Healthy Begins Here

6 Surprising Toxics Hiding in Your Home

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle Sorensen) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:46:00 +0000

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:

What You Should Know About Hand Sanitizers and Your Health

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle Sorensen) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:10:00 +0000

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:

7 Simple Tips for Healthy Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:23:00 +0000

Healthy Child Healthy World

Sometimes the stress from holidays can result in big headaches. But, a lot of other things about the holidays can impact your health as well. Follow these simple steps to make this year's holidays your healthiest ever.

Indulge in the only the best food by going organic. Special occasions call for scrumptious goodies. But indulging doesn't have to mean sacrificing your family's health. This year, strive for very special holiday meals made of the freshest organic foods. Today, you can find organic ingredients for every type of celebratory food, from free-range turkey to a mouth-watering apple pie. Look for the USDA Organic seal to be sure that you are buying foods produced without synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones, genetic engineering, irradiation and petroleum- or sewage sludge-based fertilizers.

Watch out for those brightly colored foods and candy! Holiday treats like candy canes and other goodies can be hard to resist. But many of our favorite sweet treats are full of artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, some of which have questionable safety records. Saccharin, for example, is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Serve your child a well-balanced diet of whole foods and let your child indulge in moderate amounts of candy and other holiday treats. Read "Limit Your Child's Intake of Food Additives" for a list of potentially dangerous food additives that should definitely be avoided.

To perfume the air with a holiday fragrance, simmer spices such as cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. Special scents create a festive holiday mood. However, scented candles, incense, air fresheners and other fragrance products are filled with chemical cocktails that can pollute indoor air, causing headaches, fatigue and other symptoms. Scented candles tend to produce more black soot than nonscented candles. And some candles-particularly those made in foreign countries-are made with stiff, metal wicks, which often contain lead. When lit, these candles release lead dust. Both soot and lead can be inhaled or ingested by small children, which may lead to health problems. Soot contains suspected carcinogens and lead causes brain damage. Learn more about non-toxic holiday aromas.

Raid your kitchen pantry to make your house sparkle for holiday guests. Cleaning your house in preparation for guests is one holiday tradition no one cherishes. To make it less unpleasant to all concerned, use mild, nontoxic cleaners. Most cleaning can be accomplished with a few nontoxic items from your kitchen pantry such as baking soda, washing soda and vinegar (to name a few). These ingredients can even be used to polish the silver! Learn more Recipes for Safer Cleaners.

Be aware that holiday lights may contain lead. In many electronic products, wires and cords are coated with PVC plastic, which is where the lead is found. Lead is used in PVC wires and cords to make it more flexible and reduce the risk of fire. Lead is also used in many PVC products to stabilize the color. The amount of lead in the lights and other consumer products may vary considerably and it is not clear if the amount of lead that is released poses a risk to human health. Some tests show that lead could come off in the hands. It's best not to let children handle the lights. The adult that does handle them should wash his or her hands immediately afterwards.

Retire that old, plastic tree. Plastic Christmas trees may appear to make environmental sense, because they can be used for many years. And about 20 million households put up a tree that is 9 years old or older. But old Christmas trees, which are made of PVC, are a potential health threat to children. PVC has been dubbed the most toxic plastic. One reason is that PVC contains significant amounts of lead as a stabilizer. In 2002, Foundation E.A.R.T.H. discovered that as these plastic trees age, they release lead dust, which collects on tree branches and the floor beneath the tree. Most of the plastic trees come from China and they exceed U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommendations for lead levels in consumer products. Lead is an extremely toxic heavy metal capable of producing long-term behavioral and brain damage, even at low doses. To be extra safe, don't let your children touch or handle a plastic tree or crawl underneath it. Don't keep presents underneath it either, as they will collect any lead dust that falls. Better yet, purchase a fresh, organic tree this year - it's a renewable resource that can be recycled!

This holiday season, burn a safer fire. As you cozy up to the fireplace this winter, remember that particles and gases from fires can make breathing difficult, especially for asthmatics. Make sure you ventilate well. Dry wood burns hotter and cleaner than "green" wood and hardwoods are better than coniferous trees, or evergreens. (That includes your Christmas tree, which is better off recycled.) For more tips, see How To Build a Safer Fire. Note: Fires also emit carcinogens, so keep fires to a minimum.

Chemicals in Everyday Products Turning Boys into Girls?

noreply@blogger.com (Christopher Gavigan) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:24:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle Sorensen) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:13:00 +0000

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:

Leaf Blowers Blow a Lot More than Leaves

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle Sorensen) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:20:00 +0000

by Janelle Sorensen

Micah Weber
/ CC BY-SA 2.0

Leaf blowers drive me crazy. And, I know I'm not the only one - the noise alone is enough to test the patience of a saint. I mean, they sound like a giant dentist drill or a mammoth mosquito, how unpleasant can you get? Beyond imaginative associations, the facts about their auditory irritation are no laughing matter. Jane Dale Owen writes for CLEAN Houston about how loud these machines can be:

Zero Air Pollution Los Angeles (ZAPLA) says that blower use at one residence impacts eight to fourteen others.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the noise induced by leaf blowers at 90 decibels exceeds the threshold of danger at 85 decibels and can seriously impair hearing. Leaf blowers are used mainly in residential areas where many types of residents are exposed to their pollutants and noise. This population includes homemakers, retirees, day sleepers, young toddlers, the ill or disabled, and pets.

Those at highest risk are the blower operators - gardeners and yard workers, who regularly omit wearing protective headphones and respiratory gear.

According to one manufacturer's lobbyist, at a distance of fifty feet, the average blower measures 70-75 decibels. But the World Health Organization states that in order to have a healthy environment daytime noise levels should not exceed 55 decibels.

Excessive noise pollution is associated with increased blood pressure, headaches, ringing ears, loss of sleep, lower level in students' ability to learn, and a lower frustration tolerance. Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Luther Terry stated that "excessive noise exposure during pregnancy can influence embryonic development."

But they're more than just a noise nuisance - they can be a real threat to your health.

Most obviously, gas-fueled leaf blowers spew out air pollution - one hour of use creates as much air pollution as a car driven for 100 miles. In addition, consider these disturbing air pollutants - what the leaf blower is blowing around besides leaves.

The particulate matter (PM) swept into the air is composed of dust, fecal matter, (yep, critter poo), pesticides, fungi, chemicals, fertilizers, spores, and street dirt which can contain lead and gasoline - among other things. There have even been cases of viral diseases being spread by the use of leaf blowers.

