unacceptable. Luckily, we've found safer products we love and we know the tricks to reduce exposures in general. You can learn how to do exactly the same thing.

To kick things off, here is the Golden Rule to remember in order to reduce unnecessary exposures to chemicals in care products:

Use fewer products in smaller amounts.

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The 5 Most Important Things We Can Do to Protect the Planet

by Christopher Gavigan

I recently spoke with Julia Wasson of Blue Planet Green Living and she asked me what I think are the five most important things we can do to save the planet.

Saving the planet - let's just say, protecting the planet. I'd like to frame this whole thing as protecting the planet instead of saving the earth. The planet doesn't need to be saved. The planet will be around a lot longer than we will.

1. Really, we need to save ourselves and save our existence and our civilization as we know it. I believe that it's a humankind challenge in how we accept and interact with each other. Certainly, love and respect and the ability to listen and be collaborative is part of that process. I think we could learn to love ourselves, our families, and each other a little bit more and judge less. I think if you embrace the fact that we're all trying our best and really take that critical nature out of it, we would be less entrenched in our own opinions and more willing to listen and be collaborative.


2. We certainly all could eat less meat and rely less on land animals as food sources. There's no question about it that the amount of resource intensity required by meat and dairy production and the amount of land source degradation happen because of eating animals. And so, I would embrace the fact that we could protect the planet more if we all ate less meat. I've been doing this as a vegetarian for almost 15 years now.


3. We should use less toxic products in our daily lives, from our cleaners to our beauty care products to the mattresses and furniture we build. We need to be aware of the chemicals that exist in each one of those and understand that you don't have to live a chemically laden life. Reducing the amount of chemicals is more beneficial for the planet, for our waterways, and for land, our children's future, and also our own health.


4. Another thing we should think about is the "buying cycle," and put some intentional thinking around this. Every day, I realize that less really is more. Truly, I need less to have a fulfilled and happy life. Just buying less would be very anti-capitalistic and anti-consumptive, but the planet would breathe a big "Ahhh" of relief. Being less consumptive is a powerful thing. You're requiring less, you're demanding less of the earth. And you're reducing your impact on the planet, something that I think about. Certainly, it's a challenge of mine. I always can do better at it, but it's an intention of mine, and I do a little better every day.


5. The last thing is being grateful. I don't think, as a culture, as a species, we're grateful enough. Grateful for the moments that we have. Grateful for the people that are in our lives. And grateful for the resources that we have and the ease of the life that we have. I try to be very intentional every day when I wake up in the morning. I try to think of those things that I'm most grateful for, and I try to think of something new every day. Being more grateful is a way to recognize the magnitude and the importance of where we are and our lives. And embracing the fact that we have a limited time here and we should make the most of it for our children, for the people who are around us, and for the planet.

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The Eco-Layette: Safer Fabrics for Your Baby and the Planet

by Christopher Gavigan

Dressing newborn babies is a fine art. Getting tiny flailing limbs to shimmy down a long sleeve. Easing a floppy little head through a neck hole. Keeping their infinitesimal socks from falling off their feet. Just when you get it figured out, new tests begin; including the mastery of stain removal and the miraculous feat of keeping a toddler clothed at all. No matter which skill you are perfecting, you will always need to know how to select the safest fabrics.

Many new parents assume that cotton is the best fabric for their baby's clothes and bedding because it's a natural fiber, but conventionally grown cotton is one of the most pesticide intensive crops grown in the US. After the cotton is picked and milled into fabric, a soup of chemicals that are known to harm human health are used to dye and finish the fabric. Chemicals like formaldehyde and urea resins are used to increase stain resistance, wrinkle-proofing, and even disinfecting. Most "finishing" chemicals contain volatile organic compounds that are often sensitizers and suspected carcinogens. Often, the clippings from fabric mills are so loaded with chemicals they are handled like toxic waste, while the products made from these materials are considered safe to bring into our homes.

