Green Parent Chicago

EarthTalk: Chlorine is in our tap water, but is it okay to drink?

Dear EarthTalk: I was wondering how toxic chlorine is, because my well water was just chlorinated yesterday and today the smell is still strong. I have a 4-year-old daughter and I’m concerned. -- Rose Smith, via e-mail

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), chlorine levels of four parts per million or below in drinking water—whether from a private well or municipal reservoir—are acceptable from a human health standpoint. Inexpensive home drinking water test kits (from $5 on up) that can detect levels of chlorine and other elements in water are widely available from online vendors. Administering the tests is easy and can provide parents with a way to involve kids in science for a practical purpose right at home.

Chlorine was first used in drinking water to reduce waterborne infectious diseases in Jersey City, New Jersey more than a century ago. It was so effective at destroying potentially harmful bacteria and viruses that the practice soon spread far and wide. Today some 98 percent of water treatment facilities in the U.S. use some form of chlorine to clean drinking water supplies. The American Water Works Association (AWWA), a trade group representing water utilities across the country, credits the presence of chlorine in drinking water with a 50 percent increase in life expectancy for Americans over the last century. Indeed, some consider the chlorination of drinking water to be one of history’s greatest public health achievements.

But others aren’t so sure that any chlorine in drinking water should be considered safe. Opponents of chlorination point to studies linking repeated exposure to trace amounts of chlorine in water with higher incidences of bladder, rectal and breast cancers. The problem lies in chlorine’s ability to interact with organic compounds in fresh water to create trihalomethanes (THMs), which when ingested can encourage the growth of free radicals that can destroy or damage vital cells in the body. Besides cancer, exposure to THMs has been linked to other health issues including asthma, eczema, heart disease and higher miscarriage and birth defect rates.

Those with their own private wells who are skittish about chlorine have other options for disinfecting their water. One baby step would be to replace chlorine with chloramine, an ammonia derivative that doesn’t dissipate into the environment as rapidly as chlorine and has a much lower tendency to interact in bad ways with organic compounds in the water. However, traces of chloramine in the water may not be to everyone’s liking either, because it causes rashes after showering in a small percentage of people and can apparently increase lead exposure in older homes as it leaches the heavy metal off old pipes.

Another option, though somewhat costly, would be to purchase a machine to purify the water. Ozonation units, which disinfect by adding ozone molecules to water and leave no residues, start at around $9,000. Another choice would be a UV light treatment machine—at $6,000 or more—which cancels out viruses and bacteria by passing the water through UV light rays. The Clean Water Store is a reputable vendor and good online source for such water treatment equipment.

Perhaps the most sensible and affordable approach is to filter the water at the faucets and taps. Carbon-based tap- or pitcher-mounted filters can work wonders in removing impurities from drinking water. They can even be installed on shower heads for those with sensitive skin.

-photo credit: iStockPhoto

CONTACTS: AWWA, www.awwa.org; The Clean Water Store, www.cleanwaterstore.com.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe. Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial. 

Book Review: Homemade Baby Food The Effortless Way

Parents of infants have an excellent opportunity to introduce healthy eating habits at an early age. By making your own baby food, instead of relying on jarred or boxed varieties, you don't have to doubt that what goes into your baby's tiny tummy is good, wholesome nutrition. 

"Real Smart Baby Food" (ReadFood Doctor Press 2013) is a new book by Lisa Barrangou Ph.D that features a simple method for making homemade baby food using a 3-step process.

Barrangou, a personal chef, has an extensive background in food science and nutrition. Her detailed writing style conveys this experience well. With brilliant full color high definition photographs and over 70 recipes for unique flavor combinations, the book's logical layout makes it an easy read.

The book is divided into 3 sections:

Section 1 provides recommended guidelines for when to begin feeding baby solid food and special consideration of safe food preparation for infants.

Section 2 introduces the "The Real Smart Strategy", which is the core method of making 3 months of homemade baby food in 3 one-hour blocks of time. This section also contains a handy "Flavor Compatibility Chart" with ideas for which fruits and vegetables compliment one another best. 

Section 3 lists recipes and ideas for combining puree recipes, as well as advice on shopping for and storing whole foods.

Bonus chapters include detailed information on nutrients and a handy conversion chart.

"Real Smart Baby Food" is a parent-friendly guide to making a 3 month supply of fresh, homemade baby food in 3 one-hour blocks of time.

Available in print and Kindle edition: http://realsmartbabyfood.com/

-Christine

-photo credit: Lisa Barrangou

 

Have you banned nasty PVC from your bathroom and kids' toys? Here's how you can keep it out of your child's school supplies, too.