Do you use a leaf blower? Maybe it's time to buy a good rake instead (contrary to popular belief, it's just as fast - check out this story about a grandma who proves a rake and broom is as fast as a leaf blower). Raking is also good exercise.

Have a neighbor who refuses to lay off the leaf blower? Share these tips for safe and courteous use of leaf blowers.

Related Topic:

Alternatives to Antibacterials and Disinfectants

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:08:00 +0000

Safer Ways to Keep Germs at Bay

Healthy Child Healthy World

Rather than relying on chemicals to kill bacteria, protect your family from infections with these easy steps:

Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. It's not the type of soap that prevents the spread of bacteria and viruses, it's how you wash your hands and how often. Wash hands both before and after preparing food; before eating or handling contact lenses; after changing a diaper (wash the child's hands, too), petting animals, sneezing, coughing, or using the toilet; and, whenever hands came in contact with bodily fluids.

Photo credit: iStockphoto

Here's how:

Wet your hands, using comfortably warm water.
Add soap (preferably plant-based) and lather up. If you use bar soap, rinse it after using and let dry.
Rub hands together vigorously for 20 seconds. Don't forget the spaces between your fingers, your wrists, and under your nails.
Rinse thoroughly.
Dry hands well and launder hand towels often in hot water.

Clean surfaces with hot, soapy water (with lots of suds). Scrub surfaces well to loosen microorganisms, which can form a slimy layer resistant to detergent alone.

Wash sponges frequently. They can breed and spread germs, so wash regularly in soapy water. Rinse the sponges well, wringing them out well. Then let dry thoroughly, and replace often.

Disinfect selectively:

Objects that come into contact with raw meat, fish, or eggs, such as cutting boards, utensils and counters:

Use a dishwasher instead and be sure it reaches 171 degrees F, and choose an environmentally friendly detergent.

Spray cutting boards and counters with white vinegar and then with 3% hydrogen peroxide (available in drug stores). Keep the liquids handy in separate spray bottles. It doesn't matter which one your use first, but both are much more effective than either one alone.

See The Partnership for Food Safety Education for more tips on safe food handling practices.

Diapers: After rinsing out cloth diapers, keep them soaking in a solution of 1/2 cup borax per gallon of water until they go into the washing machine.

Wash diapers separately from other clothes. The heat of the dryer will fry germs.

Sponges and rags: Microwave for 30 seconds on high power if dry, longer if wet-sponges for one minute, and rags for three minutes.

Bathrooms and kitchen hard surfaces: Borax disinfects but is milder than bleach. It's also effective on mildew, especially combined with vinegar. Borax can found in the laundry detergent aisle in the supermarket, but keep it away from children. You can make a cleaning solution by adding 1/2 cup to each gallon of water.

Hydrogen peroxide will reduce microorganisms on surfaces. It's the active ingredient in Seventh Generation Kitchen Cleaner and Bathroom Cleaners, and other products found in the Healthy Child Healthy World Marketplace.

By selecting a variety of least-toxic supplies and mixing them into one all-purpose disinfectant, you can increase the efficacy of your cleaner. Use this recipe:

1 t. borax
2 T. white vinegar
2 c. hot water
1/4 t. lavender essential oil
3 drops tea tree essential oil

Mix all ingredients together and stir until dry ingredients dissolve. Pour into spray bottle for long-term storage and use. Spray as needed on any surface except glass. Scrub and rinse with a clean damp, cloth.

Keep surfaces dry and the humidity in your home low. Bacteria and fungi love moist, warm places.

Other Resources: Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics (APUA)

12 Ways to Keep Your Toy Box Safe and Eco-friendly

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle Sorensen) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:33:00 +0000

by Janelle Sorensen

Toy recalls from reputable brands make headlines almost every day. And, even though recalls are difficult to keep up with, they still only address a limited amount of risks. In fact, there are a wide variety of synthetic chemicals or heavy metals that could be used in your child’s toys - many of which we have limited understanding of potential health and developmental impacts. And, what about the bigger environmental picture of the pollution created when making or disposing of toys? When did playtime become so complicated?

garryknight /
CC BY-SA 2.0

Here are 12 ways you can reclaim the fun and reduce the worries when it comes to playtime. Make your toy box healthier for your child and the planet.

Go au natural. Look for toys made of natural materials like solid woods (with no finish or a non-toxic finish) and organic textiles (cotton, wool, felt, etc).
Simplify. Buying fewer toys is much better for the planet (and your pocketbook!
Re-purpose. Can something you already have be used as a toy? An empty box or set of stainless steel bowls can provide hours of happy play.
Look for items that will last. High quality toys may cost a bit more, but they will last much longer and can be handed down to younger children. Likewise, you’re more apt to get money back out of them if you decide to sell.
Read labels. What’s this toy made of? Where does it come from? Get to know a toy before you buy it.
Look for local. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by buying local. If you’re looking at global supplies, opt for European, Canadian or Japanese imports as other countries may have lax toy regulations.
Opt for open-ended toys. Look for items that encourage creativity and are capable of being used for many different types of play. Wooden blocks, colorful scarves, smooth stones, and even cardboard boxes can be the foundation for innumerable creative adventures.
Avoid cheap jewelry and kids’ cosmetics. Both of these types of dress-up products are high-risk. Cheap jewelry often has high lead levels and kids’ cosmetics can have any number of questionable chemicals.
Purge plastics. Okay, this is near impossible these days, but make your best effort. If you do buy plastic, look for safer plastics like those labeled #1, 2, 4, or 5 in the chasing arrows symbol usually found on the bottom of the product. Not labeled? Call the manufacturer.
Text for Healthy Toys. HealthyToys.org is a database to help you find safer toys. You can even access it from your mobile phone. Just text key words and you’ll receive information immediately regarding any testing that’s been done.
Print a pocket guide. Download the Healthy Toys Pocket Shopping Guide (PDF file) so you always have tips and safer toy recommendations on hand.
Sign-up for recall alerts. The Consumer Product Safety Commission posts recalls online, as does the website recalls.gov. If a toy you own is recalled, take it away immediately and follow the company’s instructions on how to get a safe replacement.

Bonus tip: Have fun! Play time isn’t about what you have, it’s about what you do. Get down and dirty with your kids. Laugh and simply enjoy spending time together.

