The Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) just released an interactive tool that is meant to increase awareness of the key sources of polyvinyl chloride (a.k.a. PVC or vinyl) in our schools.

“PVC is the most toxic plastic for our health and environment. No other plastic contains or releases as many dangerous chemicals. Unfortunately the poison plastic is widespread in schools across the nation.”

– The Center for Health, Environment & Justice

Many schools around the country are literally made out of PVC or vinyl, an emerging toxic plastic of concern. This volatile chemical is permeating our schools, from vinyl flooring, to computers, to vinyl backpacks and other school supplies.

How Is This Really Going To Impact My Children?

In recent years, a number of studies have found a relationship between the phthalates released by PVC building supplies and asthma in children and adults. With over 7 million children suffering from asthma which, incidentally, is the leading cause of school absenteeism, our vinyl schools endanger students’ health.

Dioxin, lead and mercury are all chemicals released by the PVC lifecycle that have been linked to learning and developmental disabilities in young children. With one in six children suffering from learning disabilities, schools must be kept free of these toxins so that children can learn.

Also, two years ago Congress passed legislation banning phthalates in children’s toys. While phthalates have been banned from PVC toys, they’re still widespread in PVC products like flooring used in schools.

Oh No — What Can I Do To Help?!

Thankfully, there is hope as it’s easy to find alternatives to PVC. A few simple changes will protect students’ health, and ability to learn. At This Vinyl School – http://www.chej.org/thisvinylschool , you can click through a virtual animated school to identify where this dangerous plastic is hiding and find healthier products.

Tegu, the toymaker of these engaging magnetic blocks, aims to create safe non-toxic toys and is devoted to addressing unemployment and fostering entrepreneurship in Honduras, where the blocks are made.

Over the past few months, I’ve been hearing from increasingly more moms about their children’s high levels of lead. Most recently, I’ve been hearing about children in modern buildings having high levels of lead. For some reason, I had the impression that lead was an older issue, mostly a concern in older homes. I’ve been surprised to learn how pervasive it still is, recently hearing that it has been found in our (NYC) drinking water, some Pottery Barn ceramic dinnerware, reusable grocery bags, and many toys!

Toy companies are not required to divulge what’s in their products

Yesterday’s LA Times had a great article, Before You Buy That Train Set, Do Your Homework by Amanda Leigh Mascarelli, recommending that parents research their potential toy purchases.

Many of the 80,000 chemicals used in manufacturing are used in toys and other children’s products. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the government agency responsible for protecting the public from hazards in consumer products, regulates only 14 chemicals in toys: eight heavy metals and six phthalates, which are used to soften plastic. The phthalates, which have been linked to reproductive and developmental abnormalities in animal studies, have been restricted only since 2008. Toy companies, unlike food manufacturers, are not required to divulge what’s in their products.

A ghoulish fake eyeball toy made in China was recalled after it was found to be filled with kerosene. Sets of toy drums and a toy bear were also recalled because of lead paint, and an infant wrist rattle was recalled because of a choking hazard.

– “As More Toys Are Recalled, Trail Ends in China” in The NY Times online, by Eric S. Lipton and David Barboza, June 19, 2007

Ms. Mascarelli continues: The U.S. government has since adopted a handful of regulatory measures to hold companies more accountable and to tighten restrictions on the use of toxic substances. But there are many toxic chemicals in toys that are not regulated at all, says Rachel Massey, a policy analyst at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell and a coauthor of a November study on gaps in regulation of toxic substances in toys and children’s products. Cases highlighted in the media for violation of standards are just “the tip of the iceberg,” she says.

Toy Recalls in the Media Are Just The Tip of the Iceberg…

Ms. Amanda Leigh Mascarelli, writes: “Most famously, in 2007, Mattel — the largest toy company in the world and the brand behind such household names as Ken and Barbie — recalled more than 2 million toys that were in violation of the U.S. standards for lead in paint. The total recall count that year because of lead paint violations: more than 17 million.”

Lead causes permanent brain damage. Lead exposure — even in relatively small doses — has been linked to learning disabilities, behavioral problems, reproductive issues, even violence.

Beware of Toys Made in China

A NY Times article in 2007, As More Toys Are Recalled, Trail Ends in China, stated: “Over all, the number of products made in China that are being recalled in the United States by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission has doubled in the last five years, driving the total number of recalls in the country to 467 last year, an annual record… It also means that China today is responsible for about 60 percent of all product recalls, compared with 36 percent in 2000.”

China manufactured every one of the 24 kinds of toys recalled for safety reasons in the United States so far this year, including the enormously popular Thomas & Friends wooden train sets… The toys were coated at a factory in China with lead paint, which can damage brain cells, especially in children.

