Tag: chemicals

  • Weather Modification in Idaho

    Idaho’s Cloud Seeding and Weather Modification: Addressing Concerns and Seeking Transparency

    Watch this video of Miste Karlfeldt discussing the Idaho Water Resource Board and Cloud Seeding in Idaho with Dr. Daniel Bobinski of True Idaho News

    In Idaho, cloud seeding and weather modification programs have raised legitimate concerns among residents who question whether we are unwitting subjects of experimental weather manipulation and what potential health impacts might arise from seeding our skies with chemicals that eventually return to earth. These concerns deserve thoughtful consideration, Health Freedom Idaho is calling for transparency and accountability in exposing our family’s potential health risks.

    Meeting agenda: https://idwr.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/iwrb/2023/Cloud-Seeding-CommMeeting-No.-2-23MATERIALS.pdf
    Zoom link to join the meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89715998383?pwd=Vk80cWZyZjFzdlZ6UEkrcHJqa3hGQT09
    Meeting ID: 897 1599 8383
    Passcode: 478824
    Dial in Option: 1 (253) 215-8782

    Experimental Manipulation of Weather

    Residents have every right to question whether cloud seeding amounts to experimental weather manipulation. While cloud seeding is a recognized weather modification technique, it is crucial that these programs are conducted responsibly, with transparency, and within the bounds of established regulations. The Idaho Water Resource Board, responsible for overseeing such activities, must ensure that cloud seeding programs are based on sound scientific principles and are carried out with the utmost care. On September 6, 2023, they conducted a public meeting.

    Health Impacts and Chemicals

    One of the primary concerns centers around the chemicals used in cloud seeding, specifically silver iodide and calcium chloride. These substances, when released into the atmosphere, can return to the earth’s surface and potentially affect our environment, including our food, pets, and children. Idaho residents are subjects of comprehensive monitoring and research.

    Those individuals responsible for weather modification do not completely understand the extent of these potential impacts. Does that concern you?

    While silver iodide is generally considered safe when used in small quantities for cloud seeding, there are potential negative impacts and concerns associated with its use. These concerns include:

    1. Environmental Impact: One of the primary concerns is the potential environmental impact of silver iodide. When released into the atmosphere, silver iodide particles can eventually fall to the ground and enter the environment. Accumulation of silver in soil and water bodies can be harmful to aquatic life and terrestrial ecosystems.
    2. Water Contamination: Silver iodide can find its way into water bodies, potentially contaminating surface waters. Elevated silver levels in water can be toxic to aquatic organisms and disrupt ecosystems.
    3. Human Health Concerns: While the concentrations of silver iodide used in cloud seeding are generally low and not considered harmful to human health, there are concerns about the potential inhalation of silver iodide particles. Inhaling silver iodide dust could potentially lead to respiratory irritation, although this risk is minimal under normal cloud seeding operations.
    4. Ethical and Legal Concerns: Some individuals and communities raise ethical concerns about cloud seeding, including questions about informed consent and whether weather modification should be carried out without the consent of affected parties.
    5. Unintended Consequences: The practice of cloud seeding aims to increase precipitation in specific regions, but there can be unintended consequences. Altering weather patterns through cloud seeding may affect downstream regions, potentially leading to water resource conflicts or other unintended impacts.
    6. Effects on Local Climate: Altering local weather patterns through cloud seeding could have unforeseen effects on the climate and ecosystems of the targeted areas. These long-term effects require careful consideration and study.

    Lack of Long-Term, Comprehensive Studies

    There is a lack of comprehensive, long-term studies on the environmental and health impacts of silver iodide from cloud seeding. More research is needed to understand the full extent of potential negative effects. The call for long-term, comprehensive studies on the safety and efficacy of cloud seeding is entirely valid. To date, there remains a scarcity of in-depth research that can conclusively determine the practice’s impact on our environment and human health and its effectiveness in increasing precipitation. Transparency in sharing such studies when they become available is imperative to address public concerns. How do they conduct these studies without subjecting us to exposure to assess the risks?

    Number of Cloud Seeding Stations: Idaho currently has multiple cloud seeding stations throughout the state. These stations work in collaboration with various weather modification programs and agencies to enhance precipitation in areas facing water scarcity.

    Understanding Man’s Impact on Weather Systems: The extent of humanity’s impact on natural weather systems remains a subject of ongoing scientific study. Weather modification programs like cloud seeding are designed to enhance precipitation within the natural variability of weather patterns. Determining a direct link between cloud seeding and specific weather events, such as the “snowpocalypse” of 2015, is a complex challenge that requires comprehensive research and analysis.

    The concerns of Idaho residents regarding cloud seeding and weather modification are valid and must be addressed. Transparency, rigorous research, and responsible oversight are essential to ensure that these programs are conducted safely and within the bounds of ethical and environmental considerations. It is our collective responsibility to advocate for transparency, engage in informed dialogue, and seek answers to legitimate questions as we navigate the complex realm of weather modification in Idaho. Only when citizens express concern and interest through open dialogue and call for transparent practices can we ensure the well-being of our communities and the preservation of our environment.

  • Boise Parks Reduce the Herbicide Use

    Boise Parks and Recreation Expands Pesticide Reduction Efforts, Promotes Environmental Health and Safety. Send a quick ‘thank you’ email to the agency supporting their efforts to create a healthier and safer community parks. parks@cityofboise.org

    Boise Parks and Recreation has started a pilot program to reduce pesticide use in the city’s parks, which is a step in the right direction.  Glyphosate, a common herbicide used to reduce dandelions and other broadleaf plants, has been named as a culprit in cancer cases. Some case-control studies have shown a positive association between exposure to glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In January 2023, a study found that people exposed to glyphosate have cancer biomarkers in their urine.

    Non-Toxic Idaho and Health Freedom Idaho have been advocating for years for the parks to consider reducing the application of chemicals in areas where children and pets play. Boise Parks and Recreation is a step in the right direction in protecting the health of our families. 

    The environmental benefits of the first flower dandelions for the bees are also worth noting. The sight of the dandelions and “wish flowers” is a beautiful thing, and it’s great to see the agency taking steps to protect the environment and the health of its residents. Boise Parks and Recreation Director Doug Holloway said, “Today, more than 60 parks in our system are active pesticide reduction sites.” This is a great achievement, and the agency deserves a thank you!

    If you would like to send a note of gratitude, you can do so by emailing parks@cityofboise.org or mailing a letter to Boise Parks and Recreation, 1104 Royal Blvd, Boise, ID 83706.

    DANDELIONS ARE GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT & HAVE MEDICINAL BENEFITS

    Hard as it is to believe considering the time, energy, and money devoted to obliterating them from our yards, dandelions have roots that spread widely underground, which has the beneficial effects of loosening hard-packed soil, aerating the ground, and reducing erosion. 123 Because their roots grow so deeply, they also help pull nutrients from deep within the soil up to ground level, which makes them more readily available to other plants, like your lawn, which has more shallow roots. 12

    In addition to being good for your lawn, dandelions are also nutritious.

    The leafy greens of the dandelion plant are quite healthy, rich in vitamin A and vitamin B12, according to the Michigan State University Extension. 2 Eating just 1 cup of the greens has twice as much iron as the same amount of spinach and contains more than 500 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin K. Dandelion roots and flowers are also edible, although they are not as commonly eaten as the greens. 2

    For centuries, various parts of the dandelion plant have been used medicinally.

    They were long used to create tonics that people drank to help the liver remove toxins from their bloodstream, and dandelions have also been used to treat ailments ranging from warts to the plague, according to Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners. 3 Even today, herbalists use dandelions to improve human health, because it both works as a natural diuretic and also helps our digestive systems function optimally. 4

    CANCER and GLYPHOSATE aka ROUND-UP LAWSUITS

    The first lawsuits were filed in 2015 shortly after the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen. In 2018, one of the first cases went to trial where a jury found in favor of a California school groundskeeper who used Roundup frequently for many years. The plaintiff’s lawyers showed he was exposed to glyphosate, and the jury found that the use of Roundup caused the individual’s cancer. Most lawsuits against Monsanto and, subsequently, Bayer, have been settled. However, some cases are still ongoing, and Bayer has asked the court to dismiss some of the lawsuits. In July 2022, the 11th Circuit ruled that Bayer had failed to adequately warn about the risk of cancer from Roundup.

