AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION…

By Liberty Goodwin, Director

Toxics Information Project (TIP)

Being a savvy consumer is the best way to protect your kids in a toxic world. There are answers out there - and TIP tracks them down.

TIPs on reducing your family’s exposure to harmful chemicals in everyday life. Choose better alternatives for a healthier household!

TIPs on choosing products without harmful chemicals.

An ounce of prevention helps keep the doctor away!

TIPs on avoiding harmful chemicals in everyday life and products

More natural alternatives = a healthier household!

Protect Your Family From Harmful Chemicals In Everyday Life

and Products By Making Healthier Choices!

CAN KIDS PLAY IT SAFE WITH PLASTIC?

A PUZZLE FOR PARENTS

Being a parent is a challenging thing. The world we live in offers many - and confusing - choices. Being informed is the key to protecting your family and keeping them healthy. Yet, just as the scare about lead paint and toys from China fades from the headlines, another worry appears. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in baby bottles and other children’s products? What’s a mother to do? Fortunately, some great non-profit groups are providing info on how to choose safer plastic products for your youngsters and your home. Below, some ways to protect your family from my organization, the Toxics Information Project (TIP):

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? THE VILLAINS:

PHTHALATES & BISPHENOL-A

Phthalates and Bisphenol-A (BP-A) are chemicals known to be present in many toys and products made for use by children. Studies have shown that these chemicals leach out of products during use, and especially when heated. Young children are exposed by inhalation of fumes - and by mouthing and chewing toys and drinking from baby bottles and sippy cups. Research has also indicated that these chemicals are endocrine disrupters associated, even at extremely low doses, with a variety of reproductive and other health effects in animals. These include obesity, diabetes, thyroid disease, autism, breast cancer, prostate cancer and other illnesses. See:

www.ehponline.org/members/2003/6601/6601.html

Concerns about possible effects of BP-A in humans, due to its being an estrogen mimic, include early puberty and possible later breast cancer in girls and other reproductive abnormalities in boys, such as possible low testosterone levels. Phthalates (pronounced “thal-ates”) have been connected with liver and hormonal damage.

QUICK TIPS ON HOW TO IDENTIFY AND AVOID THE “BAD GUYS”

AND ADOPT SAFER ALTERNATIVES

1. CHECK OUT RECYCLING SYMBOLS: On the bottom of plastic items you will find a triangle with a number inside it. This is an indicator of the type and toxicity of the plastic. DON’T BUY PLASTIC WITH RECYCLING NUMBERS 3, 6 OR 7.

2. DO LOOK FOR AND BUY TOYS & CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS WITH THE SYMBOL, “CE” ON THE BOX OR ITEM. That means compliance with the much tougher European Union standards, including restrictions on phthalates, lead and other chemicals.

3. DON’T LET PLASTIC GET HOT! Don’t microwave in plastic - chemicals leach out when heated. Don’t pour hot liquid or food into plastic containers. DO WARM FOOD IN GLASS OR CERAMIC. You can even do so on the plate, bowl or glass you’ll be eating or drinking from, with or without a cover.

4. LIMIT PURCHASE OF CANNED GOODS. Bisphenol-A is used in the lining of most food cans. CHOOSE MORE FROZEN OR FRESH FOODS.

5. LEARN MORE FROM INDEPENDENT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WEBSITES. Be cautious about those offered by industry groups or manufacturers.

SEE THE ANIMATED “SAM SUDS” CARTOON ON AVOIDING PVC, AT WWW.SAMSUDS.ORG OR WWW.BESAFE.ORG Poly Vinyl Chloride - PVC - is highly toxic, found in many household products, and contains phthalates.) This is a funny, short, informative video also available as a DVD for showing to groups.

FOR MORE INFORMATION & RESOURCES ON SAFER CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS, GO TO: WWW.TOXICSINFO.ORG/TIPS_KIDS.HTM

WHAT MORE CAN PARENTS AND OTHERS DO

TO HELP PROTECT KIDS FROM HARMFUL PRODUCTS?

1. INFLUENCE SUPPLIERS: Tell children’s product retailers and manufacturers that you want to buy only products free of Phthalates and Bisphenol-A.

2. INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT REGULATORS: Sign the Open Letter to the RI General Assembly in support of the 2008 RI Children’s Product Safety Act, and contact your state and federal legislators to express your concern: Go to: www.toxicsinfo.org/legislation.htm for more info.

Tell them all that you know safer products are practical: The European Union has banned phthalates for a decade, California since 2007. Washington and Maine passed regulatory bills in March and April, and Canada just banned BP-A in baby bottles. Some larger retailers and other manufacturers have already made commitments to reformulate and eliminate suspect chemicals from their offerings. Stay tuned for more on how that develops!

Some companies take a “what the market will bear” approach - sell safer products in places that require them - and toxic formulations where that’s allowed. However, an example of a company doing fine by doing the right thing is LEGO. When I called them a while back, they admitted that meeting differing standards around the world could be challenging. Their solution: “We just manufacture to the strictest standard anywhere, and sell the same product to all.” And that’s how it should be!

Liberty Goodwin is Director of the Providence-based Toxics Information Project (TIP). Contact her at: 401-351-9193 or liberty@toxicsinfo.org to submit a query or a TIP about healthier household choices. Visit TIP’s website: www.toxicsinfo.org &www.toxicsinfo.org/tips_kids.htm for a wealth of info on keeping healthy in a toxic world!