Related Topics:

How to Make Safer, Healthier Meat Choices

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Healthy Child Healthy World

specialkrb / CC BY-ND 2.0

Meat and poultry can be part of a healthy well-balanced diet. They are good sources of protein, iron, calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients, but these foods also can contain toxic pollutants at varying levels, including dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), flame retardants, and arsenic. If your diet is largely based on meats, it's time to learn to moderate. There is such thing as too much of a good thing!

Here are some facts about meat and poultry:

Meat and dairy products contain animal fat and, therefore, can contain higher levels of certain toxic chemicals that accumulate in fat, like dioxins, brominated flame retardants and PCBs. Besides being "fat - friendly," these chemicals persist in the environment and in living tissues.

Daily meat consumption could put you at increased risk for a variety of cancers, according to U.S. government health researchers. The more red meat and processed meat you eat, the greater your risk may be.

According to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy at least 70 percent of conventionally raised broiler chickens in the U.S. are fed arsenic. The most common additive is roxarsone, an "organic" form of arsenic, once thought medically benign. Once ingested by animals, however, roxarsone can degrade into cancer-causing inorganic forms of arsenic within the animal's digestive tract and in animal waste. Roxarsone is FDA-approved for growth promotion, feed efficiency and "improved pigmentation" of meat. Significantly, the 27 countries of the European Union have never approved this practice as safe.

You can reduce your family's exposure by making smarter choices:

1. Select lean meat cuts and cut off visible fat before cooking. Use lower-fat cooking methods including broiling, grilling, roasting or pressure-cooking (cooking and preparation methods can reduce dioxin levels by up to half.)

Look for meats raised without synthetic hormones. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits the use of hormones in the raising of hogs or poultry in the United States. Therefore, there's no need to shell out extra money for pork and poultry products that carry the "no hormones administered." However, the USDA does allow the use of a number of hormones on beef. Beef that is labeled as "no hormones administered" is considered to be free from any added hormones over the lifetime of the animal and therefore does imply that the manufacturer has gone beyond USDA regulations for conventional meat production. Use of the term "hormone free" is considered "unapprovable" by USDA on any meat products.

Buy organic. Try to buy certified organic pork, beef and poultry from animals raised without use of antibiotics, genetic engineering, irradiation, sewage sludge and artificial ingredients.

Look for grass-fed beef. Beef from grass-fed cattle is leaner, lower in fat and calories, while higher in vitamin E16 and antioxidants than beef from cattle raised on a corn diet. It is also lower in saturated fats and higher in omega-3 fats. One study showed eating grass-fed beef helped reduce "bad" cholesterol and increased "good" cholesterol. Cattle raised on pasture rather than on corn-based diets also may be less susceptible to contamination with E. coli and other disease-causing bacteria.

Eat less! The easiest and most affordable way to reduce your exposure to the contaminants that may be in meat and poultry is to eat less of it. Try making some of your meals meat-free and when you do eat meat, try smaller portions.

Learn more at Eat Healthy.

Related Topics:

Video: The Greener Refrigerator

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

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:17:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:43:00 +0000

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:

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Green Halloween: Costumes, Treats and More

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle Sorensen) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:30:00 +0000

by Janelle Sorensen

Healthy Child Healthy World

Halloween is creeping up fast, but if your kids are like mine (they can't decide on a costume), then you still have time to pick an earth-friendly option. And, if you are like me (procrastinate until the last minute), then you still have time to buy healthy treats. Here's a quick rundown of some of the great green ideas that have been shared with me over the past few weeks:

TREATS: The Tranquil Parent has some tasty ideas for healthier treats in addition to our own blog on Thinking Outside the Candy Box and Sustainablog highlights a really great reusable Halloween bag to carry your haul in.

CRAFTS AND DÉCOR: The Tree Hugging Family has been posting awesome green Halloween ideas all month like non-toxic face paints and recycled Halloween crafts. Find wonderfully wicked green décor over at Green Living.

COSTUMES: The Green Baby Guide has some interesting ideas for DIY costumes and even though TeensyGreen doesn't celebrate Halloween, she still shares some great ideas and resources for doing it green including the Inhabitots Green Halloween Contest. Amy from Craft Magazine sent me cute costume ideas (Bee, Monkey, Lego, Sushi, Pirate) that can be made from materials you probably have lying around your house (or you can easily pick up from a thrift store).

For a ton of other great ideas visit Green Halloween or the Retro Housewife.

Happy Haunting!

Getting Your Child's School or Day Care Center to Clean Green

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle Sorensen) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:15:00 +0000

by Janelle Sorensen

Photo: Healthy Child Healthy World

You've made the switch to safer cleaners at home, but what about when your child is off at daycare or school? The chemicals in institutional cleaning products can cause a wide range of major health problems for children, including respiratory irritation and increased risk of cancer.

Luckily, safer cleaning products are now widely available and cost effective. As a result, child care centers and schools across the country are switching to green cleaners to improve health, increase staff performance, lessen adverse environmental impacts, reduce potential liabilities, and save money. (Yes, switching to green cleaning does have all of these benefits - talk about win, win, win.)

How do you get your childcare provider or school to make the switch?

Get informed. Use the resources listed below to get up to speed on the benefits of going green and the tools available to help schools and child care centers make the switch. It's much easier for them to address the "problem" if you have solutions in hand.

Inform others. Once you understand the problem and solution, talk to other parents, teachers, the school nurse, anyone who'll lend you a sympathetic ear. You want to have an influential group of people to help support your effort as you move forward.

Talk to someone with the authority to do something. That may be your school's superintendent, a school board member or the manager of your child care center, or they may direct you straight to whomever is in charge of maintaining the facility.

Approach every person you talk to as an ally, not an enemy. Remember the fundamentals of How to Win Friends and Influence People - like not criticizing people, showing appreciation for their work, smiling. Trust me, you will get much farther much faster if you employ kindness, gratitude, and diplomacy. You want to be seen as an invaluable asset, not as an incessant nag.

Give people the benefit of the doubt that they are doing their job to the best of their ability. School and child care professionals are typically overworked, underpaid, with a lot to do and inadequate funding to get it done. Make yourself available. Keep asking "what can I do to help?"

Here are some resources to get you started:

Creating Healthy Environments for Children: Easy Steps for Homes, Child Care Centers and Schools
Cleaning For Healthy Schools Toolkit
Healthy Schools Network Guide to Green Cleaning
Healthy Schools Campaign Quick and Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools
Green Clean Schools Free Webinar Series
ChildSafe Cleaning Products

5 Non-toxic Tips for Getting Rid of Rodents

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:01:00 +0000

Healthy Child Healthy World

Photo: Healthy Child Healthy World

Mice aren't just unpleasant guests, they are dirty animals. They can be carriers of a disease called "ratbite fever" that people can catch from a mouse bite or from the bodily fluids of a sick mouse. Mice can also introduce mites, tapeworms, and ringworms into your home. And in homes where people have allergies or asthma, their dander and urine can trigger reactions.

