A Parent's Guide

health threats

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parent's guide

The Alliance For A Clean Environment

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What Can We Do?

While making industries more responsible and accountable for decreasing the pollutants they release into our air, water and food supply would decrease the amount of toxins in our bodies, there are choices we can make as parents and consumers that will also help.

Be a Responsible Consumer

1. Vote with your wallet. Demand safe products manufactured in a safe, environmentally friendly way.

2. Buy recycled and recyclable paper and products.

3. Purchase products that don't use chlorine in production. Ask for totally free chlorine products.

4. Pass local purchasing policies for government and schools to use only chlorine free paper products.

5. Buy pacifiers, bottles, and other children's products that are made with a type of plastic other than PVC. (For a list of PVC free toys visit Greenpeace)

6. DO NOT purchase a product with the recycle symbol '#3' or 'V' on the bottom of the plastic bottle. That container is made with chlorine called polyvinyl chloride or PVC. Call the manufacturer toll-free number and tell them why you won't purchase that product.

7. Don't use toxic chemicals to clean your house or car.

8. Request more shelf space for natural and organic food products in your grocery store.

9. Serve more organic fruits and vegetables.

10. Eliminate the use of pesticides in and around your home.

Pest Control

1. Don't use pesticides and other chemicals. Seek out the other safe solutions for pest control.

2. Check with your child's school or day-care center to see if they use chemical-based pest control.

3. Don't use pesticide-based insect repellent on your children. More and more cases of poisoning are being documented from the use of these products. There are herbal and scent based products to protect children from insect bites without making them sick.

4. Call National Campaign Telecommunications Network at 1-800-858-7378, find out what you can do about pesticide poisoning.

5. Obtain a copy of EPA booklet: Pest Control in the School Environment: Adopting Integrated Pest Management. Give it to the Parent Teachers Association, the school or day care center's administrative/management staff and demand they stop using dangerous chemicals. 6. Begin your own "Health Schools" program. Call (518) 462-0632

Table Foods

1. Feed your children foods low in animal fat.

Most chemicals in our foods are stored in this fat.
Giving your child low-fat or non-fat milk, dairy products and lean meats and fish reduces their intake of unwanted chemicals.

2. Buy or grow organic fruits and vegetables where possible. Buy fruits and vegetables in season. They are less likely to be contaminated with U.S. banned chemicals.

Use a brush to scrub all fruits and vegetables.
Wash and soak them in safe soapy water, and rinse well. This will help to remove pesticide residue.
Peel them where possible.

3. Ask your supermarket to stock organic and natural foods also like beans and pasta.

4. Read labels on food products. If you don't understand an ingredient, call the 800 number.

Breast Milk

There are some steps women can take to reduce the level of chemicals in breast milk.

1. Expel and discard milk between feedings if possible.

2. Continue to expel milk after weaning your child if you are thinking about having a second child. Expelling any discarded breast milk will reduce the amount of chemicals transferred to your next child.

3. Even if you are not planning another child, it is a good way to improve your own health. Each time you expel milk, you are reducing your body's storage of chemicals.

4. Write to EPA and their state health department and request that they provide guidance for breast feeding women.

Lead In Homes

1. Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint somewhere.

2. If you are purchasing a home that was built before that date, ask the seller about the lead paint.

3. Before undertaking a renovation project in an older home, have a qualified inspector check for lead before you begin.

4. Many homes have lead soldering in the water pipes which pose a hazard to children. Have an expert check your pipes to see that lead is not leaching into your water. Have your water tested for lead.

5. If you believe your child has been exposed to lead and want him/her tested, call your local, county or state health department.

6. Call the Alliance for Healthy Homes - (202) 543-1147 or www.afhh.org.

Source: Center For Health, Environment and Justice - P.O. Box 6806, Falls Church, Virginia 22040 (703) 237-2249 e-mail: chej@chej.org website: www.chej.org

Your help is needed. If you would like to participate in or donate to this proactive health initiative or any of the other campaigns, programs or projects, please contact ACE.

Together we can make our community safer for our children, our families, and ourselves.