It’s International Women’s Day 2011!

Posted on by October 15, 2012

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th every year as a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. It is also an opportunity to come together to effect meaningful change. This is International Women’s Day’s centennial celebration.

The last 100 years have seen some significant and important changes for women, women’s equality and opportunities. But we are not there yet. In different parts of the world, women have different obstacles to overcome, different goals to increase women’s equality, and different opinions on what that should look like.

Feminist Suffrage Parade in New York City, 1912I find it incredibly interesting that 27 countries have declared International Women’s Day an official holiday. The United States and Canada are not among them. Do women here have more equality and opportunities than women did 100 years ago? Absolutely. But again, we are not there yet. Are women’s lives around the world better than they were 100 years ago? Without doubt. But we are far from acceptable in many areas of the globe and only slightly better in others.

International Women's DayWorldwide:

There is one single factor that will eliminate what you see above. Education. Education for girls is the single most effective method to change the world.

Girl Reading Aloud, Zambiaphoto credit:Room to Read

Studies and field work demonstrate time after time that educating girls and educated women will:

  • increase economic growth and productivity.
  • overcome cyclical poverty.
  • improve nutrition and promote health.
  • be three times less likely to contract HIV/AIDS in Africa.
  • be more empowered in their homes and in their broader society.
  • have fewer and healthier children who are 40% more likely to survive past the age of 5.
  • be more likely to educate their own children.

If you remember only one thing, remember this one simple truth: women’s empowerment through education is directly linked to security, economic growth and success, effective governance, and social development around the world.

I am powerful

I feel extremely lucky that I live where it is a given that my daughter will be well-educated. I am not satisfied with that for her, probably because of my own education. We always want better for our children, right? Believe in better…

  • This generation may be the first in U.S. history to be less educated than the one before it. Girls and boys.
  • The number of women in the U.S. Congress dropped for the first time in 32 years, with women currently holding only 16.4% of the 535 seats.
  • The median weekly earnings of women who were full-time wage and salary workers was $657, or 80 percent of men’s $819.
  • Currently, women account for nearly half of the nation’s overall workforce, but hold only 6 percent of corporate CEO and high-level executive roles.

I spent the night with women in my community talking about the importance of getting more women, more mothers, involved in the education of children in this state. Letting our voices be heard as parents, as representatives, to effect meaningful change that benefits our children and will then benefit us all. I am lucky that this is a possibility for me. I am lucky that there are women in this community ready to make a difference.

CARE: Let's build a better world for women and childrenphoto credit:CARE

But I am not letting us off the hook to support education in the rest of the world. Again, educating girls benefits them now, benefits them as they become adults, and benefits us all as that education continues through the generations. I will stay involved and expect more to get involved. Our work has only begun. Where might we be in another 100 years?

What are you going to do today to support women on International Women’s Day?

 

Tuesday Top Two: two surprising sources of BPA

Posted on by March 27, 2014

BPA (Bisphenol-A) is one of the most prevalent endocrine disruptors that we are exposed to in our every day lives. Most people have heard that BPA is in plastic food packaging, water and baby bottles, but some other sources are less known. These surprising ways we are exposed to BPA may possibly be the worst because we don’t yet know to avoid them.

Education is the most important thing we can do for ourselves and our children in the fight to reduce toxic chemical exposures. We may not be able to protect ourselves from everything, but we can take simple steps minimize our exposure to BPA when we just know how.

photo credit:Alliance for Natural Health USA

1. Thermal Paper Receipts

BPA is not found in all receipts. BPA is not inherent in the paper, but is often used in the thermal paper receipts as a color developer. You might get these receipts at major retailers, grocery stores, ATM machines, fast-food restaurants, and more. The main problem with the BPA on these receipts is that it is “free BPA” meaning it isn’t chemically bound to anything like in polycarbonate and so easily rubs off on the skin and can be easily absorbed through the skin or when fingers touch food or the mouth.

