Toxic Threats: What You Can Do

Toxins in the environment are more harmful to children because they are developing rapidly. Parents around California are joining together to combat pollution that threatens their children's health (see Tackling Health Hazards at School). Here's a list of steps you can take to protect children from environmental pollutants at home, at school, and in the community.

In food

• Whenever it's possible, have your children eat organic foods-best for reducing the risk from pesticides. Try shopping at a farmer's market, where prices are lower
• Peel and/or wash fruits and vegetables to help remove residue of contaminants
• If you are pregnant or might be soon, limit tuna consumption to about 6 ounces a week to reduce exposure to mercury
• Before and during pregnancy and breastfeeding, avoid fish (like swordfish, shark, and halibut) from water that might be contaminated with mercury.

At home

Pesticides:

• For pest removal in the home and garden, use nontoxic products or rely on alternative techniques, like planting plants that keep bugs away or sealing cracks and crevices in your home.

Lead:

• Have your kids, water, and home (if built and painted prior to 1978) checked for lead
• Run your tap water for two minutes each morning to get rid of water that may be contaminated from leaded solder in water pipes
• Get a professional to remove lead from your house; if this is not possible, make sure your children's hands and toys are frequently washed, wipe surfaces and floors regularly with damp cloth, and cover lead-painted surfaces with wallpaper, tiles, or paneling.

Alternative nontoxic cleaning products:

Replace toxic cleaning products with ingredients such as:

• Borax for cleaning and dishwashing, disinfecting laundry, removing mold and mildew, and protection from ants.
• Baking Soda for deodorizing, cleaning drains, metal polishing, and cleaning ovens
• Vinegar for cleaning drains, glass, and metal, and for removing mold and mildew
• Washing Soda for cleaning, dishwashing, and laundry
• Soap for cleaning, dishwashing, and laundry.

Alternative household practices:

• avoid dry cleaning, which uses solvents-ask your local cleaner about alternative wet cleaning processes
• use nontoxic, vegetable-based paints, stains and lacquers
• never buy aerosol cans.

At school

• To reduce pesticides, support policies that emphasize using the least toxic chemicals and/or utilize Integrated Pest Management techniques (a plan for nontoxic strategies to get rid of pests)
• Request advance notice of the use of pesticides at the school to protect your child from exposure.

In the community

• Get together with other parents to learn about health threats and work as a group to reduce pollution in your school and community
• Attend local hearings or meetings on pollution prevention to find out about local environmental action and express your views
• Contact your political representatives and tell them that pollution prevention is a priority for you
• Vote based on pollution prevention priorities
• Contact organizations listed below for more on how to get involved.

Resources 

The Center for Health, Environment and Justice sponsors the Childproofing Our Communities Campaign. Resources include Poisoned Schools: Invisible Threats, Visible Actions, a step-by-step guide to implementing an Integrated Pest Management policy in your school, and technical assistance to local groups fighting toxic threats in schools (see Tackling Health Hazards at School) 703-237-2249 www.chej.org