The only way to permanently get rid of a mouse problem is to stop access to the food and shelter that you are providing.

Follow these tips to get rid of rodents:

1. Prevent Entry

Block holes and cracks larger than 1/4-inch, which mice can pass through. Use a pencil (eraser end) to check size. Fill holes with steel wool and seal cracks in foundation. Close gaps around pipes and cables. Use hardware cloth to screen vents and floor drains. Don't use chewable materials, like plastic, rubber, vinyl or wood.

Repair broken windows, doors, screens and make sure they close tightly. Replace worn weatherstripping and install door sweeps

2. Clear the Path to Your Door

Remove or cut down tall grass and weeds, blackberries and other brush from the area near your home's foundation.

Prune ground level branches off shrubs.

Avoid ivy, which shelters mice.

Keep bird feeders away from the house and sweep up seeds on the ground frequently.

Use trash cans with tight lids.

Clean up fallen fruits, seed pods, and nuts from trees.

3. Make Your Home Uninviting

Use garbage cans with tight lids or take trash out daily.

Use mouse-proof containers, such as coffee cans, jars with screw lids or plastic food containers with tight fitting lids for pantry items, such as grains, cookies, sugar, etc. Mice can chew through, plastic bags, cardboard and burlap.

Keep pet food in mouse proof containers. Rather than leave food out for pets all day and night, feed them at specific times and then remove food bowls.

Store lawn and garden seed, birdseed and organic fertilizers (such as bone meal) in mouse proof containers.

Don't leave food or dirty dishes out overnight. Keep counters, stove top, broiler and the kitchen floor clean.

4. Determine Where The Mice Are

Do a visual inspection for clues, such as chewed food boxes, etc. Mice do not usually travel far in search of food. Look for holes in which they may be entering.

Coat the floor with flour in areas where you suspect activity. Look for mice tracks in the flour the next morning.

5. Trap Those Sneaky Critters.

If mice move in, a highly effective way to deal with small infestations is to trap them.

Use peanut butter, raisins, oats, or dried fruit for bait in snap and live traps.

Use gloves when handling traps to prevent getting a human smell on the traps.

Set out the traps unset and without bait for a few days to get the mice used to them. Place them five to ten feet apart near the wall, with the trigger closes to the wall. Behind objects and in dark corners are also good places to set the traps.

Make sure you release mice caught in live traps far (1+ mile) from your house.

Keep traps away from children and pets.

Rodent poison baits and powders are highly toxic!
Do not use in homes with children or pets!

Related Topics:

Obama Administration Endorses Chemical Regulation Overhaul

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:11:00 +0000

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.

Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:53:00 +0000

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.

9 Things to Know About Building a Safer, Healthier Fire

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:11:00 +0000

Healthy Child Healthy World

Ted Percival / CC BY 2.0

Whether you have indoor fires for warmth or ambiance, it's important to know how to build a fire that prevents indoor air quality problems. Smoke is made up of fine particles that, when released, can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause irritations like burning eyes and a runny nose, and aggravate illnesses such as bronchitis and asthma. Follow these tips to build a safer, healthier fire.

Buy a wood stove made after 1992. Wood stoves made after 1992 meet tight U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards, so you can even buy a wood stove confidently on the used market if it dates from within a decade. The EPA recommends using a certified professional installer as the best way to ensure correct installation for ensured safety. A properly installed certified wood stove or fireplace insert always has a vent to the exterior and releases far less smoke through the chimney, overall emitting 60-80% less pollution into the environment.

Think about installing a catalyst. Many stoves are now fitted with catalysts - similar to catalytic converters on automobiles - that burn up smoke to reduce emissions to an absolute minimum. Older stoves can also be retrofitted with catalysts.

Burn dry wood. Wood that's been "seasoned," or dried for at least six months outside, burns hotter and cleaner than "green" wood. To season wood adequately, shield it from the elements with a cover on top but keep it well ventilated on the sides to allow airflow between the logs. "Green" wood (which has a thin, green layer under the bark) appears yellowish, and crackles from evaporating moisture when burned. Dry wood appears grayish and cracked at the ends, and weighs less than "wet" wood, as the heavy moisture has already evaporated.

Burn many logs at once. Once the fire is well stoked, fill the stove with largish, long-burning loads to reduce the number of times you need to open the stove door for reloading, the primary means of introducing smoky pollutants into the indoor air.

Burn hardwoods. Wood from deciduous trees, the kind that shed leaves in the fall, is harder than wood from coniferous trees, or evergreens, whose wood tends to be soft and sappy. Hardwoods - namely oak, maple, hickory, apple, and ash - burn hotter, longer, and cleaner than softwoods, such as pine, spruce, and fir. Hardwoods are not only environmentally safer, but also economically smarter: You can burn through a cord of softwood twice as quickly as a cord of hardwood.

Make hot fires. Catalysts burn smoke when they "light off," reaching temperatures of 350 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Most catalysts come equipped with a temperature monitor. Even without a catalyst, wood fires burn best hot, because they eat up all the carbon monoxide and other pollutants.

Install carbon monoxide alarms. When wood is not burned completely, the resulting smoke contains a number of chemicals, one of which is carbon monoxide (CO). CO is odorless and colorless, but exposure to it reduces your blood's ability to carry oxygen. The Underwriters Laboratory certifies carbon monoxide monitors, which beep in alarm if carbon monoxide levels increase. Carbon monoxide alarms should be placed on every floor of the house and near bedrooms.

Sweep chimneys. Creosote, a black, tar-like or flaky deposit, builds up on the chimney lining, blocking the proper exhaust of smoke and raising the risk of a chimney fire. Chimney sweeps certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America and the National Chimney Sweep Guild recommend a yearly chimney cleaning.

Burn only solid wood. Pressure-treated wood, particleboard, and plywood contain toxins, such as formaldehyde and arsenic, in their preservatives and adhesives, so never burn them. Also avoid burning plastics, newsprint and magazines in your stove or fireplace. Start the fire with newspaper, but get rid of your piles of read papers by recycling.

