AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION…

By Liberty Goodwin, Director

Toxics Information Project (TIP)

SCHOOL KIDS SHOULD BE SAFE -

SOME SAVVY STRATEGIES

SMART BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING

1. FOOD: Pesticide residue exists on most foods, but a 1980s study found peanuts to be the most heavily pesticided crop. For that reason, I suggest to parents that if they only buy one product organic it should be… PEANUT BUTTER! That’s because young-‘uns eat so much of it. Carrots and bananas, though not especially pesticide-heavy, are another good choice for buying organic, because they are very reasonably priced.

2. CLOTHING - Newly purchased garments come treated with chemicals for permanent press wrinkle resistance. To limit your children’s exposure to these chemicals, be sure to WASH NEW CLOTHES BEFORE WEARING.

3. DRINK CONTAINERS: Avoid plastic, look for stainless steel, such as those that may be found at: www.healthykitchenware.com, www.kleankanteen.com, www.taraluna.com/garden/picnic.htm. Some are available at local stores as well.

4. WRITING AND COLORING SUPPLIES: Watch out for permanent markers not clearly marked non-toxic - or that emit strong fumes. These are very dangerous. Kids sometimes “huff” them to get high - and can suffer neurological damage or even die from doing that. Also avoid ANY scented markers. Crayola has some good unscented ones.

5. THE CHEJ PVC-FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES GUIDE.

Why Shop for PVC-Free School Supplies?

Children's school supplies, such as lunchboxes, backpacks and binders, are often made out of PVC -- the poison plastic. These products often contain toxic chemical additives, such as phthalates and lead, that can leach out or evaporate into the air -- posing unneccesary dangers to your children. Children are at risk from even small exposures to these toxic chemicals. That's why it's especially important to purchase PVC-free school supplies.

This year, when you send your kids off to school, send them off in style - PVC-free! The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) has created the first-ever Back-to School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies. so you can make smarter and healthier shopping choices for your kids, family and environment. Download the guide, FREE, at:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/852/t/2088/signUp.jsp?key=3567

(Be sure to forward it to all the other parents you know!)

For more information, visit the CHEJ homepage at www.chej.org.

CONCERNS ABOUT THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

1. CLEANING SUPPLIES: The “Green Cleaning” movement is strong and growing, especially in schools. That’s because there are many toxic chemicals in cleaning products, which emit fumes that are particularly risky for children with asthma and could affect those with learning disabilities as well.

THE GOOD NEWS: Using environmentally and kid-friendly cleaning doesn’t cost more than the toxic kind - in fact, it often can actually SAVE money! Two non-profit resources to suggest to your child’s school are:

Cleaning for Health Project

www.informinc.org/chemprev.php

INFORM, INC. Toxic Chemicals & Human Health Research Area. Senior Consultant Carol Westinghouse is available to conduct site visits (Free), evaluate current cleaning methods and products, recommend practical, cost-effective and less-toxic products, and offer guidance on the use of these products. She can be reached at: Tel. 802-626-8643, or

E-Mail: westies@ecoisp.com

AND

“Greening the Cleaning ®”

www.dienviro.com/index1.aspx?BD=17670

The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology,

David Joseph Jurist Research Center For Tomorrow’s Children,

30 Prospect Avenue, Room 240, Hackensack, NJ 07601,

Phone: 201-336-8071, Fax: 201-336-8161, Email: dienviro@humed.com

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2. PESTICIDE-FREE PLAYING AREAS: Pesticides are being linked with a variety of health effects, especially in children. Inquire at your child’s school about policies and practices. At a minimum, integrated pest management (IPM) should be used - involving least toxic methods and materials for weed and pest control. Also, ANY application of a pesticide or herbicides should never be made near the time that children will be coming on the field. For more information about this concern, see: www.beyondpesticides.org/schools/index.htm I will address this issue further in a later column. If you don’t get satisfactory answers from school administrators on cleaning or pesticide safety, contact me.

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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 for a wealth of info on keeping healthy in a toxic world.

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