CHEC states:
Some art supplies contain solvents, asbestos, lead and cadmium. If chemicals from these products are inhaled, absorbed through the skin or eaten bychildren the result can range from headaches or nausea to neurological disorders, cancer and death. The Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI)created a labeling system designed to protect artists from long term health effects. Look for AP (approved product non-toxic) and CP (certified productnon-toxic) labels which denotes that a product is safe for pre-schoolers and up. Contact ACMI at (617) 426-6400.
CHEC recommends:
FOOD:
CHEC states:
Our foods are inundated with chemical additives, which preserve, color, and enhance flavors, and many are grown with pesticides which are used to ward offbugs and weeds. Unfortunately, these synthetic chemicals and toxic substances are absorbed into our children's bodies. Children are not little adults.Their bodies are affected from even low levels of toxins in foods, however,government safety standards are written based on adult bodies. An averageone- year old's favorite foods are apple juice, grape juice, oats, bananas,milk, apples, orange juice, pears, wheat and peaches. On average, CHEC states, 50% of these will have pesticides. Infants consume 15 times the apple juice, 12 times the pears, and 8 times the carrots that adults do perunit of body weight.
CHEC recommends:
HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS:
CHEC states:
Brighter, whiter, cleaner, and germ-free. Our zeal to be too cleanunfortunately puts our children's health in danger. Many common householdproducts contain alcohols, ammonia, bleach, formaldehyde, and lye. These substances can cause nausea, vomiting, inflamation and burning of the eyes,nose, throat, and respiratory system, and are linked with neurological, liverand kidney damage, blindness, asthma, and cancer. In 1993, 1.8 million human poisonings were reported to the poison control centers in the U.S. Ninety-two percent of incidences took place in the home and 60% of the cases involved children under the age of five.
CHEC recommends:
TOYS:
CHEC states:
Very little is known about toxins in children's toys. Based on tests done bythe Danish government, toys made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic arebanned throughout the European Union, because tests concluded that childrencan ingest dangerously high levels of lead from toys made with (PVC) plastic.A study by Greenpeace found that in the U.S. 21%, or one in five, of the vinylplastic products tested were contaminated with lead and cadmium. 18% of theproducts contained lead which exceeded the amount determined dangerous by theConsumer Products Safety Commission, and over 80% violated levels requiringconsumer warning labels under California Law. Products containing PVC rangefrom backpacks to toys and raincoats to video game components.
Lead and cadmium exposure are extremely dangerous to children. Cadmiumdamages the kidneys and while it is a known carcinogen, it is not regulated bythe Consumer Products Safety Commission. Lead decreases intelligence and damages the nervous system. According to a recent nationwide survey, 900,000American children aged one to five have blood lead levels higher than theCenter for Disease Control and Prevention's level of concern.
CHEC recommends:
PEST CONTROL
CHEC states:
Consumers have been cajoled into believing that to keep our homes, gardens and lawns beautiful and bug free, we need help from pesticides. About 90% ofAmericans use pesticides adding up to 2 billion pounds a year. Pesticide usecan cause numerous children's health problems such as nausea, vomiting,seizures, shortness of breath, neurological and reproductive disorders, birthdefects, asthma and cancer. According to CHEC, children in families that usepesticides are 6.5 times more likely to get childhood leukemia. There is acorrelation between the use of pesticides in the home and childhood braincancer. Twenty-four out of the 25 most common pests are only problems becausetheir natural predators have been killed off by pesticides.
CHEC recommends:
-Attract beneficial insects to your garden such as spiders, praying mantis and ladybugs by planting plants that they like, such as daisies, sunflowers, marigolds, dill, and fennel.
WATER
CHEC states:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that in 1994 and 1995, 45million Americans drank water from systems that fell short of the Safe Drinking Water Act standards. The EPA also estimates that 10% of our community drinking water contains pesticides. Water can, also, becontaminated with asbestos, radon, lead, various solvents and organic compounds. Long term effects of these pollutants can cause damage to the brain, nervous system, kidneys, and liver and can cause a number of types ofcancer.
CHEC recommends:
Important Legislation
Even the most conscientious parents, like the Chuda's, who try to make their homes as toxic free as possible, can't always protect their children. We are all affected by non-specific safety regulations, corporate greed, negligentand illegal use of toxins and environmental disasters. That's why CHEC, and over seventy Children's Health and Environmental Organizations urge congress to support Children's Environmental Protection Act of 1997 (CEPA), S 599, HR2451. Inspired by the Chuda's, Senator Barbara Boxer, (CA) introduced CEPA,which would require federal agencies to develop adequate data on the specialvulnerability and exposure to environmental pollutants of children, requirethe EPA to set all health and safety standards at levels that protect children and other vulnerable populations, guarantee consumers right-to-know what,where and when they are exposed to toxins, and requires the EPA to develop and distribute a list of "safer for children" products and substances.
CHEC urges citizens to contact their representatives and urge them to supportthis bill. "It is very easy for parents to become overwhelmed by all the environmental bad news that we know is true," says Nancy Chuda. "That's whywe want to make it as easy as possible for parents to safe guard their children's health. At our website, not only can parents learn more about the issues and get positive suggestions, but parents can network with others andwe offer a direct simple way for parents to make their views known to politicians, which can have a dramatic impact on legislation. Within three minutes, with the touch of your mouse, we will get your message to those who need to hear your voice."
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Written by: Carol Baxter
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