Notebooks, binders, backpacks, lunchboxes, the list of school supplies seems to grow each year, as do the efforts of retailers to tap into the back-to-school market. But, how much of these everyday items that kids handle contain PVC or even lead? PVC or polyvinyl chloride is known as "the poison plastic" and for good reason. PVC/vinyl contains dangerous chemical additives like phthalates, lead, cadmium, and/or organotins (endocrine disrupters) which can be toxic to your child's health.

New lab tests commissioned by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) and the Empire State Consumer Project this year uncovered high levels of phthalates in common back to school products like backpacks, lunchboxes, and 3-ring binders, as well as common art supplies and even rain gear and apparel. 

According to researchers at CHEJ, "over 90% of all phthalates are used to soften vinyl products, and have been linked to asthma, learning disabilities, diabetes, and other chronic health problems on the rise. Congress has banned phthalates in children’s toys, yet they are widespread in these and other PVC back to school products."

Thankfully, CHEJ has just released their Back to School Guide for concerned parents, teachers and caregivers. This guide explains why we should limit kids' exposure to PVC and similar plastics. Most importantly, it provides an up to date list of brands, manufacturers and suppliers who make PVC-free school supplies and children's products. 

Read the full guide online and download it today. 

-Christine

-photo credit: EvelynGiggles, flickr

 

 

EarthTalk: Chemicals in Babies' Cord Blood?

Dear EarthTalk: A few years back a study found over 200 chemicals in the umbilical cords of newborns, particularly African American, Asian and Hispanic babies. What are the causes of this phenomenon and what can be done about it? -- Bettina Olsen, New York, NY

The study referenced found traces of some 232 synthetic chemicals in cord blood samples from 10 different babies of African American, Asian and Hispanic descent born in 2009 in different parts of the U.S. Study sponsors Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Rachel’s Network were looking to find out if the hormone-disrupting chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), a plasticizer widely used in food and drink storage containers, is present in the cord blood of minority babies in the U.S. Sadly and not surprisingly, BPA turned up in nine of the 10 cord blood samples tested. But perhaps even worse is the study’s detection of whole new raft of chemicals showing up in babies’ cord blood for the first time. Some of these newer offenders include tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) from computer circuit boards, synthetic fragrances used in common cosmetics and detergents and Teflon-relative perfluorobutanoic acid.

The 2009 study was a follow-up to an earlier analysis of chemicals in cord blood in the mainstream U.S. population during 2004 births. That earlier study found some 287 different industrial chemicals and pollutants in babies’ cord blood, although BPA was not yet on EWG’s watch list at the time. The more recent study focused on minority babies because minority communities in the U.S. tend to bear a disproportionate pollution burden given their closer proximity to busy roads, industrial sites and older housing. But EWG points out that they tested for chemicals that are likely found in virtually every American household, so none of us are immune to exposure. EWG hopes that by continuing to monitor the chemicals we are born with it can hold corporate polluters’ and government regulators’ feet to the fire in regard to waste outputs and pollution mitigation.

EWG did not look for chemicals associated with smoking or alcohol consumption on the part of mothers, instead focusing on contaminants from exposures to consumer products and commercial chemicals omnipresent on supermarket shelves. To EWG, the presence of these chemicals in umbilical cord blood represents “a significant failure on the part of the Congress and government agencies” charged with protecting human health. “Our results strongly suggest that the health of all children is threatened by trace amounts of hundreds of synthetic chemicals coursing through their bodies from the earliest stages of life.”

Part of the problem is outdated laws governing the handling and use of toxic chemicals. Currently 1976’s Toxic Substances Control Act is the law of the land in regard to controlling the distribution, use and disposal of toxic chemicals nationwide. But EWG and other groups complain that hundreds of thousands of new chemical formulations are unleashed on an unwitting public every year via America’s store shelves because the federal government assumes new products and ingredients to be innocent until proven guilty. These critics would like to see the federal government take a more proactive role in approving new substances for use in consumer products, not to mention residential and workplace environments.

On the legislative front, green groups are pinning their hopes for a reformed Toxic Substances Control Act on New Jersey Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg’s Safe Chemicals Act (S. 847), introduced last fall. The bill is currently spinning its wheels in committee hearings, but its 17 bi-partisan co-sponsors are optimistic that it will come up for a floor vote before the 112th Congress wraps up the end of this year.