The amount of BPA, by mass, on these receipts is 250 to 1,000 times greater than the amount of BPA typically found in a can of food. How many times have you given your child the receipt to hold when leaving Costco so they can get the smiley face drawn on it when leaving? When I think of how often we, and our children, are handling these types of receipts… I can’t even finish that thought. But there are some easy ways to avoid BPA in paper receipts.

Tips to reduce exposure to BPA in receipts (many from EWG):

  • Minimize receipt collection by declining receipts at gas pumps, ATMs and other machines when possible.
  • Store receipts separately in an envelope in a wallet or purse.
  • Never give a child a receipt to hold or play with.
  • After handling a receipt, wash hands, especially before preparing and eating food (a universally recommended practice even for those who have not handled receipts).
  • Do not use alcohol-based hand cleaners after handling receipts. A recent study showed that these products can increase the skin’s BPA absorption (Biedermann 2010).
  • Take advantage of store services that email or archive paperless purchase records.
  • Do not recycle receipts and other thermal paper. BPA residues from receipts will contaminate recycled paper.
  • If you are unsure, check whether paper is thermally treated by rubbing it with a coin. Thermal paper discolors with the friction; conventional paper does not.
  • Recently, the largest manufacturer of thermal paper has made it easier to see when the paper is BPA-free by adding small red fibers in the paper.
  • Contact your favorite retailers and let them know you don’t want BPA-laden receipts. Some that do are McDonald’s, CVS, KFC, Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, Safeway. Be sure to let them know there are BPA-free alternatives.
  • Contact your favorite retailers that choose BPA-free receipts or paper-free choices and let them know your appreciation! Some that use BPA-free receipts are Target and Starbucks.

toilet paperphoto credit:flickr

2. Recycled Paper Products.

There have been particular studies done on toilet paper made from recycled paper due to an examination of the BPA that was being found in wastewater streams. The study found that toilet paper was the reason for the accumulation of BPA in the water and that the amount was so large that the recommendation was to not allow recycled paper products to be mixed with biological waste to produce organic fertilizer. This concerns me. Other studies indicate that the recycling process can release BPA directly to surface water. This deeply concerns me.

I don’t believe that the process to recycle paper is inherently flawed, especially since the sources of the BPA contamination are largely from the BPA-tainted receipts (see above). The answer could be as simple as avoiding recycling the sources of BPA into our recycled paper products, but I fear it is much more complex than that. I still believe in recycled paper, but we need to have all the information in order to make educated choices. Other recycled paper products include: food containers, paper towels, computer paper, pizza boxes, cups, napkins, coffee filters, and more.

Tips to reduce exposure to BPA in recycled paper products:

  • Reduce consumption of all paper products whenever possible.
  • Ditch the disposables whenever possible: cloth toilet wipes (or try a bidet!), cloth baby and toddler wipes, cloth un-paper towels, menstrual products, use non-wood paper alternatives (like hemp or banana paper, Elephant Poo, or handmade paper from natural fibers).
  • Use (and bring) your own food and drink containers when going to restaurants, getting take-out, or for use when out and about.
  • Choose paperless billing.
  • Do not print emails and other forms that can be submitted online.
  • Don’t recycle receipts or other thermal paper (see above).
  • Ask manufacturers and retailers about any recycled paper products they use so you can choose how to handle them (or not).
  • Most importantly to me, is to reduce children’s exposure to the BPA in these products. They are much more vulnerable and stand a much greater chance of avoiding the adverse health effects if we can limit their exposure than adults who have accumulated a lifetime of toxic body burden.
  • Contact local recycling programs and legislators about removing BPA-tainted thermal paper from the paper recycling process. Then take it a step farther and work to reduce the use of BPA-tainted thermal paper at all.

Fear

I was told recently by a commenter that she cannot live in fear all the time from these things. I wholeheartedly agree. The whole point of my blog is “Exploring how to improve and protect the health of our children and their world through living, learning, and parenting…”. There is no room for fear here. There is education and there are choices. There are also environmental causes for many of the health problems we are seeing in modern society.