Now take a deep breath and relax - your baby is okay. There are safer options and solutions other than immediately ripping the onesie off your baby. Residues on baby clothing and bedding are minimal and have only been shown to cause contact dermatitis (generally in people with sensitive skin). Still, we really don't know what long term health impacts may arise from the subtle, but constant exposure to chemicals in clothing and bedding.

Luckily, we don't have to wait to find out. We can select safer fabrics today:

Organic Cotton: Perhaps the most obvious choice is organic cotton, grown without the use of pesticides. Look for options that are not only grown organically, but are also untreated (i.e. they are finished and dyed using natural, non-toxic processes). You can also look for organic, untreated wool which is naturally fire-resistant and a good choice for children's sleepwear.

Bamboo: Another fabric increasing in popularity is made from bamboo, which has a natural softness and sheen similar to silk or cashmere. Bamboo is completely biodegradable and can be grown without pesticides or chemicals. Look for fabrics certified by Oeko-Tex which ensures that fabric made from bamboo fibers is chemical-free.

Hemp: Surprising to some, hemp is another option and is naturally pest resistant so requires few, if any, of the pesticides used on conventional cotton. Still, there's no certification process, so you can't be sure that the hemp has been grown pesticide-free.

More options: Other choices include linen, soy, inego (corn-based), and even recycled plastic (which Patagonia has been using in their fleece for quite some time). Given the textile industry's penchant for pollution and people's growing concern over the health of the planet, new eco-fabrics are popping up everywhere. You just need to do a little research.

While the availability of safer fabrics is increasing, you may find that your baby budget needs to increase in order to purchase them. Unfortunately, green garments typically are more expensive than their conventional counterparts. For example, a conventional cotton onesie costs about $2; an organic cotton onesie is about $15-$20 (although through some persistent hunting I did find some for $5); and a bamboo onesie will cost you about $20 - $25.

The good news: Eco-fabrics, in addition to being safer for your baby and the planet, are also more durable, meaning they'll last longer (if you master stain removal). Still, babies grow out of clothes extremely fast, so what good is durability? Hold on to them for potential siblings, trade with friends and family, sell them at consignment shops or on-line. They are beautiful, high-quality garments meant to last, and healthier for the planet, which our children will inherit.

If you can't afford organic, natural fibers, don't fret. The big rule is to always wash all fabrics, stuffed toys, linens before they come in contact with your little one - preferably in a non-toxic laundry soap. Also, the greenest option is also the cheapest option: buy second hand. Gently used clothing has typically been washed enough times already to eliminate any fears of chemical residues. So don your green-halo and hit the thrift stores, Craigslist, Freecycle, or Ebay. With the money you save, treat your baby to a luxurious untreated, organic cotton blanket that he'll use for years.

You can start your eco-layette today by visiting the following sites: CottonMonkey.com, Babysoyusa.com, Bamboosa.com, Ecowise.com, Greenbabies.com, Kee-ka.com, KidBean.com, Nuiorganics.com, Positively-organic.com, Purebeginnings.com, Sagecreeknaturals.com, Speesees.com, Underthenile.com.

Sources:
Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry Transforming the Textile Industry Health and Environmental Impacts in Finishing Industry (RTF) Chemicals and Textiles Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Children

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The ABC's of a Healthy and Green Baby Shower

by Christopher Gavigan

Especially during pregnancy, it's usually best to keep it simple, healthy, and pure. Here's our simple approach - with help from the ABC's - to plan a baby shower that celebrates the life and health of the baby, as well as the Earth she'll be living on.

Ask everyone to forgo fragrance. Avoid exposure to phthalates by making it clear in your invitations that this event is scent-free.

Buy eco-friendly decorations. Use potted plants, artfully arranged twigs, rocks and shells or even crystal bowls filled with seasonal fruit (a la Martha Stewart) for lovely, natural decorations.
Clean up using eco-friendly supplies. Look for natural products or use kitchen ingredients like baking soda and vinegar.