Related Topics:

Cold and Flu Season Survival Guide: 10 Easy Steps

noreply@blogger.com (Janelle Sorensen) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:14:00 +0000

by Janelle Sorensen

'Tis the season of sniffles, sneezes, fevers, and flu. And, this year brings an epidemic that has every parent on high alert. At my house, we're in the midst of virus cycle number one and I just pulled out the vaporizer for the first time of the season. As my daughter and I waited for the little engine to warm up after months of sitting idly in the basement, we spoke glumly about how much we despise the string of illness and misery fall and winter inevitably brings. This winter we are fighting back, and you can too. Keep your family in tip-top shape by following these easy tips.

1. Get plenty of Zzzzz
Studies show that sleep deprivation can make you more susceptible to illness by reducing the number of cells in your body dedicated to fighting things like microbes. The average adult needs about 6-8 hours of sleep. A newborn may need up to 18 hours a day, toddlers require 12 to 13 hours, and preschoolers need about 10 hours. If your child doesn't nap, try putting him or her to bed earlier.

2. Bust a family move
Exercising increases your sickness-fighting cells. Get the whole family in the habit of exercising together to improve your health and to enjoy some quality time together. Try walking, hiking, biking, yoga, or just crank up some fun music and have a dance-off.

3. Engage in germ warfare

Pete Markham /
CC BY-SA 2.0

Make sure everyone washes their hands often with soap. Ditch the antibacterials because research shows plain soap is just as effective. Sing the ABC's while vigorously lathering palms, between fingers, around nail beds, and the backs of hands. Pay particular attention to hand hygiene before and after each meal, after playing outside, using the bathroom, handling pets, blowing noses, and after being anywhere in public.

When you're out and about, carry non-toxic wipes or hand sanitizer with you for quick cleanups. Check out CleanWell's plant-based, biodegradable products, All Terrain Hand Sanz Fragrance Free Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer, or EO Hand Sanitizer.

If someone in the family gets sick, keep his toothbrush separate from everyone else's. Give it a good soak in boiling water or run it through the dishwasher after the illness isn't contagious anymore to get rid of any lingering germs or viruses.

Wash your hand towels in hot water every three or four days during cold and flu season.

Sneeze and cough into your arm or a tissue. Coughing into your hands puts the germs right where you can spread them to any object (or person) you touch.

4. Drink up
You have probably heard how important it is to drink plenty of fluids when you are ill, but it's just as important for preventing illness. Adequate hydration keeps the tissues of the respiratory system moist, which prevents microbes from settling in. Hydration also helps the immune system work properly. Opt for fresh, filtered water.

5. Air out
Open a window or two in your home just a crack for a few minutes each day. You'll let out indoor air pollutants that may be stressing your immune systems as well as chase away germs.

6. Keep it cool
An overheated home promotes dry air, the perfect environment for viruses to thrive. And when your mucous membranes (i.e., nose, mouth, and tonsils) dry out, they can't trap those germs very well. Lowering the heat in your house 5 degrees and using a room humidifier helps maintain a healthier level of humidity in the winter. Buy a hygrometer to measure humidity and keep your home at around 50 percent.

7. Relax
Declare a family time out each day. During these few minutes have everyone close their eyes, breathe deep, and think happy. Meditation reduces stress. Reduced stress means less susceptibility to illness.

8. Pump up with produce
Carrots, kiwis, raisins, green beans, oranges, strawberries: they all contain such immunity-boosting phytonutrients as vitamin C and carotenoids. Cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, are good sources of betacarotene and help protect against free-radical damage. They also contain vitamin C and calcium. Try to get your child to eat five servings of fruits and veggies a day. Eat at least half of them raw and when you do cook them, be careful not to overcook. Overcooking destroys the immune enhancing properties. Learn more about feeding your immune system.

9. Go easy on the sweets
Sugar makes the body acidic, just the way pathogens like it (they thrive on sugar). So especially during cold and flu season, reduce sugar intake (that includes corn syrup and HFCS, as well).

10. Take a supplement
According to Dr. Alan Greene, "most kids today do NOT get the micronutrients they need from what they eat. Not by a long shot. By some estimates, only 2% of kids regularly eat the recommended number of servings of different food groups. A daily multivitamin/mineral is more than just a safety net for occasional nutritional shortages, it is an important tool to support healthy growth and a healthy life for your child." Talk to your physician about your child's specific nutritional needs and check out Dr. Greene's Nutritional Supplements.

Related Topics:

How to Eat Healthy When You're On the Go

noreply@blogger.com (Christopher Gavigan) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:32:00 +0000

by Christopher Gavigan

adjustafresh / CC BY-ND 2.0

How and what you feed your children is usually a top priority for parents, for some its a point of obsession. When at home, you are master of your domain. You can control what comes into the kitchen and what lands on your children's plates. But what happens when you're not at home - when you're traveling, fighting traffic, waiting at the airport, running late, stuck at the mall, etc, and your child is starving?

The fear of drive through and fast food restaurants has been drilled into most of us (and for those of you who aren't sufficiently disgusted, this slide show of the top American fast food sins will convert you). Just one meal can pack in an entire day's worth of sodium, calories and fat. While its well known that regular fast food consumption leads to weight gain, poor eating habits affect your entire system, zapping energy and strength levels, and straining brain function and emotional well being. Even more frequently overlooked is the effect of cumulative exposure to chemical additives used as flavor enhancers, dyes, and preservatives.

But sometimes there's no avoiding a meal out at a less than healthy establishment. So here are some tips and guidelines for smart ordering and healthy practices when eating outside of home.

Fast Food Does Not Mean Fried Food.
In response to consumer demand, it's increasingly easier to find healthy, convenient alternatives to fried foods on fast food menus. Opt for anything that is grilled, steamed, or baked, or try an entrée-sized salad (see Tip 2). And keep your eye out for leaner cuts of meats like skinless chicken breasts, turkey burgers, and beef sirloin. Other healthier menu options are bean burritos, a slice of veggie pizza, a salad or fruit bowl, or a deli sandwich on whole wheat bread.

Avoid High-Fat Add-Ons.
Request salad dressing, sauce, cheese, or toppings on the side so you can apply sparingly, instead of drenching your meal in empty calories and through the roof sodium levels.

Mind the Portions.
Restaurant portions have been growing in size for years (from large to enormous): in the 1950s, the average size of a hamburger was 1.5 ounces, while today's burgers weigh in at around 8 ounces. Share entrees between your family or take the other half of it to go!