    EPA and BAYER, the producers of glyphosate claim there is no risk and the product can be used safely. Some case-control studies have shown a positive association between exposure to glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In January 2023, a study found that people exposed to glyphosate have cancer biomarkers in their urine.

    REVIEW OUR OTHER ARTICLES ON TOXINS

    Why We MUST Detox from Glyphosate Toxins
    What Are Toxins Doing To Our Kids?

  • Toxic Chemicals Contaminate Foods Marketed to Children

    The FDA refused to test our foods for contamination. EPA refuses to reduce the amount of toxins permitted on our food crops. Independent studies show that our food is filled with toxic chemicals.  

     The weedkiller, produced by Bayer-Monsanto, was detected in all 21 oat-based cereal and snack products sampled in a new round of testing commissioned by the Environmental Working Group. All but four products contained levels of glyphosate higher than what EWG scientists consider protective for children’s health with a sufficient margin of safety.

    EWG’s petition, currently under consideration by EPA, calls on the agency to return to its health-protective 1993 standard. But it could take years for EPA to act, and the agency has been caught colluding with Monsanto to promote the claim that the chemical is safe.
    The only way to quickly remove this cancer-causing weedkiller from foods marketed to children is for companies like General Mills and Quaker to use oats from farmers who do not use glyphosate as a desiccant.


    More than 236,000 people have signed a petition directed at these food companies, calling on them to take action to protect consumers’ health. 

    SIGN THE PETITION

    To read more about allowable glyphosate levels and the chemical’s effects, read “Glyphosate: Unsafe on Any Plate”

    Additional Resources:

    From DDT to Glyphosate

    Glyphosate is Proven to Cause Cancer. It is Contaminating Our Vaccines

    Glyphosate Detox Exposure is Inescapable

    Dr Seneff video interview: 

  • Bees Attracted to Dangerous Fungicides

    Most people have heard that honey bee populations are struggling–and the affects that neonicotinoid pesticides are having on honey bee health are gradually becoming main-stream knowledge. Interestingly, what is coming to light as more research is done, fungicides may also have an adverse effect on honey bee health as well.

    Glorybee.com:

    We need bees. With 80% of food crops relying on honey bees for pollination, it has been found that one of every three bites of food we eat is pollinated by bees. Declines in honey bee populations have caused global concern for the world’s food supply and the uncertain future that would bring.

    This excerpt from an article in Science Daily details the findings of honey bees and fungicides.

    When given the choice, honey bee foragers prefer to collect sugar syrup laced with the fungicide chlorothalonil over sugar syrup alone, researchers report in the journal Scientific Reports.

    The puzzling finding comes on the heels of other studies linking fungicides to declines in honey bee and wild bee populations. One recent study, for example, found parallels between the use of chlorothalonil and the presence of Nosema bombi, a fungal parasite, in bumble bees. Greater chlorothalonil use also was linked to range contractions in four declining bumble bee species.

    To test whether foraging honey bees showed a preference for other chemicals they are likely to encounter in the wild, researchers set up two feeding stations in a large enclosure. Foraging honey bees could fly freely from one feeder to the other, choosing to collect either sugar syrup laced with a test chemical or sugar syrup mixed with a solvent as the control. Over the course of the study, they tested honey bee responses to nine naturally occurring chemicals, three fungicides and two herbicides at various concentrations.

    The trials revealed that honey bees prefer the naturally occurring chemical quercetin over controls at all concentrations tested.

    To the researchers’ surprise, the bees also preferred sugar syrup laced with glyphosate — the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide — at 10 parts per billion, but not at higher concentrations.

    “The bees are not only not avoiding this fungicide, they’re consuming more of it at certain concentrations,” Berenbaum, the team’s research leader, said.

    Fungicides are among the most prevalent contaminants of honey bee hives, and it is likely the bees themselves are bringing these pesticides into the colony through their food-collecting activities. While perplexing, bees’ preferences for some potentially toxic chemicals may be the result of their distinct evolutionary history, Berenbaum said.

    The new findings are worrisome in light of research showing that exposure to fungicides interferes with honey bees’ ability to metabolize medications used by beekeepers to kill the parasitic varroa mites that infest their hives.

    To read this article in its entirety, please visit: Agricultural fungicide attracts honey bees.

    Learn more about simple steps to take to save the bees visit https://glorybee.com/blog/category/save-the-bee/

  • Explosion of Chronic Disease in Our Children

    Over the past fifty years, rates of autoimmunity and chronic disease in our children have exploded: currently 1 in 2.5 American children has a severe allergy, 1 in 11 has asthma, 1 in 36 has autism and the list goes on. While some attribute this rise to increased awareness and diagnosis, Thomas Cowan, MD, argues for a direct causal relationship to a corresponding increase in the number of vaccines American children typically receive―approximately 72 vaccine doses by age eighteen. The goal of these vaccines is precisely what we’re now seeing in such abundance among our chronically ill children: the provocation of immune response.

    With our 72 doses of toxic injections, have we have traded acute (short-term self-limiting) illness for life-long chronic disease?

    The above graphic is a modified version of a additional rates of chronic disease increased researched and added by HFI 2018.

    Dr. Cowan looks at emerging evidence that certain childhood illnesses are actually protective of disease later in life; examines the role of fever, the gut, and cellular fluid in immune health; argues that vaccination is an ineffective (and harmful) attempt to shortcut a complex immune response; and asserts that the medical establishment has engaged in an authoritarian argument that robs parents of informed consent.  His ultimate question, from the point of view of a doctor who has decades of experience treating countless children is: 
    What are we really doing to children when we vaccinate them?

    Listen to Dr. Cowan M.D., explain to us the exacting way vaccines disrupt the natural way the body deals with all viruses and bacteria

    Proven Cause and Correlation?

    The rate of chronic diseases in our children is astounding and outright terrifying for those paying attention. 

    The past 8 to 10 years:

    • Juvenile Diabetes increased by 23%
    • Cancer increased by 29%
    • ADHD increased by 43%
    • Food Allergies increased by 50%
    • Asthma rates rose by almost 50% 
    • Autism increased 150% 

    Is there a “cause and correlation” effect relative to children’s chronic health issues surrounding the overwhelmingly accelerating negative health demographics seemingly related following the inordinate mandated number of multi-valent vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as administered by pediatricians since the 1990s?

    Dr Cowan brings up very valid points that direct us to a solid conclusion that vaccines, by their very nature, are triggering the chronic illnesses in our children. Epidemiological studies (statistical surveys) show poorer long-term health is more common among the vaccinated who survive without serious injury than children who are not vaccinated. (3, 4, 8, 9) 

    However this is a question apparently no one in federal health agencies, specifically the CDC and FDA, wants neither to investigate nor find statistically valid data and answers either to substantiate or disprove using science-based methods. They are quick to dismiss any suggestion of a link. 

    The science is settled – is the resounding rebuttal. 

    What is informed consent?

    Informed consent would be a parent saying, “Yes I know that giving my child a chickenpox vaccine will shift them more towards allergies, autoimmune disease and even cancer. I know it will create some neurotoxicity, but I’m not willing to live with the chance of them getting chickenpox.” That is a truly informed parents making the choice they believe best for their child.

    The alternative to informed consent is what is heard most often “Do the vaccine, they work great, there’s no downside.”  This is a fairytale.

    It is critical that parents research the information that is readily available to them. Reading vaccine ingredients, the vaccine inserts about the risks, reactions and the lack of studies performed for the vaccines the doctors are recommended they inject their children. 

    Looking for more information on vaccines and their risk? Visit LearntheRisk.org: NVIC.org and Vaccine.guide

    Remember when science is “settled” – it is no longer science…it is simply blind faith.

    And what of the onslaught of toxins that our children are bombarded with daily? 

    • Toxic Consumption 75% of our foods contains residue of carcinogenic, endocrine disputing chemicals

    • Toxic Absorption Personal care products are loaded with untested chemicals and absorbed by the skin.

      OTC drugs and cosmetics: Different formulations are able to improve or reduce permeation, penetration and absorption of each molecule, but every molecule has a specific capacity of skin permeation, penetration and absorption in function of specific chemical-physical factors. It is a nonsense the tentative to demonstrate that if it is a cosmetic , cannot penetrate. There is not a traffic light that allows substances to pass through or not, according to what is written on the product label. -Rodolfo Baraldini

      SOURCES of statistics from FocusforHealth.org with additional links provided by HFI for updated statistics

    1. https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/asthma/index.html

    *2001 through 2009 asthma rates rose the most among black children, almost a 50% increase.

    2. http://www.cancer.gov/types/childhood-cancers/child-adolescent-cancers-fact-sheet 

    https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/data/

    3. http://www.foodallergy.org/facts-and-stats 

    4.https://www.cdc.gov/injury/images/lc-charts/leading_causes_of_death_age_group_2016_1056w814h.gif

    https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/data.html

    5. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html 
    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151208150630.htm

    6. http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1866098 

    7. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/features/birthdefects-dd-keyfindings.html 

    8. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html

    9. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/news/cdc-epilepsy-rates-increasing-among-adults-children 

    Zack MM, Kobau R. National and state estimates of the numbers of adults and children with active epilepsy – United States, 2015. MMWR. 2017. 66(31);821-825. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6631a1.htm?s_cid=mm6631a1_w.

    https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/about/fast-facts.htm

    Toxins Statistics:
    Learn more from EWG consumer guides: https://www.ewg.org/consumer-guides

    a. Chemicals in use:
    2013 there were 85,000 chemicals https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/14/sunday-review/think-those-chemicals-have-been-tested.html

    b. Glyphosate usage: https://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/usage/maps/show_map.php?year=2016&map=GLYPHOSATE&hilo=L&disp=Glyphosate

    c. Fluoride Usage: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5014a1.htm

    d. Personal Care Products: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ 

    e. learntherisk.org, nvic.org

  • 15% of the chemicals in our personal care have NOT been tested for safety

    The science is there. The awareness is not. Let’s talk. This Johnson & Johnson product right here is rated a 10 for carcinogenicity, developmental & reproductive toxicity, and ranks high for allergies & immunotoxocities. We’re bathing babies in cancer causing products and killing their fertility. There is NO ONE testing these products for safety before they go to the shelves. Less than 15% of the chemicals in our personal care and cleaning products have been tested for safety. We think if a product is on a store shelf then it must be safe, right!? Surely, they wouldn’t allow chemicals that cause cancer in products we use on our babies, right!? Wrong! #KNOWBETTER #DOBETTER

    This app is ThinkDirty available for Android and Apple products.

    We also use EWG homeguide to research products BEFORE we go shopping so we know what to look for or ask for if we don’t see it on the shelf. 

    RESOURCES:

    New Chemicals: Sell First. Test later?

  • Commerical Hand Sanitizers Puts 10x more Chemicals IN your body

     

    You use hand sanitizer to keep dangerous germs out, but you’re really inviting toxic chemicals in. Research proves that the active ingredient in hand sanitizer is an endocrine disruptor(1), easily absorbed through your skin, and might be linked to cancer. Its name? Triclosan. 

    Hand sanitizer companies use triclosan as an antibacterial agent; it is, after all, effective in killing many types of bacteria. Triclosan is also used in other hygienic products such as toothpaste and soaps. On the label, it may also be called (2): 

    • Aquasept
    • Irgasan DP 300
    • Microshield T
    • Sapoderm
    • Tersaseptic
    • Trisan
    • Manusept

    Health Dangers of Triclosan

    While triclosan has yet to be classified as a confirmed human carcinogen, scientists have suggested potential links to hormone-related cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer (4). As an endocrine disruptor, triclosan interferes with the body’s normal hormone systems- sometimes with deadly effects. 

    HM Lee, head researcher of a 2016 scientific paper writes, “the majority of previous studies revealed that BPA, phthalates, TCDD, and triclosan have the potential to induce cancer metastasis…the exposure to these EDCs [endocrine disrupting chemicals] can increase the risk aggravating the disease for the patients suffering cancer and that more regulations about the use of these EDCs are needed,” (4). 

    But can these risks really come from using hand sanitizer? The answer, unfortunately is yes. Research shows that triclosan can be easily stored up by your body over time. A 2016 study uncovered that triclosan was found in both water supplies and in humans- in blood, urine, breast milk, and even nails. Head researcher LWB Olaniyan states that this bioaccumulation of triclosan in the body is a cause for concern, especially since triclosan ” is a pro-oxidant and may be cytotoxic via a number of mechanisms,” (1).

    The dangers aren’t just for adults who make a habit of using hand sanitizers over the years. There is a “window” of time that makes young, developing children more susceptible to the effects of endocrine disrupting products. A 2016 study done on rats raised concerns about children’s and adolescents’ use of personal products containing triclosan (as well as other dangerous additives like phthalates). Head researcher  Sander Houten writes about the potential dangers for humans: “the prepubertal stage is the most sensitive window of opportunity for these personal care product ingredients,” (3). 

    The Most Effective Homemade Hand Sanitizer from http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com

    The truth is you don’t need an antibacterial soap or product to protect yourself from harmful germs! In a 2007 study, scientists proved that soaps containing triclosan were actually no more effective at reducing bacteria and preventing infections than regular soap. Not to mention, many strains of bacteria had evolved to be immune to triclosan’s antibacterial effects anyway (5). 

    The bottom line is you don’t need to waste money on toxic hand sanitizers to stay health- all you need is a bar of soap to keep your hands clean. However, if you’re looking for a natural antibacterial to carry around with you, you can easily make your own “sanitizer” out of essential oils and natural ingredients. 

    Eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils are proven antimicrobials (without being toxic or endocrine disrupting) (6). They can easily be mixed with natural aloe vera gel, another antibacterial agent (7). Aloe also has the added benefit of being naturally soothing, able to reduce skin redness, and even increase skin elasticity (8,9).

    Ingredients:

    • 1/4 cup Aloe Vera Gel
    • 10 Drops of Tea Tree Oil
    • 10 Drops Eucalyptus Oil 

    Instructions:

    1. Mix all ingredients together.
    2. Pour into a spray bottle or a pump type bottle.
    3. Shake before applying

    Always do a “spot test” using a small amount of the essential oil mixture to test for skin irritation. Cinnamon essential oil is an especially common irritant. 

    Sources:

    1.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5031584/

    2. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/triclosan#section=Wikipedia

    3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4965097/

    4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28042023

    5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17683018

    6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27790572

    7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28050502 

    8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4078333/

    9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2883372/

    Of course, there are other recipes for DIY Hand Santizer. Want to share your favorite, do so in the comments! 

  • Let’s Talk About The Threat of Toxins On Our Children

    HFI: Toxins and Our Kids. Tiny amounts of lead, chemical flame retardants and organophosphate pesticides such as Round Up, among other toxins, course through the blood of nearly every American. But just how much worry is a little poison worth?


    A lot, especially when considering the cumulative effects of this chemical cocktail on children.     Our children are a sicker generation than their parents. Neurological issues, Allergies, Ecezma, ADD, Cancer, Delays, Autism, SIDS…could it be that its the toxic environment we created that is causes some or all these issues?  Experts agree on one big problem: We’re not really looking at the long term impact of chemicals on our children. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for example, has only required toxicity testing for around 200 of the more than 80,000 chemicals permitted for use in the U.S. “By allowing children to be exposed to toxins or chemicals of unknown toxicity, we are unwittingly using our children in a massive experiment.

    Lanphear focused on six brain toxins in the 2014 video: lead, mercury, organophosphate (Round Up) pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bisphenol A (BPA) and polybrominated dipenyl ethers (PBDEs), a chemical flame retardant that his research team this year linked to IQ deficits and hyperactivity. This list of chemical brain-drainers, according to a study published in February, may be just the tip of the iceberg.

    While suggesting that the “ultimate solution” is to “revise how we regulate chemicals,” Lanphear offered a few suggestions for consumers navigating toxins: Eat fresh or frozen foods, choose fish low in mercury, avoid the use of pesticides in and around the home and check for lead in older homes.

    He also recommended writing government representatives and urging them to support regulation that reverses the burden of proof to require companies prove a chemical isn’t toxic before it enters the market. In the U.S., an overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 remains hotly debated.

    “This emerging evidence that there is no threshold for some of the most well-established toxins strongly supports the urgent need to revise” the toxic substances act, Lanphear told HuffPost.

    And while the time is ripe for that federal move, Lanphear added that it is “exactly the wrong time to terminate the National Children’s Study.” The future of the U.S. study, long-planned to follow children from birth to adulthood, tracking factors such as exposure to toxic chemicals, now looks uncertain.