Dish up food on compostable or reusable dishware. Use your good china to really make the day feel special (and reduce an enormous amount of waste). Or go second best by using eco-friendly disposables. Check out the Biodegradable Store, EarthShell, or Royal Chinet.

E-vite your guests. Using email invitations (like evite.com) is a great way to quickly get the word out and track RSVPs. It's also better for the environment (no paper, no waste, no fuel emissions from sending invites, etc).

Find the most natural setting. If you can have it outside, great! If not, at least choose a venue that will respect your green ideas.

Get your green game on. Choose waste-free games and provide green prizes like natural personal care products or soy candles.

Have a good time. This goes without saying, but really - after all this planning - just enjoy yourself during the party.

Inform your guests that this is a green shower. Make sure your requests are clear, so none of your guests feel awkward from missing the memo.

Judge not. Make sure that no matter what shade of green a guest is, she feels welcome and appreciated.

Know your guests. Some may take a little more cajoling to make the green jump.

Look for local. Whether it's food or flowers, try to find all of the products you need from local vendors.

Make it a learning experience. You've taken all this time to make it green, share your newfound knowledge with your guests.

Need help? Ask! Hosting a green baby shower can take a lot of preparation. Have a team to help.

Opt for organic. Look for foods and beverages with the USDA Certified Organic seal.

Plan far in advance. Coordinating any type of party takes time. When you're trying to make it as healthy and green as possible, you should start even earlier.

Quench your thirst with pure beverages. Keep mom and all her adoring guests healthily hydrated with filtered water (not bottled). Have a pitcher and plenty of glassware available.

Register for green gifts. Make it easy for your guests to find the perfect green gift by having the mom-to-be register at on-line stores such as Maple Grace, Our Green House, or Better for Babies.

Strive for zero-waste. Use dishware instead of disposables. Look for products and packaging that are recyclable or compostable.

Try not to get neurotic. Do what you can and let go of what you can't.

Unwrap. Encourage guests to rethink wrapping. Use a baby blanket, a pretty silk scarf, or a recycled paper gift bag.

Ventilate. Keep fresh air flowing by opening a window (even just a crack, for a few minutes if it's winter.)

Write eco-friendly thank yous. Use e-cards to send your thank yous. Some services will even allow you to embed a video. (Your guests would love to see your new baby!)

eXamine gifts. I know you're never supposed to look a gift horse in the mouth, but after your guests leave, decide which gifts are keepers. Just because your Aunt Mary gave you a bottle of expensive baby lotion (with risky chemical ingredients) doesn't mean you should slather your new baby in it for sentiment's sake.

Yank some plugs. (Hey, there aren't many verbs that start with "y".) Save some energy by unplugging unnecessary electronics and appliances.

Zip your memories. Have everyone email you their images and video and then zip them into a file to send to everyone else. You'll save the memories of the day and save paper and chemicals by allowing everyone to only print what they love.

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A Baby-Making Story (Rated E for Everyone)

by Healthy Child Healthy World

Photo Credit: Guido

Peruse pregnancy books from the past and you'll find a wide array of ridiculous advice like avoiding automobile travel and sewing machines and even sporting events (the excitement was not suitable according to a 1950 publication called The Canadian Mother and Child). Just as our understanding of the physical capacities of a pregnant woman has changed drastically over the past century, so too has our understanding of the biological development of the baby.

Photo Credit: Guido

For example, the placenta used to be considered a powerhouse of protection against fetal damage, screening out anything bad in the mother's bloodstream and even independently generating necessary nutrients if mom fell short. Now we know the placenta is not an impermeable barrier and that the developing fetus is extremely vulnerable. We know we have a heightened responsibility during pregnancy to protect the miracle happening within the womb. Dr. Theo Colburn, President of The Endocrine Disruption Exchange and Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida, Gainesville, writes in Healthy Child Healthy World about the magic and fragility of those nine months of development.