Drink Water.
Soda, sweetened iced tea and lemonades, energy drinks and most juices are loaded with high fructose corn syrup and empty calories. Make H2O the beverage of choice for everyone, and skip the plastic bottles and Styrofoam cups by refilling your own container, like a stainless steel Klean Kanteen, with filtered water.

Avoid the "Cream", Opt for the "Color".
Meal choices with the words Alfredo, a la crème, au gratin, or described as "creamy" will likely be smothered in a heavy, artificially enhanced sauce. On the other hand, foods that reflect the colors of the rainbow are usually a healthier choice. Many kids meals end up as a plate of "beige", all starch, breads, and sauces. Picking a colorful fruit or veggie salad will automatically up the nutritional content of your meal.

Make Substitutions.
Don't be afraid to speak up about the ingredients or preparation of your food if it will make it healthier. Ask for meat to be grilled "light", with as little butter or oil as possible. Request salsa or mustard, instead of mayonnaise or sugar-filled ketchup for your sandwich. Ask for organic, non-fat milk for the kids. Request sour cream instead of butter for your baked potato. Ask to have a side salad or fruit instead of fries. The extent to which servers will go to make you happy might surprise you.

Find the Healthy Options!
Use this fantastic tool from Eat Well to map out restaurants in your area that serve organic, local and healthy fare. With a little research and a GPS, you're instantly connected to restaurants that share your values.

As Always, Plan Ahead.
Keep your purse, bag, and car ready for moments when hunger strikes and a healthy snack is in need. Dried fruits, granola, mixed nuts, apples, oranges, and cereals stay fresh and transport easily - especially with the array of cool, non-toxic containers available. We always store kid-friendly (and tasty) nutrition bars, like Clif Kid's Z Bar and Revolution Food's Grammy Sammys, which always come in handy!

Related Topics:

Safer Food For A Healthier You

"Eat Healthy" Helps Parents Make Every Bite Fast, Frugal, Fun and Eco-Friendly

noreply@blogger.com (Christopher Gavigan) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:15:00 +0000

by Christopher Gavigan

Amazingly, my toddler, Luke, eats EVERYTHING you put in front of him (except avocados, sadly). I don't know how we lucked out with such an open-minded, open-mouthed child, but I have great empathy for the parents of finicky eaters. As if simply finding something healthy that children will eat wasn't hard enough, today we also have to worry about allergies, food recalls, chemical contaminants, packaging, and more. How did the simple act of eating become so difficult?

A lot of parents have told us they're concerned about these issues and want their family to eat healthier, but have a limited budget. And like all parents, they just don't have the time to seek out high quality information or research how to make better choices. With all this in mind, Healthy Child Healthy World started Eat Healthy, our new program that makes food fast, frugal, fun and eco-friendly! Need a recipe for a kid-friendly salad or want to make your own baby food? Looking for quick tips on safer, healthier foods for children? Concerned about chemicals in cans and plastic containers? Look to Eat Healthy for simple solutions to address our complex world of food.

With tips and ideas from experts like Myra Goodman, cookbook author and co-founder of Earthbound Farm (the world's largest grower of organic produce), and Raising Baby Green author Dr. Alan Greene, and recipes from celebrity moms such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Meryl Streep and the "Renegade Lunch Lady" chef Ann Cooper, Eat Healthy is a comprehensive, easy-to-read online recipe and healthy food guide. It's filled with easy, delicious (yet kid-friendly) recipes; essential reading and advice about today's most worrisome food issues; food and nutrition videos; and even downloadable pocket shopping guides like Healthy School Lunch and Healthy Formula & Food, so you can always keep the wisdom of Eat Healthy with you.

Other Eat Healthy resources include:

Tips to take to the grocery store, including the most and least pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables and the best healthy, kid-approved snacks

Eight simple steps for making healthier, greener food choices for your family's diet

Quick and easy recipes for eating right on a budget

A checklist of fish that is safe for children, teens and women of child-bearing age

How to limit your child's intake of food additives

Eat Healthy is also an interactive space for parents and caregivers to share their recipes and tips, too. Your child's favorite snack could be the answer for another mom in search of fun, healthy mealtime ideas. Your low-cost, eco-friendly storage idea may be just the solution for the dad who just purged all his plastics.

Visit Eat Healthy today to explore the resources and recipes. And, get involved by attending one of the many exciting Eat Healthy events we're hosting. We've lined up some of your favorite experts on children's health and put together fantastic giveaways loaded with goodies from our trusted, non-toxic product partners. So mark your calendars today for these not-to-be missed events!

Join a Live "Eat Healthy" Web Chat on theMotherhood.
We'll have live text chats on theMotherhood:

September 28th, 1:00 pm EST: "Raising Baby Green" with Dr. Alan Greene on children's nutrition

October 7th, 1:00 pm EST: "Cooking Organic" with Myra Goodman, cookbook author and co-founder of Earthbound Farm, the world's largest grower of organic produce

Twitter the Night Away with Healthy Child.
Join our "Eat Healthy" Twitter Party, October 15th at 9 pm EST. Hosted by health and nutrition experts, we'll share a feast of information about healthy, eco-friendly eating and loads of fun prizes from Earthbound Farm, Klean Kanteen, thinkbaby, Clif Bar, Dr. Alan Greene, PlanetBox, Plum Organics and Healthy Child Healthy World. Follow the #EatHealthy hashtag to dish with your fellow parents on how to make healthy eating, fun, fast, affordable and eco-friendly.

Share Your Favorite Recipes for a Chance to Win!
Have a fun, healthy recipe for a snack or meal your kids can't get enough of? Looking for recipe ideas to share with your readers? Healthy Child Healthy World wants to know!

Send us your favorite recipe from your collection or post your top pick from our recipes for a chance to win an Eat Healthy gift bag - a reusable Whole Foods Market "I used to be a plastic bottle" recycled grocery tote loaded with goodies, including copies of The Earthbound Farm Organic Cookbook by Myra Goodman and Dr. Alan Greene's new book Feeding Baby Green, an 18 oz. Klean Kanteen, a stainless steel PlanetBox lunchbox, a thinkbaby Feeding Kit, nutrition bars for the whole family from Clif Bars, snacks from Plum Organics, a perfectly portable Healthy Child Healthy World paperback and a "Healthy School Lunch" Pocket Shopping Guide.

There are two ways to enter:

Submit your recipe to Eat Healthy.

Post your favorite Eat Healthy recipe on YOUR blog and email us at recipes@healthychild.org with the link.

On November 6th, one winner will be randomly selected to win the Eat Healthy gift bag.