– “As More Toys Are Recalled, Trail Ends in China” in The NY Times online, by Eric S. Lipton and David Barboza, June 19, 2007

Tips for Buying Safer Toys

Ms. Mascarelli offers a great summary of tips that are below. Please visit her article for even more information: Before You Buy That Train Set, Do Your Homework by Amanda Leigh Mascarelli.

• Avoid buying costume jewelry for children. As lead has come under closer scrutiny, cadmium is increasingly being used as a substitute for lead in paint, toys and children’s jewelry. Cadmium is a neurotoxin and carcinogen that children can be exposed to when they handle, suck or swallow the product. In January, the CPSC recalled a large quantity of children’s costume jewelry because it was found to contain high levels of cadmium.

• Avoid purchasing vinyl products, also known as PVC (for polyvinyl chloride) when possible. These are several times more likely to contain hazardous additives compared with other plastics, says Jeff Gearhart, research director for HealthyStuff.org, a consumer product testing website. Items made with synthetic leather, such as kids’ baseball gloves, often contain vinyl. Vinyl products may also include certain balls, children’s bracelets and other rubbery and flexible items.

• Inspect the plastic labeling and product packaging and look for the familiar triangular recycling symbol containing a “3″ with a “V” underneath the symbol. The labeling is not universal but is used on a significant number of vinyl products. Flexible, rubbery plastic products that emit a distinct odor are often good indicators that the product contains a vinyl plasticizer, Gearhart says. The Center for Health, Environment and Justice has a PVC-free guide.

• Don’t buy brightly colored plastics when purchasing items that a young child might put in his or her mouth. Despite the recent tightening of federal regulations, these plastics could contain cadmium, lead, organotins or other toxic pigments or stabilizers, Massey says.

• Consult sites such as Healthystuff.org and Goodguide.com to find out if certain toys contain brominated flame retardants (BFRs) — found in baby products, such as mattress pads, and toys, such as dolls, swords, action figures and ones made of foam and rubber. BFRs have been linked to a number of adverse health effects, and one family of BFRs is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Healthystuff.org and Goodguide.com both screen for bromine, which is a likely indicator of BFRs. Choose products that have low or no bromine content.

• When buying toys that contain textiles or leather garments, be conscious of “azo dyes,” which are widely used in the textile and leather industries. Azo dyes can form cancer-causing compounds when inhaled, absorbed through the skin or taken up by the gastrointestinal tract. Unfortunately, since these chemicals are not regulated, the best way to avoid them is to select toys made of wood and natural products, or toys that bear eco-labels, which are becoming more widespread. When buying a textile product such as a doll or stuffed animal, look for a European eco-label such as Oeko-Tex, which can be found in some specialty toy stores. The European Union has much stricter regulations on toxic chemicals than does the U.S.

• Choking on toys, toy parts, balls and balloons is a hazard for children younger than 3. From 1990 to 2007, 196 children died after choking or asphyxiating on a toy or toy part,, according to U.S. PIRG, an umbrella consumer-advocacy organization for individual state Public Interest Research Groups. Use an empty toilet paper roll to test whether a toy or toy part may be a choking hazard. If the item passes through a toilet paper roll, it is too small for children younger than 3 or children who put toys in their mouths.

Also watch out for parts that are barely larger than this industry standard, because children have choked on parts that are larger, says Elizabeth Hitchcock, public health advocate for U.S. PIRG. “We always caution parents to really look hard at a toy, take it out of the box and use it before they put it in the hands of their child,” Hitchcock says. “See if there are parts that will break off, and don’t just rely on the label.”

• Do not buy products bearing the California Proposition 65 label with wording similar to this: “Warning: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.”

• Avoid toys containing small magnets that can be swallowed. When ingested, strong magnets will attract to each other and can cause serious internal injuries.

• Though these are few and far between, look for toys and children’s products that have labels indicating what ingredients were used to make them.

• Check out lists put together by groups that have conducted tests on toys. Healthystuff.org (www.healthystuff.org), run by Ecology Center, a nonprofit organization based in Ann Arbor, Mich., does independent testing on a range of consumer products including toys, providing snapshots, available online, of potential chemical hazards. Healthystuff.org has screened more than 5,000 toys since beginning its testing in 2007. It uses an X-ray technology to look for hazardous substances, but the technology can’t detect all chemicals of concern. It ranks products by level of concern based on about 10 priority chemicals. GoodGuide.com ranks products, including toys, based on (among other things) environmental and health effects.