CONTACT: EWG’s “Pollution in Minority Newborns,” www.ewg.org/minoritycordblood.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe. Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial. 

Little Locavores: Purple Asparagus, Purple Monkey and More Than Milk

A few months ago, a feature in Daily Candy caught my eye. It highlighted a new non-profit called More than Milk that organized opportunities for new moms to volunteer with their children. Founded by former teacher, Amy Cahill, More than Milk partners with a different non-profit 4 times a year. More than Milk highlights the partner organization in its newsletter and events. It also allows moms to volunteer with the featured non-profit by arranging for babysitters through Urban Sitter to watch the little ones.

Since July, Purple Asparagus has been the beneficiary of More than Milk's efforts. The moms accompanied me to Green City Market for our Club Sprouts session where we made Salad Cubed (Tomato, Peach, Cucumber Bread Salad). More recently, More than Milk organized a book signing and talk with Dr. Natalie Digate Muth, author of Eat Your Vegetables and Other Mistakes Parents Make at Purple Monkey Playroom.

 

After a great talk with Dr. Muth, the spotlight turned to us where we spoke about our own Delicious Nutritious Adventures and made Yogurt Parfaits with our little patrons.

Granola

 Makes 4 ½ cups

3 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 tablespoon flax seeds

¼ cup maple syrup or more to taste

¼ cup canola oil

½ cup sunflower seeds

½ teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ cup dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 350° F.  In a large bowl, mix together the first eight ingredients.  Spread out the mixture onto a non-stick pan.  Bake for 45 minutes or until light brown. Let cool and then stir in the cranberries. Scoop into an airtight container. The granola will keep for a few weeks.

Perfect Parfait

Makes 4

2 cups of plain low fat yogurt

¼ cup strawberry jam

¾ cup granola

1 cup mixed fruit like raspberries, bananas, blueberries, bananas

Stir together the yogurt and jam in a medium bowl. Divide the yogurt evening into 4 pretty glasses. Top with fresh fruit and granola. Enjoy.

Photography Credit, TK Photography

--Melissa Graham is a former attorney, chef, and, head spear of award-winningPurple Asparagus, trying to live sustainably in Chicago.

Baking in the Sun? Check out EWG's Skin Deep® Hall of Shame | 2012 Sunscreen Report

   

If you live in the U.S. you've probably seen your share of sun for the entire summer, with the heat and sun we're experiencing.

If you're stocking up on sunscreen for your daily outings, there's a quick way to find out how to decrease any toxic chemical exposure on your skin or your child's skin from sunblocks and sunscreens that are currently marketed as safe:

Read the Environmental Working Group's annual report on safe and unsafe sunblocks and sunscreens.

Top offenders include some of the most popular and well known children's sunblocks from Coppertone and Banana Boat. Why? These can contain the chemical oxybenzone, a hormone disruptor. 

Other ones to avoid include: those that contain "retinyl palmitate" or Vitamin A. But, isn't Vitamin A supposed to be good for us? Depends on where it's going, according to researchers at EWG. 

"Foods rich in vitamin A are good for the body. But applied to sun-exposed skin, this common sunscreen additive may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions, according to government studies. Why is vitamin A (shown as “retinyl palmitate” or “retinol palmitate” on labels) allowed in sunscreens made for use in the sun? Good question."

In addition, avoid powder sunblocks and sprays (both could be inhaled easily during application). 

See more quick tips from EWG and download their full report here.

-photo credit: Wikipedia

Little Locavores: Supermoms Against Superbugs

Greetings everyone,

Two years ago, I wrote about the clear and present danger presented by the over use of antibiotics in the livestock industry in The Morality of Meat. Children dead within days of being exposed to Methicillin Resistant Staph (or MRSA), the development of superbugs resistant to our antibiotics - it scares the shit out of me.

Despite all the attention to childhood obesity, I firmly believe that this is the number one public health crisis in America. We need to change the hearts and minds of our government and our populace, to demonstrate the importance of keeping our antibiotics safe and effective for our children when they need them.

Because of my advocacy in this area, I was selected to be a “Supermom” for an event called Supermoms Against Superbugs. Today, Thor, Mike, my mom and I travel to DC to participate tomorrow in a day of advocacy in Washington, D.C. We will celebrate and unite moms and dads across America to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics for their children and families.

Organized by The Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming, in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics, our goal is to encourage the White House and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reduce antibiotic overuse in food animal production—a practice that breeds drug-resistant bacteria that can make us sick.