Happy and Healthy Eating All!

Related Topics:

Safer Food For A Healthier You

Better Ways to Box Up Take Out

noreply@blogger.com (Christopher Gavigan) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:00:00 +0000

by Christopher Gavigan

I don't know about your neighborhood, but I've yet to find an Indian restaurant that delivers my curry take-out in compostable or sustainable containers. Ditto practically every other dining establishment in the country. Tons of plastic, paper and the dreaded Styrofoam are the norm for packing to-go items, with disastrous implications for the planet. In addition to the eco-consequences, disposable plastics and Styrofoam leach chemicals into food, and much disposable fast food packaging often contains chemicals called PFCs (often labeled as Teflon or Scotchguard) to control stains and grease.

So for the moment at least, its up to the consumer to reduce the footprint and any health risks our take-out habits create. Here's a list of small ways to make your take-out easier on the planet.

No Bag, Thank You.
The growing trend (now an ingrained habit for many) of bringing reusable canvas or cloth bags to the super market applies to all situations where you're leaving with a plastic bag in hand. Keep an eco-friendly sac at work or in your car, and make sure the cashier or server knows that you brought your own alternative!

I'll Drink to That!
Many coffee shops and cafes will gladly use your brought-from-home mug for your hot beverage. You won't even catch an odd look from a Starbucks barista since your good deed is saving them a few pennies on packaging! For everyday java fixes, pick up the stylishly sustainable I Am Not A Paper Cup, a ceramic version of the take-out coffee cup, made for day to day use. Another simple way to cut back on waste is by keeping a compact, handmade Cup Kozy attached to your key chain or bag. By replacing the single-use cardboard sleeves on any size of coffee cups, you're keeping something small out of the trash - but small items definitely build up!

Bring (or try at least) Your Own Containers
Few establishments will allow customers to bring their own to-go containers because of state health codes. It is allowed at some locations though, especially at serve-yourself delis or salad bars, so pack your glass or bamboo containers and give it a try. Another workaround is to keep some aluminum foil handy. While not always the right solution (soup, for example, is a no go), 100% recyclable foil can make a perfect carrier for bagels, sandwiches, and small snacks. And it can be washed and reused over and over before being recycled. If there's no way to get around the plastic or Styrofoam, encourage them to place a liner of tin foil between your food and the container, which will prevent chemical leaching, even when heated.

Utilize Your Own Utensils
This is one area of the take-out world you can dominate! Sometimes your to-go meal comes with a set of plastic utensils, whether they're needed or not, and a mountain of paper napkins. Cut back on this major waste by bringing your own utensils and a cloth napkin from home, and store them at your desk at work or in your bag when you're on the go. If you're constantly on the move, pick up a bamboo travel set from To-Go Ware. Be sure the restaurant leaves the plastic behind, and not in your bag!

Fill Up the Kanteen
We've been singing the praises of Klean Kanteens for ages, but having your own beverage with you during the day means you're less likely to purchase one that comes in a plastic or foam cup. When heading out to lunch or grabbing a snack on the road, refill your empty canteen with juice, tea, or milk for the kids. Another helpful addition is packing a glass or stainless steel straw so you can sip away sans plastic.

Related Topics:

15 Ways to Protect Yourself from the Perils of Plastics

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:36:00 +0000

Healthy Child Healthy World

Buy and store food in glass, ceramic or metal containers, as some plastics have been reported to leak chemicals into food.

Use cloth grocery bags and reusable produce and bulk food containers. Reducing our use of plastic reduces the pollution that ends up contaminating the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.

Choose fresh, frozen and dried foods over those that are canned. (Most metal cans are lined with a plastic resin that contains the hormone disruptor, BPA.)

Purchase toys made from natural materials. The safest toys are those made from solid woods with non-toxic finishes and natural textiles like organic cotton or wool.

Avoid toys and teethers made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and baby bottles made of polycarbonate plastic. These plastics contain particularly harmful chemicals. If you do choose to buy plastic products, look for those labeled "phthalate-free" and "BPA-free."

Instead of buying water in plastic bottles, test your tap water and use an appropriate water filter if necessary. Use a stainless steel water bottle to keep yourself hydrated on the go.

Avoid vinyl and fake leather (PVC) products. PVC is known as the "poison plastic" because it release extremely harmful chemicals during its manufacture and incineration (it's not recycled.) It also has many risky additives like lead, cadmium, and phthalates that leach out.

Look for the recycling code (#1-7) on plastic products. If not labelled, call the manufacturer to ask about the plastic used. Buy the least toxic (#1 PETE, #2 HDPE, #4 LDPE, and #5 PP). Try to avoid #3 PVC, #6 PS, and #7 polycarbonate.

Choose the least-packaged option; for instance, buy in bulk. Again, reducing our use of plastic, reduces pollution.

Recycle or discard plastic bottles and food storage containers that are worn, scratched, or cannot be identified. Scratches become breeding grounds for bacteria and potential gateways for leaching. You can extend the life of your plastics by washing them by hand with a mild soap.

Do not heat plastics, especially if they contain fatty foods. Heating fatty food in plastics can cause greater leaching.

Microwave in glass or ceramic only. Do not use plastic wraps.

Do not use plastic cutlery and dinnerware. Dish up food on compostable or reusable dishware. Check out The Biodegradable Store, Earthshell, or Royal Chinet.

If using plastic storage containers, make sure hot food items have cooled before placing them in the container. And keep in mind that fatty and acidic foods promote leaching, so you may want to, at the very least, choose glass for those types of foods.

Try to find natural materials when you are buying decorations, furnishings, and other household goods.

10 Tips to Prepare for a Healthy Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:38:00 +0000

Healthy Child Healthy World

Bonbon / CC BY 2.0

1. Eat the healthiest, safest foods.

These eight simple steps will help you reduce your exposure to synthetic pesticides and guard against certain cancers and high dioxin intake. Increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes and fiber may help eliminate toxins.

2. Feast on folic acid before conceiving and while pregnant.

Sources include dried beans and peas, citrus fruit, spinach and broccoli. Adequate folic acid early in a baby's development helps prevent neurological defects, such as spina bifida. Note: too much folic acid may pose it's own risks, so talk with your doctor about how much you need.

3. Reduce consumption of alcohol and caffeine, and quit smoking.

Women who smoke during pregnancy (or are exposed to secondhand smoke) are more likely to give birth to small babies with low birth weight. Alcohol and caffeine lower overall health and can negatively impact a fetus.

