TIP TALKS

The e-Newsletter of the

Toxics Information Project (TIP)

September, 2011

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SEPTEMBER 2011 TIP TALKS
BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS & RESOURCES: 
**PICKING LESS-TOXIC SCHOOL SUPPLIES:
**KIDS SHOULD BE SAFE - SOME SAVVY STRATEGIES
Smart Back to School Shopping:  Food, Clothing,
Drink Containers, Writing & Coloring Supplies
**PESTICIDE-FREE PLAYING AREAS
**GO PVC-FREE THIS BACK-TO-SCHOOL
**FIVE EASY TIPS FOR PACKING A HEALTHY SCHOOL
LUNCH THAT YOUR KIDS WILL ACTUALLY EAT!

          BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS & RESOURCES
Apologies for not getting this time-sensitive info out earlier – but
the school year is just beginning, and it is never too late to take
advantage of many of these tips from some excellent sources! 
WATCH FOR OUR UPCOMING “KARING FOR KIDS” BOOKLET,
WITH MORE HELP ON HOW TO KEEP YOUNGSTERS SAFE. 
WE’LL ALSO BE UPDATING & EXPANDING THE “KIDS &
TOXICS” SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE.  WE MUST PROTECT
THESE MOST VULNERABLE CRITTERS!  SEND US YOUR
QUESTIONS & SUGGESTIONS RE: KID CONCERNS THAT
WE MIGHT ADDRESS – AND MAYBE A DONATION TOWARD
THE PRINTING?
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              PICKING LEAST TOXIC SCHOOL SUPPLIES
FROM:  Nancy Alderman, President, Environment and Human Health, Inc.,
North Haven, CT, Tel.  203-248-6582, Web: www.ehhi.org (includes much
useful health info),:  “No one has done more to protect children's
health than Dr.Philip J. Landrigan  at the Children's Environmental
Health Center at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
This is his e-mail that we are forwarding today”.

Dr. Landrigan shares his top tips for selecting non-toxic products. 
We all want to ensure that our children are safe at school - from the
buildings they dwell in to the products they use. To pick the least
toxic school supplies, follow Dr. Landrigan's easy guide:

Lunch boxes made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can contain toxins like
lead and phthalates. Choose ones that are labeled lead safe, lead free,
vinyl free, or PVC free. Consider using safer alternatives like cotton
lunch bags or stainless steel lunchboxes. If you buy a plastic lunchbox,
make sure it is not made with the plastics #3 (may contain PVC), #6
(may contain polystyrene) or #7 (may contain BPA).

Notebooks, binders, and backpacks with plastic covers can also contain
PVC. Make sure your child's binder does not use plastic #3 (may contain
PVC).  Choose binders with natural fiber covers or find ones that are
labeled PVC free.  If natural fiber backpacks are not an option at your
local store, choose polyester or nylon backpacks - both are better than
other PVC alternatives.

Rigid plastic bottles may contain the toxic chemical bisphenol-A (BPA).
We know that the use of BPA in plastics has steadily increased over the
past decades, making it one of the most commonly produced chemicals in
the world.  Thus, choose BPA-free water bottles or use stainless steel
alternatives.

Art supplies can contain many toxic substances. While the federal
government has labeled all toxic art supplies, this does not ensure the
safety of all products.  If a product reads Conforms to ASTM D-4236,
this means that it has been labeled non-toxic by the government.
However, this does not mean that it is safe.  To ensure safer products,
follow these steps:

·      Oil paints should be kept away from young children. Make sure
that paints are water-based to avoid toxic solvents.
·      Imported pastels can contain toxic heavy metals like lead,
cadmium, and mercury compounds. Keep them away from children.
·      Substitute rubber cement or "super" glue with water-based glue
and adhesives, such as white glue, glue sticks, or double-sided tape.
·      Do not buy polymer clays that stay soft at room temperature or
bake in a home oven; they are made from PVC and often contain
phthalates.
·      Pick unscented pens and pencils, made without paint or glossy
coatings.
·      Do not use dry-erase and permanent markers, as they contain
toxic solvents. Avoid scented markers - scents may contain phthalates
and they also encourage children to taste the marker.

SOURCES:  Raising Healthy Children in a Toxic World (2001)
by Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, Herbert L. Needleman, MD,
& Mary Landrigan, MPA & EWG's Back-to-School Guide (2011),
www.ewg.org/healthyhometips/backtoschool
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    SCHOOL KIDS SHOULD BE SAFE -SOME SAVVY STRATEGIES
      (Excerpts from TIP Director Liberty Goodwin’s
    2008 “Ounce of Prevention” column in Families Today)

              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.
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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 
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                GO PVC-FREE THIS BACK TO SCHOOL!
    From Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ)
(Updated in 2013) http://chej.org/backtoschool2013/
Did you know? Your child’s innocent-looking
lunch box or backpack could contain chemicals linked to learning
disabilities, obesity, and asthma. That’s because many school
supplies are manufactured using polyvinylchloride (PVC), the
most toxic plastic for children's health.

A new 2011 study found PVC is the most widely used hazardous plastic
in the world.  It's not only made with chemicals known to cause cancer,
but often contains toxic additives like phthalates, lead, cadmium, and
organotins—chemicals harmful to children's health.  By saying “NO” to
PVC products, you, as a consumer, can affect powerful change in the
marketplace with your purchasing power. With those same purchases,
you, as a parent, can also protect the health of your child.

So do your homework and start your children's school year right! Check
out the 2011 Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies today at:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/852/signup_page/backtoschool2011
The guide lists the most common back-to-school supplies made out of
this toxic plastic and suggests safer and affordable PVC-free
alternatives in over 35 product categories, from lunchboxes &
laptops to 3-ring binders and backpacks
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      FIVE EASY TIPS FOR PACKING A HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCH
            THAT YOUR KIDS WILL ACTUALLY EAT!
From Environmental Working Group (EWG):
www.ewg.org/healthyhometips/packedlunchtips?utm_source=2011packedlunchtipsfull&utm_medium=email&utm_content=image&utm_campaign=email

What our kids eat is critically important -- especially in the middle
of the school day, when good nourishment is key to learning. But it's
a tall order to prepare a meal that's healthy, tastes great hours after
you make it, appeals to your children and isn't bad for the environment.
Especially for busy parents on a weekday morning!

**************************************************************     
Liberty Goodwin, Director
Toxics Information Project   
P.O. Box 40572,
Providence, RI 02940
Tel. 401-351-9193
Website: www.toxicsinfo.org
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