I will be joined by chefs, pediatricians, farmers, and everyday moms who have a particular interest in this issue.  Some raise food animals without the routine use of antibiotics, some serve meats raised without antibiotics in their restaurants and homes, some work on the frontlines treating a growing number of children with antibiotic-resistant infections, and some have personal stories to share about how antibiotic resistance has impacted their lives.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY WITH ME!

 I hope you will join me by participating virtually! No planes, trains, or automobiles required, just a computer with an Internet connection, a smart phone, or a tablet.

Here are some things you can do:

·Visit Supermoms Against Superbugsto learn more about the event, including bios on all of the Supermoms and a list of virtual actions you can take on May 15.

-Take action NOW and urge FDA to strengthen measures to end overuse of antibiotics on industrial farms.

-Follow us on Facebook and Twitter as we prepare for our trip and take Washington by storm!

Thank you for your support!

-Melissa Graham is a former attorney, chef, and, head spear of award-winning Purple Asparagus, trying to live sustainably in Chicago.

Book Review and Interview: "Vegan is Love" the newest children's book from Ruby Roth

Author/illustrator Ruby Roth's newly released children's book, "Vegan is Love", has drawn plenty of praise from notable figures such as Jane Goodall, Gene Baur and singer Jason Mraz. Building on the success of her first book, "That's Why We Don't Eat Animals", Roth offers a more detailed description of vegan living in "Vegan is Love", complete with information for children to make cruelty-free choices at home, in school and in their communities.

Some critics of Roth's book say it is inappropriate for children because of its subject matter and the book's references to animal testing, factory farm pollution, and animal cruelty. Roth has been making the rounds on the air addressing the media "controversy". This past week, I talked with her about what parents can expect from the book and how she developed its intriguing illustrations.

With "Vegan is Love" you've gone more in depth on vegan life choices that children can make, from simply focusing on eating a vegan diet in "That's Why We Don't Eat Animals" (published in 2009) to making a choice to avoid zoos, circuses that use animals, choosing cruelty-free products, etc. When did you decide to take this message further and what age range do you believe the book is best suited for?

The official age is seven and up, but I believe that children even younger can relate to the illustrations. Where my first book was about the “why’s” of a plant-based lifestyle, “Vegan Is Love” is about the “hows”—how to send our love across the world through the choices we make everyday. This book discusses the far-reaching impact of veganism. I wrote it because America has had a very hard time in the last couple of years. Instead of worrying or “occupying,” I decided to write this book for a new generation of children who will have to think, eat, and live differently if we are to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues.

Are children ready to handle the responsibility of making the consumer choices you describe? Some reviewers say that the subject matter may be too "controversial"? What is your take on this?

 There is nothing more graphic in my book than what any child might see in a deli case or on the myriad fishing, hunting, or cooking shows on TV. I think it’s never too early to begin teaching your kids how to love deeply, think critically, and act responsibly. We do not give kids enough credit for their insight and ability to make inferences and draw conclusions. When we give kids the information they need to make educated choices, they choose wisely—for health, animals, and the environment. For example, if children are educated about animal testing, they are excited to help their parents look for cruelty-free logos at the grocery store. The PG versions of reality in my book are a child-friendly way to begin discussions.

Your newest book is quite an empowering guide for young people, have you received any notable letters of admiration or support from young fans of your books?

Absolutely! Parents around the world send me news about their children’s thoughts and reactions to my books as well as the “controversy” in the media—the notes are always hilarious and insightful. In response to the negative critique of “Vegan is Love” by a child psychologist on FOX, one mother told me her young vegan daughter said “Why is that expert so ignorant?” I also have letters about the activism my book inspired—children doing presentations, science projects, and placing signs in their neighborhood about the benefits of veganism. Kids feel empowered by information.

The subject matter of "Vegan is Love" is serious, but needn't be frightening to children who are ready to comprehend it. What were the biggest challenges you faced when creating the illustrations for the book? What was your creative process like when deciding on the look and feel of the book?

Thank you, I’ve never once seen a child overwhelmed by my books—only adults. The purpose of the text and illustrations is not to instill fear but inspire action. The animal testing spread, for example, shows only the most minor slice of the reality inside labs. To kids, the illustration appears simply as animals in cages, some with “ouchies.” Children don’t have the context that adults do when we look at an image like this, which reminds of us exposed organs, syringes, restraints. I made sure every page was manageable for a child’s capacity and contained an affirmation about action. The most important lesson for kids to learn is that we don’t have to fear anything we have the power to change.

