Reducing Exposure to Toxic Chemicals
A few facts regarding kids and their increased vulnerability to toxins.
Compared to adults:
-Children's metabolisms are faster and therefore they absorb toxins faster.
-Children grow so quickly that dangerous cell mutations multiply faster.
-Their developing brains and immature reproductive and immune systems are unable to detoxify the chemicals to which they are exposed.
-The blood-brain barrier is still porous and allows more chemicals to reach their brains.
-Children eat 3-4 times more food per pound of body weight than the average adult.
-The resting air intake of an infant is double that of an adult.
-Children's diets are less varied than adults', which leaves them more vulnerable to toxic exposure.
Dr. Berman describes in detail the most significant toxins to be aware of: lead, PVC and phthalates, flame retardants, and cigarette smoke. A lot of baby products, even pajamas and mattresses, include flame retardants that are toxic.
6 Simple Things You Can Do to Reduce Toxins at Home:
1. Diapers-The average child goes through 6,000 disposable diapers during the first two years of life (and how many babies stop using diapers the day they turn 2?), which costs an average of $1,600 each year, not including wipes. 92% of all these diapers end up in landfills that take 250-500 years to decompose.
Even if you don't care about the global affect, the cost of disposables might encourage you to think twice. And if the cost doesn't deter you, maybe the toxins in them will.
Did you know that disposable diapers contain chemicals that were banned in women's products? They emit gases that can cause asthma-like reactions. Babies inhale more air per pound than adults so are even more affected by these pollutants.
You could switch to a less chemical-filled disposable diaper. They do exist but are a bit expensive. You can use disposable liners inside a cloth liner. You can use cloth diapers, which use less toxins but require and excessive amount of water to wash them.
We personally use cloth diapers and I absolutely love it. Yes, we use quite a bit of water, but I see this as the best of all the options. Plus, we have already saved hundreds of dollars, and plan to use cloth with future children, cutting the cost even more. A great website to check out is www.cottonbabies.com if you have any interest in cloth diapering. It seems overwhelming at first, but soon becomes a routine. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing my daughter isn't exposed to intense chemicals, plus we are saving literally hundreds of dollars (not to mention the landfill space). I would love to answer any questions you have about the ease of cloth diapering. Here's what we use, Bum Genius 4.0. We love them:
2. Lock up your keys! Keys have a high concentration of lead, high enough to be hazardous. Don't let you baby suck on or play with your keys.
3. Killing germs and the environment one antibacterial pump at a time-Basically, antibacterial soaps and gels use a lot of chemicals that are toxic and can be harmful, one specifically called triclosan that causes bacteria to resist antibiotics and can lead to weaker immune systems, decreased fertility, birth defects, and even cancer. A study in 2004 found that nearly 3/4 of adults and children older than age six had detectable levels of triclosan. You are better off just using regular soap, not "antibacterial" products.
4. Teflon-Apparently, the material used to make nonstick surfaces on your pans and other cookware emits toxic particles and gases. Another similar toxic chemical is found in fast-food packaging (think pizza boxes and styrofoam), and microwave popcorn bags. This is one of many reasons to skip microwave popcorn and make your own at home.
5. Kid's clothing-Be aware that most cheap clothing is made from petroleum-based synthetic fabric. Most of the pesticides used on cotton crops are considered by the EPA to be the most dangerous pesticides in common use today. I want to write one more blog post about pesticides and food, stay tuned. Just know that you can't trust the government to protect you from pesticides. Many are used to today that are extremely harmful.
6. Cleaning with chemicals- Infants born to mothers who frequently use chemical-based cleaners while pregnant were more than twice as likely to develop breathing patterns.
Some of the most hazardous products are oven and drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, metal polishes, and adhesive removers, followed by disinfectants, furniture and floor polish, carpet cleaners, laundry softeners, spot removers, all-purpose cleaners, automatic dishwashing detergent, chlorine bleach, mold and mildew removers, scouring cleaners, and tile, tub, and sink cleaners. Do you use any of these? Start small, to get rid of these toxins. There are tons of websites for suggested greener and healthier ways to clean. Last week I cleaned my floors for the first time using a vinegar and water mixture. I found this website that has 1001 uses for distilled vinegar. Check it out. It's amazing stuff! Baking soda and water also works on toilets and for a variety of other purposes. Don't like the smell of vinegar? Add some lemon juice to your cleaning.
I'm still working on this whole idea of reducing chemicals in the house, but I have found it increasingly important as I have a little crawler who is constantly touching floors and other surfaces that I clean with chemicals, and of course putting everything within reach into her mouth.
Good luck reducing chemical exposure in your home!
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