HAZARDS OF COMMON TOXIC CHEMICALS

Children are particularly susceptible to pesticides in their environment. They can be exposed to pesticides in the food they eat and the water they drink. Pesticides are used on farms as well as in home lawn and garden care. Although they are designed to kill insects, weeds and fungi, many pesticides are toxic to the environment and to people, especially children. Too much exposure to pesticides can cause a wide range of health problems.

Washing all fruits and vegetables with water is one way to reduce pesticide exposure for your entire family. Also, using in-season produce can help as they are less likely to be heavily sprayed. Try buying foods that are grown without the use of chemical pesticides, too. In your own garden, use non-chemical pest control methods and if you must spray, keep children and pets away from the sprayed area until it has been watered several times. The most important thing you can do to protect your children is to keep all pesticides out of their reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.

Arts and crafts projects are a fun way for children to learn. However, some art supplies can cause health problems in children who use them. While older children can usually use these products safely, most younger children and some children with disabilities cannot. Harmful art supplies can include:

· Rubber cement

· Permanent felt-tip markers

· Pottery glazes

· Enamels

· Spray fixatives

· Prepackaged papier mache

To keep your arts and crafts projects safe and fun, use only “nontoxic” art supplies. Look for the ACMI “nontoxic” seal or other information on the label that says the product is safe for children. Always read and follow all instructions carefully and use products in a well-ventilated room.

Your drinking water also can bring in contaminants that could harm your child or other family members. Children drink 5 to 10 times more water for their size than adults. Most of this water is tap water. The quality of tap water in most areas is protected by law. Small water supplies, such as those from private wells in small trailer parks or seasonal holiday communities, are not protected by law.

Many people use bottled water because they think it is better than tap water. Some brands of bottled water are better than tap water. However, other brands of bottled water may only be tap water that is bottled and sold separately. Bottled water is much more expensive than tap water, but may be necessary in areas that have poor quality drinking water.

A number of possible contaminants in drinking water can make it unsafe, including:

· Germs

· Nitrates

· Heavy metals

· Man-made chemicals

· Radioactive particles

· By-products of the disinfecting process

Some of these contaminants are more likely to be found in surface water (water from lakes and rivers). Others are more likely to be found in ground water (water from wells and underground sources). Where you live and where your drinking water comes from have a lot to do with the kind of contaminants you need to be concerned about in your water.

The quality of water in the United States is among the best in the world, but problems do still occur. County health departments and state environmental agencies are the best sources of information about water quality in your community. You can contact them or your local water department to find out about the source of water in your community. If you are on a municipal water supply, the water company is required to tell you what is in the water. If your water is not regulated, have it tested yearly. Many states have laws that protect renters from water supplies that are not in good working order. If you have a well, make sure your water is tested yearly and that your pump is in good working order.

Always drink and cook with cold water to avoid contaminants that can build-up in hot water heaters. If you are not sure of your plumbing, run the water for two minutes each morning before using water for drinking or cooking. This flushes the pipes and reduces the chances of a contaminant getting into your water.

If you have well water and a baby younger than 1 year of age, have your water tested for nitrates before giving it to your baby. Breastfeeding, using ready-to-feed formulas, or using bottled water is wise until you know if your water is safe. If you think your water may be contaminated with germs, you can kill most of them by boiling the water and letting it cool before use. Do not boil water for longer than one minute. This can cause a buildup of chemicals that may be in the water. If you have questions, call your health department.