For more information on Ruby Roth's books visit http://www.wedonteatanimals.com/

-Christine

The Green Stork Recommends: Door to Door Organics

Any mum who has ever been to Whole Foods knows how @#$%^&* expensive organic produce is. Any mum who has male children knows that they eat their weight in food. Often several times a day, alas. And any mum who has looked into finding a local co-op, knows that they generally require “pick up” at the local Farmers Market – which sounds convenient – until you think of loading up two children into the car, parking, schlepping and unpredictable weather. So. What is a mum who needs organic food, but would also like to have enough shekels to send her children to uni, to do?

Well boys and girls – if you live in Chicago, you need only call Door to Door Organics. For $40 a week you will receive enough produce to ensure that your two hungry boys will have fruit and veg at each meal. If both parents are also fruit/veg eaters – you may want two boxes – which is still less cash a week than you probably spend on one Whole Foods run.

Door to Door Organics delivers to your very own casa, come rain or shine – which I think is just genius. It doesn’t get any easier than this mama – or any less expensive.

I am only just subscribing this week – so I will update you as to possible savings.

And remember – the more we support local organic farmers – the healthier our land, air, water and children will be. Make Monsanto angry. Join a co-op today.

-"The Green Stork" Claire Douglass is a Chicago mum of two sons and heirs (one her pride, the other her joy), concerned with ever increasing data connecting childhood health issues, from asthma to autism, to exposure to common household toxins, chemicals and air quality – seeks to detoxify her nest and create as green and still beautiful a childhood as possible. Without driving herself, or her loved ones, crazy. The former is going far better than the latter.

 

EarthTalk: Safe Alternatives to Artificial Food Colorings and Dyes

Dear EarthTalk: Ever since the red dye #2 scare in the 1970s I’ve been wary of using food colorings or buying food that appears to contain them. Are there natural and healthy food colorings? -- Nancy McFarlane, Methuen, MA

Many of us are still wary of food dyes because of reports about links between red dye #2 and cancer in the 1970s. While red dye #2 was subsequently banned from products sold in the United States, many health-conscious consumers continue to avoid foods with other artificial colors or dyes—even though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still considers them safe for human consumption.

But a 2010 analysis of past research on links between food dyes and health by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) found compelling evidence that ingestion of artificial dyes can contribute to hyperactivity, restlessness and attention problems in some children—particularly those with ADHD. “What’s more, the studies suggested that removing dyes from those children’s diet was a quarter to half as effective in reducing those symptoms as giving the kids Ritalin or other stimulants,” reports Nancy Cordes, CBS News’ Consumer Safety Correspondent. “In other words, certain kids with ADHD might not need drugs if the artificial dyes were removed from their diets.” Several commonly used artificial food dyes are suspected carcinogens as well.

While it might be impossible to prevent your children from eating anything with artificial dye, you can do your part by shopping at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s—both chains have banned products that use artificial dyes and carry all-natural food coloring for home cooking and baking projects.

One brand to look for is India Tree, which makes a line of food coloring derived from vegetable colorants. The company’s “Nature’s Colors Natural Decorating Colors” contain no corn syrup or synthetic dyes, and are highly recommended for coloring icing in rich jewel tones or soft pastels.

Another company specializing in natural (as well as organic) food colors is Nature’s Flavors, whose products are widely used commercially in ice cream, baked goods, frosting, dairy products, syrups, sauces, beverages and even hair colors. The company recently began to sell their products to consumers, as well, through retail stores. They use a variety of plant materials, including beets, turmeric root, annatto seeds, purple carrot, purple cabbage, gardenia flowers, hibiscus flowers and grape skin. “Our natural food colors are made from plants and contain powerful antioxidants, which help the body repair itself from the effects of oxidation,” claims Nature’s Flavors. “Using natural or organic food colors may actually help the brain and slow down the effects of aging.”

Another leading maker of all-natural food coloring is Chefmaster, whose products can be found at Whole Foods and other natural and high end food retailers, as well as on amazon.com and elsewhere online.

CSPI would like the FDA to ban eight of the most common artificial dyes, or at least affix a warning label to products that contain them: “Warning: The artificial coloring in this food causes hyperactivity and behavioral problems in some children.” In the meantime, concerned eaters should stick with products, stores and restaurants that use natural ingredients.

CONTACTS: India Tree, www.indiatree.com; Nature’s Flavors, www.naturesflavors.com; CSPI’s “Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks,” www.cspinet.org/new/pdf/food-dyes-rainbow-of-risks.pdf.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E -The Environmental Magazine ( www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe. Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.

-photo credit: Hemera Collection