Our Environment
I recently saw a piece that the American Academy of Pediatrics put out regarding toxins in our environment and their effects on babies. The believed effects are increases in diseases such as childhood cancers, asthma, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders. It is believed that when a fetus or baby is exposed to chemicals it can impair their development and dramatically increase the likelihood of them developing one of these diseases. It is also believed that chemical exposure in our daily lives is the likely cause of so many young women having difficulty conceiving and maintaining pregnancies as well as a significant increase in testicular cancer in men.
Here is what was posted on AAP's site:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is calling for an overhaul of the nation’s chemical management policy because the current system fails to protect children and pregnant women, who are most vulnerable to hazardous chemical exposures. Over the past few decades, tens of thousands of new chemicals have been introduced into the environment, often in extremely large quantities. But the primary federal law that governs chemical management in the U.S. – the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) – has not undergone any meaningful revision since it was first passed in 1976, and since then, the TSCA has been used to regulate only five chemicals or chemical classes. In a new policy statement, “Chemical-Management Policy: Prioritizing Children’s Health,” published in the May 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published online April 25), the AAP recommends that the chemical-management policy be “substantially revised.” The AAP recommends any chemicals policy should consider the consequences on children and their families.
The regulation of chemicals must be based on evidence, but decisions to ban chemicals should be based on reasonable levels of concern rather than demonstrated harm. I find this overwhelming in terms of how to keep Sarah Graves safe. I want her to be the best person that she can be, so I see it as my responsibility to surround her with everything she needs to be healthy. I found these tips for minimizing exposure to chemicals and environmental toxins. Some of them are things that we are probably somewhat familiar with, eating organic produce, hormone and antibiotic free meats, avoiding plastic containers that may contain BPA, and drinking filtered water. Some of the others were things I hadn't thought about before. Such as, taking your shoes off when you come into your home to avoid bringing chemicals from outside into your home, avoiding any fabrics or upholstery treated for stain resistance because those contain chemicals that have carcinogens, avoid clothes that are wrinkle free as those fabrics have also been treated with chemicals, and avoid microwave popcorn because the bag is treated with chemicals that get on the popcorn.
Any testing of chemicals should include the impact on women and children, including potential effects on reproduction and development.
Here is what was posted on AAP's site:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is calling for an overhaul of the nation’s chemical management policy because the current system fails to protect children and pregnant women, who are most vulnerable to hazardous chemical exposures. Over the past few decades, tens of thousands of new chemicals have been introduced into the environment, often in extremely large quantities. But the primary federal law that governs chemical management in the U.S. – the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) – has not undergone any meaningful revision since it was first passed in 1976, and since then, the TSCA has been used to regulate only five chemicals or chemical classes. In a new policy statement, “Chemical-Management Policy: Prioritizing Children’s Health,” published in the May 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published online April 25), the AAP recommends that the chemical-management policy be “substantially revised.” The AAP recommends any chemicals policy should consider the consequences on children and their families.
The regulation of chemicals must be based on evidence, but decisions to ban chemicals should be based on reasonable levels of concern rather than demonstrated harm. I find this overwhelming in terms of how to keep Sarah Graves safe. I want her to be the best person that she can be, so I see it as my responsibility to surround her with everything she needs to be healthy. I found these tips for minimizing exposure to chemicals and environmental toxins. Some of them are things that we are probably somewhat familiar with, eating organic produce, hormone and antibiotic free meats, avoiding plastic containers that may contain BPA, and drinking filtered water. Some of the others were things I hadn't thought about before. Such as, taking your shoes off when you come into your home to avoid bringing chemicals from outside into your home, avoiding any fabrics or upholstery treated for stain resistance because those contain chemicals that have carcinogens, avoid clothes that are wrinkle free as those fabrics have also been treated with chemicals, and avoid microwave popcorn because the bag is treated with chemicals that get on the popcorn.
Any testing of chemicals should include the impact on women and children, including potential effects on reproduction and development.
- Chemicals should meet safety standards similar to those met by pharmaceuticals or pesticide residues on food.
- There should be post-marketing surveillance of chemicals, and the EPA must have the authority to remove a chemical if needed.
- Federal funding should be provided for research to prevent, identify and evaluate the effects of chemicals on children’s health.
- Other groups, including the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association and the American Nurses Association have all independently recommended changes to the TSCA.
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