    “I firmly believe that until mothers and the public become more familiar with this science not much will happen,” said Lanphear. “The hope is that videos like this will help people understand this emerging pattern of toxicity.”

    The reaction from Woodruff’s son, Xavier Woodruff-Madeira, 16, to the video is just the kind Lanphear hopes to spark: “I didn’t know that tiny little amounts of chemicals can add up to make a big difference in kid’s attention — and affect all those kids.”

    This article originally appeared at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/20/toxins-children-brain-little-things-matter_n_6189726.html.
  • EPA to Ban Dangerous Pesticide Chlorpyrifos

    EPA to Ban Dangerous Pesticide Chlorpyrifos

    OCTOBER 30, 2015

    Washington, D.C. — 

    Some 15 years after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned chlorpyrifos from residential use, the agency proposed today to ban the neurotoxic pesticide from use in agricultural fields as well.

    The announcement came after a recent court of appeals decisions gave EPA a deadline to take meaningful action on a 2007 legal petition to ban the chemical.

    “This is what we have been seeking for years. EPA’s and other independent findings show that chlorpyrifos causes brain damage to children and poisons workers and bystanders,” said Patti Goldman, the Earthjustice attorney handling the case. “At long last, the agency is signaling its intention to protect children, workers and their families by banning this hazardous pesticide. It is imperative that EPA move quickly to protect workers and children by finalizing this important rule.”

    Calling EPA’s delay in regulating chlorpyrifos “egregious,” the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently ordered EPA to respond to the 2007 petition by October 30. The original lawsuit spurring the court deadline was filed by Earthjustice on behalf of Pesticide Action Network (PAN) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

    “Given the incredibly strong science on the health harms of this pesticide, it’s absurd that EPA has taken so long to act,” said Dr. Margaret Reeves, Senior Scientist at PAN. “A ban will finally ensure that children, workers and families in rural communities are safe from this drift-prone, bad actor pesticide.”

    In December 2014, EPA acknowledged the extensive body of peer-reviewed science correlating chlorpyrifos exposure with brain damage to children, including reduced IQ, delayed development, and loss of working memory.

    And it found drinking water contamination, particularly harmful to infants, and serious risks to workers from handling chlorpyrifos or entering the fields after spraying.

    Ordered by a court to take regulatory action based on its scientific reviews, EPA is now proposing to revoke all chlorpyrifos tolerances.

    This would end all uses of chlorpyrifos that result in residues on food, contamination of drinking water, or drift to schools, homes, and other places people are located.

    http://earthjustice.org/news/press/2015/epa-to-ban-dangerous-pesticide-chlorpyrifos

  • An Attempt to Create the Toxin Free Household

    An Attempt to Create the Toxin Free Household

    I always thought of toxins as those products to ‘keep out of reach of child’ or I would end up calling poison control. Recently, I have begun to realize that toxins are those chemicals that disrupt our bodies natural processes, cause a plethora of ailments and could cause long term serious health issues. Thinking back, I was always grateful that in my family of many children, didn’t have to deal with food allergies. What a pain for those other families!
    And then my youngest was born. It was those allergies that took our family on a journey into an awareness of food ingredients and house hold toxins and helped us take back our health.  

    Over the past three years, we spent time focused on changing our eating habits. It took a couple years but we have eliminating 99% of processed foods stopped all fast food. Our meals, snacks and treats with are made with local,organic and fresh foods. Do not pity my children however. My baker in the making has discovered ways to allow us to enjoy organic brownies, homemade ice cream, HOMEMADE PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE, home made pretzels and cakes galore! We still save up ‘out to eat money’ to visit our favorite french fry shop in town that sources its potatoes and cooks them safe for our family.

    So, this past year the focus has been products. What we put on our skin and hair and what we are surrounded in our home.
    I am amazed at the significant health improvements of our entire household.

    Common Household Toxins 
    This was a real eye-opener when we first saw it so we began to read labels on the stuff in our own home and confirmed what this is showing.  In some cases toxins were NOT listed on labels due to inconsistencies in government regulations.
    Healthy Home checklist printable

    Common Toxic Products In Your Home

    Items We Replaced:

    • Air Fresheners 
      “Fragrance” is a scary ingredient. According to the FDA, “fragrance” can be any combination of natural or synthetic chemicals (300+) to create a desired scent. The chemicals used in “fragrance” do not have to be disclosed on ingredient labels because of “proprietary secrets.” Many of these ingredients are carcinogenic, endocrine disruptors, and neurotoxic. Many air fresheners even cause respiratory ailments too!
    • Cleaning Supplies
      Cleaning supplies really anger me. Many of them are guilty of “Green Washing,” which is where they claim to be environmentally friendly and “nontoxic,” but they aren’t. Check out the EWG databases and see how your cleaning products measure up! It was a massive eye opener to me that products I grew up using was actually poisonous! Many cleaning products list “detergents,” but not which kind – which I find to be very misleading and dishonest. If people truly knew what was in their cleaners, popular companies would be out of business or executives jailed for false marketing and public endangerment! 
    • Personal Care Products
      You wash your hair, your body, your face, with the intention of cleaning. Surprisingly, if you get your personal care products from local department stores, like Walmart, Target… etc… chances are, they contain dangerous or potentially dangerous ingredients

      Disturbing fact: Since WWII, there have been over 80,000 new synthetic chemicals created. 10,500 of those are regularly used in the cosmetic and skincare industry. 10% of those have safety data available, not all have fully sufficient safety data. 1,500 have safety data that indicate they are toxic to humans.

      It only takes 22 seconds for your skin to absorb what you put on it. From there, it is absorbed into your blood stream. From the time you slather a lotion or cream on your skin, it takes less than a minute for the components to reach your brain. 

    We replaced: Window cleaner… kitchen cleaner… bathroom cleaner… floor cleaner… stove cleaner… oven cleaner… toilet cleaner… soft scrub… tub and shower cleaner… heavy duty cleaner… carpet cleaner… laundry detergent… laundry fabric softener… stain remover… dryer sheets..We don’t buy cleaners instead use products that are safe enough to eat. Yep. Vinegar and Baking soda take care of 99% of our cleaning needs.

    I threw out several shampoos and conditioners… deep conditioners… hair masks… hair spray… body wash… soap bars… liquid hand soaps (bye bye triclosan!)… lotions… face creams… deodorant… and a drawer full of makeup. We read labels closely and make as much of our own as we can. 

    At this point, we have completely eliminated our pharmaceuticals from the medicine cabinet.  We use essential oils, and herbs instead.

    We have shifted what we were once spending on synthetic drugs and man-made detergents and health and beauty products to natural alternatives.

    The girls are learning to make their own makeup and cleansers. We make toothpaste too.

    We purchase environmentally friendly dish and laundry soap but in a pinch washing the clothing and even the dishes with vinegar and warm water has been pretty successful too!

    We notice that costs are the same or less but we now have the peace of mind of knowing that we’re taking care of our bodies and the environment.

    What We’ve Found After a Year of Reduced Toxins

    So now that we’ve eliminated most of the toxins in our household what have we observed?  
    Less colds and when we get them, they are shorter duration than ever before.
    We are aware that we don’t sweat as much and don’t need antiperspirants;
    Less respiratory congestion; indigestion (bloating and gas), joint/body aches and pains eliminated; eliminated much of our skin issues, rashes, peeling nails, flaky and dry skin.

    Arguably some of these improvements could also be from the result of a mostly organic diet, increased multi-vitamins and ferments.
    One of the most recent noticeable changes has been attitude. Mood swings and impulse control have improve greatly. Our diet change has been solid for over a year and just recently we modified our detergents for laundry and clothing, we saw moods improve. I am amazed at how sensitive our household was to the residues of chemicals on our plates and our clothing. 

    How hard was it to change? 
     
    Not as disruptive to our busy lives as we expected.  We just kept at it and over a gradual process of months we were able to make the change-over. There were times I felt guilty after realizing I was exposing my kids to some pretty toxic stuff. But, I know better and do better. They are learning what a difference it has been in their lives and health and will be able to make better choices because they have seen how yucky their skin, hair and even mood was when we were surrounded by so much synthetic chemicals. 

    What have you done to reduce toxins? Do you have products that you specifically use and find effective for your family. Please share.