4. Cut down your intake of animal fats and fish to reduce dioxin, PCB and mercury exposure.

Trim fat and skin from meats well. Limit consumption of fatty and predatory fish, such as tuna and salmon, to once a month at most; alternatives include flounder and sole. (Use Seafood Watch to learn about which fish are safest to eat.) Broil fish and meat, so that fat drips away from the food. Choose skim dairy products.

5. Drink pure water.

Test drinking water for lead, chlorine byproducts (trihalomethanes) and pesticides. If there are contaminants, install an appropriate water filter and use a stainless steel water bottle to keep yourself hydrated on the go.

6. Test old paint for lead while planning your pregnancy.

Lead is stored in the bones and can be passed to a developing baby through the placenta. The EPA maintains a list of certified labs where you can send paint samples. Removal of lead paint must only be done by a professional and pregnant women should stay away from the area until it is thoroughly cleaned. See Detecting and Removing Lead Paint for more information and resources.

7. Get smart about plastics.

Some plastics cause dangerous pollution during manufacturing and some contain chemicals suspected of causing harm - especially to kids. Avoid those numbered 3, 6, or 7 (PC). These resin codes are typically on the bottom of an item in a triangle of arrows. When using any plastic, be safe by not using in the microwave or with hot food (the heat promotes leaching). Discard or stop using for food and beverages when the product begins to have signs of wear and tear.

8. Use fewer personal care products.

Many personal care products contain chemicals that disrupt hormones your baby will rely on for proper development. And others contain carcinogens and neurotoxicants, among other things. The best thing for you and baby is to reduce how much you use and to use Skin Deep to find the safest products.

9. Clean without toxic chemicals.

You don't need a chemical arsenal to keep your home clean. Basic ingredients like baking soda and vinegar can tackle most household chores. Or, you can look for natural products at the store (don't be fooled by marketing, though. Check the label for ingredients and use Seventh Generation's Label Reading Guide.)

10. Find out what chemicals are in your local air, water and soil.

Start in your backyard, by finding out what's in the soil. Sign up for air quality alerts at AirNow.gov.

Related Topics:

Keeping Toys Clean to Make Playtime Pure

noreply@blogger.com (Christopher Gavigan) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:59:00 +0000

by Christopher Gavigan

Alex Lee/ / CC BY 2.0

Like most toddlers, my son puts everything in his mouth. One of his favorite "chew toys" is his Thomas the Tank Engine. I don't know what makes that particular toy so interestingly orally tactile, but maybe he'll divulge the secret when he learns to talk.

We're very careful about what toys he plays with since we know there's a good chance they're going to get sucked on (use HealthyToys.org to find safer toys for your child). We don't want him mouthing toys that could expose him to lead or phthalates - which, unfortunately, are present in many children's products.

But even safe toys need a good cleaning now and then. Dust contaminated with pollutants like lead or flame retardants, allergens and asthmagens can all build up on them over time. Many parents reach for toxic bleach or antibacterials, but they are absolutely unnecessary and pose their own health risks. You can keep your child safe and their toys clean with some simple, non-toxic cleaning solutions.

It is generally recommended that you clean your toddler's toys about once a month. If your child has a lot of toys and you have little time, just clean the toys that are most frequently played with.

Use these tips to keep playtime pure fun.

Unfinished Wooden Toys

Regular care: Clean with a damp sponge, but do not soak - and dry off immediately afterwards. Excessive moisture can damage unfinished wood. If you are concerned about bacteria - pop the toy in your microwave for about 30 seconds. The heat will kill the bacteria that can be hiding inside the toy. (I say "inside" because the wood's surface forms a hostile environment for bacteria, so they migrate to the interior - unlike plastic, which is impenetrable so the bacteria just multiply right on the surface. And if the toy is pine, the natural pine oil will serve as another disinfectant).

Periodically rubbing with olive oil (once or twice a year) will keep the wood beautifully buffed and provide some protection.

Stains: Use fine-grade sandpaper to remove any discolorations or stains. After sanding, the toy should be washed, dried, and set out for several hours (or heated in the microwave) to eliminate bacteria that may have been released from the interior of the wood. This also applies to a toy that has suffered water damage.

Finished/Painted Wooden Toys

Regular Care: Wash quickly with soap and water, but as with unfinished wood, do not soak them as it can damage the toy.

Stains: Spray with a 50/50 mixture of white distilled vinegar and water, wipe and dry. You can also try using baking soda as a gentle scouring agent. Just be sure not to press to hard as you could rub through the finish.

Stuffed Toys and Other Textiles

Regular Care: Most stuffed toys and textiles can be tossed in your washing machine, but read the tag to find out for sure (though, often the tag will discourage you from washing even though it would work just fine). For stuffed animals, you can protect them by enclosing them in a pillow case before putting them in the wash. Use a non-toxic laundry detergent (conventional brands may leave unwanted residues and chemical treatment agents that you don't want lingering in the fabric) and dry using low heat (or leave outside in the sun). Just make sure it doesn't take too long to dry as that can promote mold growth.

To treat dust mites (which are a special concern for parents with children who suffer from asthma or allergies) freeze the toy for 24 hours.

Stains: The remedy for this truly depends on the textile you're working with. Do a little on-line investigation to find what works (and then leave a comment here to let us know what your problem was and what was an effective solution!)

Plastic Toys

Regular Care: Use hot soapy water to clean small toys by hand. Rinse off large toys outside using a bucket of hot, soapy water and a garden hose. If a plastic toy seems to be getting worn and scratched, it may be time to re-purpose or recycle the toy (if you can). Scratches in plastic can become harbors for bacteria - not the type of toy you want your toddler sucking on.

Stains: Again, this depends on the type of plastic (though, generally, stains on plastic are often there for good). Let us know your tip in the comments below.

A good all-purpose disinfectant: 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons white vinegar and 3 to 4 cups hot water in a spray bottle. For extra cleaning power, add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap to the mixture.

But, remember - there's no need to get obsessive about how clean your child's toys are. Disinfecting everything may compromise they're immune system's development (see "Why Dirt is Good"), and the other contaminants? Well, you just do your best to reduce exposure. And at the end of the day (or beginning or middle), make sure you're pulling out the toys to laugh and play together.

Related Topics:

Give Your Baby the Best Start

The Best Non-Toxic Ways to Clean Your Home

Hand Washing Double Bonus

noreply@blogger.com (WebMD Blogs) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:36:00 +0000

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.

Related Topics: