to raise healthy children, reduce exposure to toxins

8/8/2019 To Raise Healthy Children, Reduce Exposure to Toxins

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A monthly journal by Sheryl Eisenberg

From the Natural Resources Defense Council

This Green Life 1 Raising Healthy Children

Raising Healthy ChildrenHidden dangers & what to do about them

December 2010

Nowadays, raising healthy children requires more thankeeping them safe from germs. It also requires protectingthem from toxic chemicals pervading their everydayenvironment. These include:

Phthalates, which are present in scented cosmeticsand cleansers, nail polish and vinyl products, such aslunch boxes

Bisphenol A or BPA, which is used in polycarbonatebaby bottles and sippy cups and in the lining of foodand drink cans

Organophosphates, which are found in non-organicfood in the form of pesticide residues and in someflea control and lawn care products

PBDE flame retardants, used in pajamas, furnitureand electronics

Lead, which contaminates some people's drinkingwater and may be found in flaking paint from oldhouses and some cosmetics and toys

Mercury, which is found in fish at the top of the foodchange, such as tuna and swordfish.

Exposure to all of these, by young children in particular, isassociated with long-term health effects, such as infertility,reduced cognitive function and cancer. Among the reasonsthat young children are especially vulnerable is that theirbodies are still devleoping. For fetuses, whose organs andsystems are first being formed, there is the danger ofexposure in the womb. Even the healthy development ofsperm can be affected by toxins to which the father-to-be isexposed.

Following are steps you can take to reduce the risks to yourchildren, including those to come. Granted, the length of thelist makes it daunting, but don't let that prevent you fromdoing anything at all. Whatever steps you do take will keepyour child safer than he or she otherwise would be.

START BEFORE THIS. Exposure totoxins by men and women before theyconceive can affect the child's healthand development. So if you want toprotect your baby-to-be fromenvironmental hazardsand whodoesn't?begin by protecting yourself.


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What to do prior to pregnancy (applies to men & women)1. Use safer cosmetics, shampoos, soaps and other

personal care items. To reduce exposure to phthalates,choose unscented or naturally scented products andavoid nail polish or get phthalate-free brands. You may

also want to get products free of parabens, which aresuspected endocrine disruptors. And make sure yourlipstick is lead-free. Find the safest brands in theCosmetic Safety Database.

2. Don't use pesticides in your home. Old-fashionedcleanliness helps prevent pests and there are othersafe pest control methods. If you do need insecticides,use baits or traps.

3. Don't use pesticides on your pets. To keep fleas andticks at bay, regularlycomb and bathe your pets, washtheir bedding, vacuum and keep grass and bushesaround the house clipped. If you need a pest treatment

product, use flea control pills.4. Don't use pesticides in your yard. Tryorganic

techniquesand plantingnative plants, which are moreresistant to native pests.

5. Use natural cleaning products, such as white vinegarand baking soda or non-toxic brands.

6. Do not use scented air fresheners, which can exposeyou to phthalates.

7. Eat organic food as much as possible, especiallyorganic animal products (milk, cheese, eggs and meat).

8. Eat less meat, especially, less fatty meat. (Manytoxins are stored in animal fat, including our own.)

9. Steer clear of fish high in mercury. Use NRDC'sGuide to Mercury in Fishto see which fish are safe.

10. Avoid eating canned food or canned soda, as cansare lined with BPA.

11. Have your tap water tested for lead. Here is info onwater testing. Also, ask your water supplier for thelatest water quality report. If lead levels exceed thesafety threshold or other serious safety issues exist,use bottled water. Otherwise, stick with tap, which isbetter regulated. You may want tofilter your water.When you first use water in the morning or after severalhours, run it till it turns cold to reduce lead exposure.

12. Have your house tested for lead if you notice peelingor flaking paint and the house was built before 1978when paint became lead-free. Learn more from theEPA lead page.

13. Don't drink alcohol if you're trying to have a baby ormight be trying soon. And don't smoke or take"recreational" drugs. Check with your doctor about thesafety of over-the-counter and prescribed drugs.

AVOID SCENTED PRODUCTS, fromair fresheners to shampoo, for yourself,beginning prior to pregnancy, and yourchild. The synthetic fragrances that areused contain phthalates, which areendocrine disruptors that can causehormonal abnormalities, birth defectsand reproductive problems. Evenproducts called "unscented" on thelabel may contain fragrances. Learn

more onhow to avoid scentedproducts.

SAY NO TO VINYL in products for kids.Though phthalates, an ingredient invinyl, were recently banned in toys forchildren under 12, they still can beand areused in other kid stuff such asPVC (vinyl) umbrellas, purses, lunchboxes and organizers as well asnotebooks with plastic-coated spiralbindings, plastic-coated paper clips andmodeling clay. Learn more from theGuide to PVC-free School Supplies.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/http://www.nrdc.org/health/pesticides/gpests.asphttp://www.nrdc.org/health/pesticides/gpests.asphttp://www.simplesteps.org/health/pets/toxic-flea-and-tick-treatmentshttp://www.simplesteps.org/health/pets/toxic-flea-and-tick-treatmentshttp://www.simplesteps.org/health/pets/toxic-flea-and-tick-treatmentshttp://www.organicgardeningguru.com/tips-tricks.htmlhttp://www.organicgardeningguru.com/tips-tricks.htmlhttp://www.organicgardeningguru.com/tips-tricks.htmlhttp://www.organicgardeningguru.com/tips-tricks.htmlhttp://www.wildflower.org/plants/http://www.wildflower.org/plants/http://www.wildflower.org/plants/http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/walletcard.PDFhttp://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/walletcard.PDFhttp://healthychild.org/blog/comments/safe_drinking_water_testing_your_water/http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/safe_drinking_water_testing_your_water/http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/gfilters.asphttp://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/gfilters.asphttp://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/gfilters.asphttp://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htmhttp://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/1001.asphttp://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/1001.asphttp://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/1001.asphttp://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/1001.asphttp://www.chej.org/publications/PVCGuide/PVCFree.pdfhttp://www.chej.org/publications/PVCGuide/PVCFree.pdfhttp://www.chej.org/publications/PVCGuide/PVCFree.pdfhttp://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/1001.asphttp://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/1001.asphttp://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htmhttp://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/gfilters.asphttp://healthychild.org/blog/comments/safe_drinking_water_testing_your_water/http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/walletcard.PDFhttp://www.wildflower.org/plants/http://www.organicgardeningguru.com/tips-tricks.htmlhttp://www.organicgardeningguru.com/tips-tricks.htmlhttp://www.simplesteps.org/health/pets/toxic-flea-and-tick-treatmentshttp://www.nrdc.org/health/pesticides/gpests.asphttp://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/


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What to do after the baby is born1. ALL OF THE ABOVE, as applied to your child, plus...2. Breastfeed your baby if you can. Breast milk provides

better nutrition than formula and helps to protectchildren from disease and infection.

3. Avoid hard, transparent plastic baby bottles and

sippy cups, which may be made with BPA. Do notwarm up milk in a plastic baby bottle. Heat may causechemicals to leach from the plastic into the milk. Youcan warm up glass bottles, however.

4. Only microwave food in glass containers.5. Prepare your child's meals from scratch to limit

sweeteners, salt, fat and additivesand to includehealthy ingredients. Buy organic foods as much aspossible, especially when it comes to foods your childconsumes a lot of, such as milk and apples (or apple

juice) andfoods with high levels of pesticide residues.6. Get your child all the recommended vaccinations.

Today's vaccines are mercury-free and there is noevidence they are dangerous, while it is a fact that theyprotect kids (yours and others they come in contactwith) from life-threatening illnesses.

7. Only give your child antibiotics for bacterialillnesses or infections. Overuse and misuse ofantibioticse.g., to combat virusescan lead toantibiotic-resistant superbugs.

8. Don't use antibacterial soaps and cleansers madewith triclosan or triclocarban. Instead wash hands wellwith regular soap and hot water for 20-30 seconds oruse alcohol-based sanitizers.

9. Instead of buying furniture and other productsmade with chlorinated flame retardants, usegoodfire prevention practices.

Additional things to pay attention to as your child grows1. ALL OF THE ABOVE, as applied to your older child,

plus...2. Avoid school supplies made with vinyl (PVC

plastic), such as plastic lunch boxes and notebookswith plastic-coated spiral bindings. Get more info fromtheGuide to PVC-free School Supplies.

3. Teach your child about the health risks in

cosmetics and other personal care products so he orshe will make good choices.

4. When you buy your child a cell phone, buy a wiredheadset, too. A link betweencell phone use and braincanceris a distinct possibility so the phone should notbe pressed against the heador, in fact, any part ofthe body.

2010 Natural Resources Defense [email protected] reprint requests.

RESOURCES

Times Higher EducationYou've Got Your Father's Toxins

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=209712&sectioncode=26

NRDC's Simple Steps

Nine Steps to a Safer Pregnancy

http://www.simplesteps.org/health/pregnancy/nine-steps-safer-pregnancy

NRDCBenefits of Breatfeeding

http://www.nrdc.org/breastmilk/benefits.asp

Hidden Hazards in Air Fresheners

http://www.nrdc.org/health/home/airfresheners.asp

The Campaign for Safe CosmeticsThe Story of Cosmetics (video)

http://www.safecosmetics.org/

HealthyStuff.org

Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products

http://www.healthystuff.org/

Lead Safe Illinois

Reducing Lead Hazards in the Home

http://www.leadsafeillinois.org/home-safety/reducing.asp

Also see resources embedded in the text.

ABOUT THIS GREEN LIFE& NRDCThis GreenLife is a monthly green living

column with a personal twist published bythe Natural Resources Defense Council(NRDC), the nation's most effectiveenvironmental action group. NRDC works toprotect wildlife and wild places and to ensurea healthy environment for all life on earth.The column is written by Sheryl Eisenberg, aweb developer and writer.With her firm,Mixit Productions (mixitproductions.com),she brought NRDC online in 1996, designedNRDC's first websites, and continues todevelop special web features for NRDC. Shecreated and, for several years, wrote theUnion of Concerned Scientists' green livingcolumn, Greentips, and has designed andcontributed content to many non-profit sites.

NRDChttp://www.nrdc.org

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