I don’t believe that parents should have to spend hours researching safer choices because it is never clear what is safe and what is not right on the package. We should be able to buy products that are safe for ourselves and our children. If they are not, we should at least be aware enough to make the decision to go ahead and buy them, or not.

A good friend of mine also told me today after much discussion recently about endocrine disruptors and other things, “How can I accept that the entire structure of our society is fatally flawed without also acknowledging that my whole way of life is unacceptable?”

The only thing I could tell her, and what I would impart to anyone new reading here is, “To its core, I think that because you ARE willing to learn more, do better, and realize you aren’t perfect within our societal system as it is now, you can accept it with the condition that you DO expect more from yourself and others. That is without stress and pressure, or undue judgment, but simply as it is. That is how I get through it anyway.”

I don’t give up because it is hard, because the information is scary, because the potential for harm from toxic chemicals being produced without adequate safety measures is great… I don’t give up.

How do you get through this information? Are you one to simply say that everything must be toxic then and there is nothing we can do about it? Are you one to take action? Are you one to learn more and share with others?

Endocrine Disruptors, Why Should We Care?

Posted on by April 13, 2016

Endocrine disruptors (hormone disruptors), like BPA, have been in the news a lot lately and for good reason.

Endocrine disruption is one of those things that can be incredibly difficult to convince people of its potentially devastating health effects, particularly for our children. The research can be hard to navigate. There is proven correlation but not necessarily causation, and the consequences of exposure to endocrine disruptors occur years later, as in the case of DES (Diethylstilbestrol). All of this makes it so easy to either dismiss the concerns about endocrine disruptors or to remain in denial.

This is a huge mistake.

So, what exactly is the endocrine system and how does endocrine disruption look?

Endocrine System

Endocrine System

The endocrine system is a collection of glands (which you can see above) that secrete hormones and receptors that react to those hormones. It controls basic body functions such as metabolism, growth and sexual development. In other words, it is incredibly important.

Endocrine disruptors interfere with the body’s endocrine system They can, and do, produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects.

Our simple understanding is that endocrine disruptors are linked to:

  • reduced fertility
  • endometriosis
  • reproductive cancers (breast, endometrial, testicular, prostate, ovarian)
  • abnormalities in male reproductive organs (cryptorchidism and hypospadias)
  • structural damage in brain
  • hyperactivity
  • early puberty
  • miscarriage
  • sex ratios (the number of live male births divided by the total number of births for a given period)
  • thyroid disorders

However, the research is behind in defining what endocrine disruption can cause, especially depending on the age at which exposure occurs. If exposure (even low-level exposure) occurs in-utero the effects can damage any of our biological systems. The new push in research is to understand how early exposure impacts all developing systems.

This could be incredibly exciting in many ways. The problem is that our children do not have the time to wait for the research.

Think of how many friends or family members you might have that have suffered from one of the above-mentioned health problems. Or even yourself.

“To date, no chemical in use has been thoroughly tested for its endocrine disrupting effects. Traditional toxicological testing protocols were not designed to test for endocrine disruption and to test at ambient or low exposure levels.”

This fact amazes me. It amazes me that this is possible and has so far been simply accepted.

What are the sources of endocrine disruption?

This is the biggest part of the problem. We encounter them every day. The most common endocrine disruptors:

  • Food and water. Pesticides are the single largest source of endocrine disruptors found in our bodies. Pesticides have been designed to disrupt biological systems. They are then running into our water sources, contaminating the food we eat, and remaining in the soil to cause more damage. DDT is perhaps the most infamous.
  • BPA (Bisphenol-A). BPA has been in the news and on legislator’s desks lately, and for good reason. BPA is found in many plastic baby bottles and sippy cups, plastic water bottles, other plastic food containers, thermal paper receipts, soda cans, and canned foods. BPA can leach from these containers into the food or water, especially when heated.
  • PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). PVC is a cheap, pliable plastic found in numerous things such as, shower curtains, toys, building materials, food packaging, and more. PVC is considered the most toxic plastic from both an environmental and a health standpoint. It is harmful to the workers that produce it and the people, particularly children, who are exposed to it.
  • Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDEs are flame retardants used in carpets, bedding, clothing, mattresses. They are related to Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which have been banned worldwide for 30 years due to their undeniable harmful health effects on people, yet are still prevalent in most American’s bodies because we are still consuming food (seafood and dairy in particular) that is laden with the toxic chemical.
  • Phthalates. Typically found alongside PVC in toys, shower curtains, and food containers, phthalates are another prevalent source of endocrine disruption. They also are often found in personal care products listed as in the ingredients as fragrance or phthalate, as well as DEP, DEHP, dibutyl, or diethylhexyl.
  • Triclosan. Triclosan is an antibacterial pesticide found in dishwashing liquid, liquid hand soaps, hand sanitizers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toys, and diaper changing pads to name just a few. Anything labeled antibacterial will likely contain triclosan. The good news for consumers is there are lots of safer, and equally effective, products to choose from that don’t cause an increased risk of cancer, asthma, and birth defects.

If you have 20 minutes, it would be well worth your time to go watch the incredibly moving video, “10 Americans,” about the toxic burden we are placing on our children.

That video illustrates the single reason I do what I do. It is our responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Babies are being born with an incredible amount of toxic chemicals already in their tiny bodies. Babies and young children are much more vulnerable to the things we are all exposed to every day, with potentially much more severe consequences to their health. This should not be acceptable to anyone.

So, the question becomes… What can we do?

Individually we can try to limit our exposure the best we can:

  • Buy and eat organic produce. Particularly those that are likely to have higher levels of pesticide and herbicide residue. Buying local and in season is always beneficial as well.
  • Avoid using pesticides in your own yard and garden.
  • Use greener household cleaners. Using ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, castile soap, and maybe some essential oil is all you really need to make your own cleaners. Or look for brands that contain fewer toxic chemicals.
  • Choose safer personal care products. The Cosmetics Database is a great place to start when researching safer products for you and your children. Read labels and understand ingredients.
  • Avoid canned foods, plastic wrap, and plastic food or beverage containers. All canned foods, with the one exception of Eden Organic beans, are lined with BPA. Many plastic water bottles (both reusable and single-use), sippy cups, plastic food containers are made with BPA. Look for BPA-free, or better yet, avoid the plastic altogether. And please, do not heat plastic containers!
  • Remove and avoid soft plastic teethers and toys. These leach endocrine disrupting chemicals, often directly into their mouths.
  • Take care when eating fish. You can check with your state to see if fish from local rivers, lakes, and bays are contaminated. Freshwater and farmed fish are often highly contaminated.
  • Avoid sunscreen with oxybenzone. Oxybenzone is easily absorbed through the skin and is another endocrine disruptor.

As a society, we can do better.

What changes are you willing to make to reduce your (and your children’s) exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals?

Does it seem too overwhelming? Too difficult? Unnecessary?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Happy New Year 2011!

Posted on by May 21, 2011

Happy New Year

(photo credit: flickr)

“Keep on beginning and failing. Each time you fail, start all over again, and you will grow stronger until you have accomplished a purpose – not the one you began with perhaps, but one you’ll be glad to remember.” ~ Anne Sullivan

There is too much emphasis on the new year and resolutions, yet there is value in beginning new, starting fresh, aspiring to lofty goals and creating change. There are lessons to be learned in all the beginnings and the many subsequent failings. To get back up and start again and again is, at the least, a practice in patience.

I am loving the idea of a word for the year. One word that encompasses what 2011 should be for you in all its highs and lows. One word that represents your hopes and dreams and will lift you up when you fall. One word.

My word for 2011 is b r e a t h e.

It’s the warm air coming off a calm ocean that makes me want to take a deep breath to take in all of the smells, sounds and texture it brings with it. It’s what grounds me before heading out into the world. It’s what will get me through all my beginnings and failings. I am going to follow my breath wherever it takes me. I am going to just breathe.

What will yours be?

And what does it mean to you?