The making of a baby is like a fairy tale in some ways. Fairy tales are about giants and broken eggs and interesting animals, and things that no one will ever see. The story of the construction of a baby is about infinitesimally small things, so small that it is hard to believe, which makes it like a fairy tale. Instead of an egg breaking in the baby-making story, an egg, a single cell, begins to split over and over again until it forms a hollow ball of cells, at which time the cells begin to move about to form buds that become hands, feet, fingers, toes, arms, legs, and eventually organs and bones and muscle, and even a heart and a brain, which are all very real. That part of the story can be seen with microscopes and has been described with pictures in hundreds of textbooks in many languages.

When one asks, "What caused that single cell to split and keep splitting until it morphed into a baby?" the baby-making story begins to read like a real fairy tale. It is hard to believe that in the invisible universe where the egg is developing, there are hormones operating in the part-per-trillion range. And that each hormone is programmed to exert its influence on the construction of the baby only during rigid windows of time. No other period in the baby's life is as fragile as during those early days when its organs and brains are being constructed and programmed. And just as there are fairy-tale villains, there are many modern chemicals that can enter the womb environment and disturb its sacred hormonal balance.

As the body of research linking chemicals in everyday products to developmental disruption increases, it becomes clearer and clearer that a healthy pregnancy starts with a healthy environment. Start (or continue) making yours cleaner, greener and safer by picking up a copy of our book and visiting the Health eHome.

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8 Helpful Hints for a Healthy, Chemical-Free Lawn

by Healthy Child Healthy World

Photo Credit: Andrew Ciscel

It's hard to imagine that the well-groomed, picture-perfect lawn took root in the U.S. only in the last 50 years. The ingredients of lawn success - pesticides and fertilizers - were originally developed after World War II to improve farmers' economic prospects by reducing damage to food crops caused by insects, rodents and disease. These same herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers became popular among home gardeners. They did the job quickly and made it easier to create green, pest-free lawns and bountiful gardens.

However, within a few decades, it became clear that pesticides have costs alongside their benefits. Pesticides are poisons, intended to kill living insects, rodents or plants. By their very nature, most pesticides create some risk to all living creatures, including humans.

Some lawn and garden chemicals have been linked with behavioral problems in children, damage to the nervous system and brain, developmental and reproductive defects, and cancers. There is much we don't know about many pesticides - a number have not been fully tested, and it often takes decades to discover how dangerous some pesticides truly are. Scientists are learning, too, that even small doses, at critical times during a child's development, or even during that of an embryo, could have a tremendous impact on that child's life and long-term health.

Other issues related to lawn and garden pesticide use:

• Pesticides provide quick relief, but do not eliminate the source of the problem. While certain pesticides are efficient tools for killing insects and weeds, almost all do nothing to deter problems from coming back. To prevent a pest's return, it is necessary to change the conditions that have allowed the pest to thrive.


• Extensive use of pesticides has led to resistance in many insects and weed species. It takes from two to five pesticide applications today to do the job that just one application accomplished in the 1970s. As a result, many resort to stronger chemicals, which may have greater consequences for human and environmental health.


• Pesticides drift. Chemicals used on lawns and gardens don't stay put. They enter groundwater, streams and rivers. Pesticide particles attach to dust and soil, which we bring indoors on our shoes. Pesticides can evaporate into the air, then are carried on currents and deposited many miles away. By using pesticides, we contribute to environmental damage far beyond our yards.

Use this checklist for a naturally beautiful lawn:

• Avoid Pesticides and Herbicides. Weed manually, before seed heads appear. Use boiling water, diluted soap or white vinegar to kill weeds. Apply corn gluten to discourage weeds. Use least toxic products and practices like Integrated Pest Management. http://spcpweb.org/


• Develop Healthy Soil. Leave mulched grass clippings to recycle nitrogen. Reduce soil compaction - aerate soil to allow air to circulate around grass roots. Grade to promote good drainage.


• Reduce Thatch, the layer of decomposing roots, leaves & stems at the surface of the soil. Rake to remove thatch - it prevents water and nutrients from penetrating soil.


• Choose Native Grass Types Suited To Your Climate And Soil. Plant disease-resistant varieties. Call your agricultural cooperative extension service or local nursery for information. Consider alternative ground covers.


• Water Deeply But Not Too Often. Deep but infrequent watering is best and reduces fungal growth. Water between midnight and 8AM to reduce evaporation.


• Mow High, Not Low. Taller grass chokes out weeds, longer grass takes in more sun and moisture. Keep mower blades sharp to avoid tearing grass, keeping it healthy.


• Use Fertilizers Wisely. Choose natural organic fertilizers, use sparingly in early spring or late fall. Avoid application prior to expected heavy rainfall to prevent runoff into waterways.


• Encourage Neighbors to avoid pesticides and over fertilizing - which contaminates your neighborhood, yard, family, & world.

Additional Resources:

• Beyond Pesticides
• Safe Lawns

Related Topics:

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

Chemicals Increasingly Linked to Obesity

... And How You Can Fight Fat

by Janelle Sorensen

Obesity has become a national epidemic and it is increasingly creeping into the youngest of our population. In fact, an alarming new study reports that 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds is obese, up 300% since the 1980s, and many more are considered seriously overweight. This epidemic has compelled many to predict that our children will be the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. What's going on?

Popular opinion says that poor nutrition and lack of exercise is the root of this problem. But, while lifestyle choices clearly play a major role in personal health, studies are increasingly showing something far more insidious - everyday exposures to common chemicals may be increasing our waistlines.

One of the most recent studies found that overweight young girls had significantly higher levels of phthalates in their bodies compared to the general population of children. Phthalates, a type of hormone disruptor, are used in plastics (most often PVC) and in personal care products.

According to Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, a professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai, and one of the lead researchers on the study, the results are preliminary and do not prove that phthalates cause obesity, simply that they seem to be linked. "Right now it's a correlation; we don't know if it's cause and effect or an accidental finding," Dr. Landrigan said. "The $64,000 question is, what is causal pathway? Does it go through the thyroid gland? Does it change fat metabolism?"

Even if we don't know exactly how phthalates and obesity are linked, we do know phthalates are not the only potential offender. A small, but growing body of evidence in both animals and humans are finding a variety of hormone disruptors linked to obesity, including tributyltin, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), organotins, BPA , and PFOA.

Reduce your exposure by following these simple tips:

Over 90% of all phthalates are used in PVC plastics, so avoid purchasing PVC products and packaging. (Check out PVC: The Poison Plastic for more info). Phthalates are also used in personal care products, so read labels and use CosmeticsDatabase.com to find the safest products.

HCB has been banned, but still contaminates soil and water, which results in the contamination of our food. The US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recommends eating low fat meat and dairy to reduce your exposure to HCB.

Tributyltin and organotin are in the same family of chemicals. The US ATSDR recommends these tips for reducing exposure to these compounds:

• Reduce the amount of canned products you eat or drink and store unused portions in separate containers.


• Reduce your consumption of seafood from waters that may be contaminated with organic tin compounds and your contact with household products that contain organotin compounds (for example, silicon-coated baking parchment paper).

To avoid BPA, eat foods that are fresh, frozen, dried or in glass jars or tetra packs instead of canned (same for beverages). Also, avoid polycarbonate plastic (PC or #7).

Reduce your exposure to PFOA by replacing those easy-to-clean Teflon pans with cast iron, avoiding clothing and carpeting marketed as "stain-resistant," and avoiding greasy, pre-packaged foods (and microwavable popcorn). You should also know that most take-out packaging is coated with Teflon, so try eating in or asking about alternative packaging. Learn more at Environmental Working Group.

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• Health eHome
• Going Green: Eco-Friendly Tips & Advice
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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
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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

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
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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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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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Pollution Comes Home and Gets Personal

by Janelle Sorensen

Photo: Healthy Child Healthy World

If you would have asked me to draw a picture of pollution fifteen years ago, it would have been something along the lines of a factory with smokestacks billowing and litter strewn around the surrounding grounds. Pollution was outside, over there. I was not a part of it.

According to a new study, it's a pretty typical perspective. "People more readily equate pollution with large-scale contamination and environmental disasters, yet the products and activities that form the backdrop to our everyday lives - electronics, cleaners, beauty products, food packaging - are a significant source of daily personal chemical exposure that accumulates over time," said sociologist Rebecca Gasior Altman, the lead author of the study, Pollution Comes Home and Gets Personal: Women's Experience of Household Chemical Exposure.

"Pollution at home has been a blind spot for society," said Altman. Still, chemicals in our everyday environments are increasingly making media headlines. From BPA in baby bottles to phthalates in toys, pollution is starting to get really personal. But, is it really helpful at all to know all these dirty little secrets, especially when we don't really know the health impacts of many exposures?

Some government officials and scientists worry that widespread access to information about chemicals in everyday products and personal body burdens will provoke fears and generate misleading hype. Yet, according to Altman, "This study documents that an important shift occurs in how people understand environmental pollution, its sources and possible solutions as they learn about chemicals from everyday products that are detectable in urine samples and the household dust collecting under the sofa."

The participants in this study who learned about chemicals in their homes and bodies were not alarmed, but eager for more, not less, information about how typical household products can expose them to chemicals that may affect health. (Hey, un-named participants! Visit HealthyChild.org!) According to Dr. Linda S. Birnbaum, Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, "Understanding that the indoor environment may be one of the largest sources of exposure is extremely important as we move forward - not only in getting appropriate regulation of sources, but in altering individual behaviors."

Ask me to draw a picture of pollution today and I'll draw a picture of the inside of a house, with brightly colored cleaners under the kitchen sink, a plug-in air freshener quietly doing its business in an outlet, and an elementary figure of a pregnant woman with a tainted womb. Pollution is inside, in our comfort zones and sacred spaces. It is in me and I am a part of creating more pollution every time I buy something or turn on a light. Like the women from the study, this new picture has changed my behavior dramatically. I am not afraid and I want to learn more. I recognize my role in the problem and I am empowered to be a part of the solution.

How about you?

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Chemicals in Everyday Products and Children's Health: A Small Dose of the Facts

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.

Patterns of illness in American children have changed dramatically in this century. The ancient infectious diseases have largely been controlled. The major diseases confronting children now are chronic and disabling conditions:

• Asthma incidence has more than doubled;


• Leukemia and brain cancer have increased in incidence, brain cancer by nearly 40% over the past three decades;


• Neurodevelopmental dysfunction is widespread;


• Incidence of hypospadias, a birth defect of the reproductive organs in baby boys, has doubled.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Chemical toxicants are known and suspected to contribute to causation of these pediatric diseases. They deserve great attention because they are generally preventable sources of harm. Children are at risk of exposure to over 15,000 high-production-volume synthetic chemicals, nearly all of them developed in the past 50 years. These chemicals are used widely in consumer products and are dispersed in the environment. More than half are untested for toxicity.

Children are especially sensitive to environmental toxins.

• Pound for pound of body weight, children have greater exposure to pesticides because they drink more water, eat more food and breathe more air than adults.


• Their unique behaviors put them at higher risk. They live and play close to the floor; and they constantly put their fingers into their mouths.


• Children's metabolic pathways, especially in the first months after birth are immature. Generally they are less well able to metabolize, detoxify, and excrete toxicants than adults and thus are more vulnerable to them.


• Children are undergoing rapid growth and development, and their developmental processes are easily disrupted. From conception and throughout fetal development, exquisitely small toxin exposures can cause permanent impacts.


• Since children have more future years of life than most adults, they have more time to develop chronic diseases that may be triggered by early exposures.

Our children are our future. Our responsibility as the adults of our society is to care for our children, protect their health, and guide them to successful adulthood. One of the simplest steps parents can take is to create a healthy home. Get started today.

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