• Among the toy recalls, the problem is most acute with low-price, no-brand-name toys that are often sold at dollar stores and other deep discounters, which are manufactured and sent to the United States often without the involvement of major American toy importers. Last year, China also was the source of 81 percent of the counterfeit goods seized by Customs officials at ports of entry in the United States — products that typically are not made according to the standards on the labels they are copying. (“As More Toys Are Recalled, Trail Ends in China” in The NY Times online, by Eric S. Lipton and David Barboza, June 19, 2007)

• Toys made in China make up 70 to 80 percent of the toys sold in the country, according to the Toy Industry Association, which represents most American toy companies and importers. (“As More Toys Are Recalled, Trail Ends in China” in The NY Times online, by Eric S. Lipton and David Barboza, June 19, 2007)
• China’s own government auditing agency reported last month that 20 percent of the toys made and sold in China had safety hazards such as small parts that could be swallowed or sharp edges that could cut a child, according to a report in China Daily. Officials in China, of course, are fighting back, insisting that its food and other exports are safe and valuable, that new regulations are being put into place and that problem goods account for a tiny portion of all exports. (“As More Toys Are Recalled, Trail Ends in China” in The NY Times online, by Eric S. Lipton and David Barboza, June 19, 2007)

Safer Toy Options

There are some beautiful and engaging wooden toys that are a stimulating and low-toxic option. Some of our favorites are in the Amazon widget below:

Related Content:

• Healthier Shopping Made Easier With This Tool
• Magna-Tiles: An Engaging Educational Toy!
• PlanetBox: The Lunchbox My Daughter Won’t Stop Talking About
• Our New, Double Stroller: UppaBaby Vista 2010
• Healthy Juice: There’s Only One Type That’s Worth Drinking!
• Support Animal Rescue and School Lunches
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• Check out The S File’s other Gift Guides: Health, Pregnancy, Household, and Parenting

Soon after buying my daughter an adorable lunchbox that she helped picked out, I was disappointed to continually hear how much she loved another lunchbox at school. Having taken a few months to figure out which lunchbox she has been talking about, I now understand. When I asked my daughter, “What’s so special about the lunchbox?” She went on to explain the compartments.

My daughter has been entranced by these compartments

You can choose from different sets of magnets for the top of the box

You can choose from a selection of colors for the carry bag

Check out PlanetBox in the video below.

Furthermore, from my perspective, I like that it was created by a mom who was trying to minimize toxins and waste. The interior is made of 18/8 (300 SS) and 18/0 (400 SS, not 200 SS) stainless steel, which is food safe and will not leach toxic chemicals when in contact with food. These types of stainless steel have been used for food storage in many cultures for generations, and are preferred materials for hospitals, commercial kitchens, and other environments where sanitation is a priority. The other materials contain NO lead, vinyl/PVC, Phthalates, Bisphenol-A(BPA) or other harmful or toxic substances.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve ordered this second lunchbox for my daughter. I’m hoping that it’ll inspire her to eat more of her lunch!

Click here to purchase: PlanetBox; and click here to learn of lunch ideas for PlanetBox.

Related Content:

• Trunki: A Fun Suitcase That You Can Pull Your Kids On At The Airport
• School Supplies — These Are Toxic Too?!
• Magna-Tiles: An Engaging Educational Toy!
• Our New, Double Stroller: UppaBaby Vista 2010
• Healthy Juice: There’s Only One Type That’s Worth Drinking!
• Support Animal Rescue and School Lunches
• Health: The Benefits of Fasting
• Tips For Buying Safer Toys
• The S File’s Gift Guides: Health, Pregnancy, Household, and Parenting

If you read our recent post titled “Toxic Breast milk”, then you know some of the background of my friend, Kathy, who came to the difficult decision to stop nursing her second child.  For those of you who didn’t read it, you may do so by clicking on “Toxic Breast milk? Part 1.”  Kathy’s message is not that formula-feeding is necessarily less toxic than, or superior to, nursing.  She is simply sharing her personal experience of having an above-average level of toxins in her body and, therefore, in her breast milk.  She’s also trying to raise awareness that through a mom’s diet, personal care products, and other factors, a mom is introducing toxins into her milk supply. Kathy has been generous enough to share a follow-up post, which is below.

I knew my post about toxic breastfeeding would be controversial but I hate to think that I made anyone feel demoralized.  For many, breastfeeding is best, but not for me and I do think mine is an important story.  It’s also America’s story and I believe the direction that our children are headed if we don’t start making healthier choices and forcing lawmakers to regulate chemicals in our beauty products, food, toys and items we use every day.

I believe my son is toxic because I nursed him, but only because I am especially toxic.  More so than other people and no one knows why.  Perhaps it’s DNA and my body doesn’t dump toxins as well as other people, or perhaps I was exposed to more chemicals than the average person.  What I do know is that if I don’t do something I could end up with an auto immune disease called Chrone’s and I am determined to reverse the damage if I can.

I have a precursor to Chrone’s Disease called Leaky Gut Syndrome.  This is not a disease that most Western doctors recognize.  They diagnosed me with Irritable Bowl Syndrome, which my own doctor admitted is a label “they” give when they don’t know what’s wrong.  They pump you full of steroids or remove part of your colon and tell you to eliminate stress and stop eating foods that trigger it.  Naturopaths call this Leaky Gut and say I can reverse the damage if I work hard to detox my body.  Leaky Gut Syndrome is caused by a toxic buildup of chemicals, pesticides, antibiotic or NSAID pain relievers that disrupt the intestinal flora.  The wall of the intestine becomes so caked in mucous and yeast (Candida) that tiny holes develop in the wall and allow food particles to enter the blood stream.  The body sees these food particles as foreign invaders and begins to attack, causing an allergic reaction to the food.

My first sign was 7-years ago when I suddenly, without warning, became allergic to gluten.  I was never officially diagnosed with Celiac disease because I didn’t want to put my body through an invasive colonoscopy when the only treatment is to avoid gluten.  Eliminating gluten solved the problem and though I missed bread terribly, I got used to it, and thought everything was fine.  It was fine for years, but then suddenly apples caused the same painful allergic reaction, then corn, peas, potato, beef, dairy, vinegar, onions, nuts and now any type of rice.

It is quite literally a chore to feed myself and I never know what will make my stomach hurt next.  I suffer from arthritis in my right hand when I eat something I shouldn’t and chronic insomnia.  I look back and think about what I wish I knew sooner.  How non-organic foods and beauty products literally poison your body and if I had known the pain it would cause I would have chosen an organic lifestyle a long time ago.  Luckily I am strong and I know I can heal this.  I hope you will follow my journey as I do.

Related Content:

• Toxic Breast milk?  Part 1.
• Our Internal Pollution

I just watched part 1 of CNN’s ‘Toxic America’.  I’m so glad that this topic is gaining more mainstream coverage!  It inspired me to share some relevant resources that I have encountered recently.

Last night’s segment highlighted more extreme stories, of those with serious health issues (such as a range of cancers, hysterectomies, lost kidneys, and more) as what they believed to be a result of living near chemical plants.  For those of us who don’t live near chemical plants, please keep in mind that we are surrounded by our own constant source of pollution within our own homes.  Children are especially vulnerable.

Children Are Particularly Vulnerable to Chemicals

From the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center:

Children are not simply “little adults.” Four fundamental differences between children and adults contribute to children’s heightened susceptibility to environmental toxins. *

• Children have disproportionately heavy exposures to environmental toxicants due to their greater intake pound-for-pound of food, water, and air, coupled with their unique behaviors – in particular, hand-to-mouth behavior.
• Children’s metabolic pathways, especially in the first months after birth, are immature. In many instances, they are less able than adults to deal with toxic compounds.
• Children are undergoing rapid growth and development. These developmental processes create windows of great vulnerability in which the course of development can be permanently disrupted by environmental toxins.
• Because children have more future years of life than adults, they have more time to develop chronic diseases that may be initiated by early exposures.

*National Research Council. Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2000.

The Toxic Sandbox

A few weeks ago, I read The Toxic Sandbox: The Truth About Environmental Toxins and Our Children’s Health (2007) by Libby McDonald.  Applying her background in investigative journalism and motivated as a concerned parent, the author did a good job of separating important facts (as of the publishing date of 2007) from the alarmist myths.  I also liked her incorporation and consideration of research and interviews with top medical, toxicological, and environmental experts.  I took many notes from this book, and they are kept in myEnvironmental Toxins “file”.  This book helped wake me up to environmental hazards to which I may be inadvertently exposing my children.

Recent Articles

In addition, my mommy email groups have also been circulating relevant articles recently: The Plastic Panic; Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer; For Very Young, Peril Lurks in Lithium Cell Batteries; and ‘Dirty dozen’ produce carries more pesticide residue.  I thought I’d share these suggestions as well.

CNN’s ‘Toxic America’

I’m looking forward to part 2 of CNN’s ‘Toxic America’ which airs Thursday June 3 at 8pm EST.  It looks like it will focus more on children and toxins.  I will write more after watching that segment!

Notes from my Environmental Toxins “file”:

• Cleaning Products
• Food
• Home Furnishings
• Paint & Art Supplies
• Personal Care Products
• Plastic
• Vaccine Ingredients
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Flame Retardants (PBDEs)
• Protect Your Chidlren From PCBs and PBDEs