Healthy Child, Healthy World: Greening Our Children

By Leslie Blaustein, mother of Josh

Set among the trees and the babbling brooks at The Greenwich Hyatt, Mount Sinai’s Children’s Environmental Health Center held a conference on Monday, May 9, 2011, in effort to raise awareness and provide each of us with the necessary tools for protecting our children against environmental threats to their health. In a room filled with 800 concerned mothers, Dr. Phillip J. Landrigan illustrated why this is clearly a time of crisis. In his talk titled “Greening Our Children,” Dr. Landrigan pointed out that while rates of diseases in children are on the rise, companies are continuing to increase the number of chemicals used in children’s products, which are ultimately dispensed into our environment. Alarming facts, including chemicals showing up in mother’s breast milk, make it painfully clear that we need to take action to prevent diseases in our children ourselves in effort to save our planet.

Certainly BPA and phthalates are used in numerous plastic products that we use daily with our children. Moreover, DTHP is also found in plastic products and it lowers male’s testosterone levels and affects a developing fetus. Further, common products used daily, including hairspray and nail polish, contain DEHP and in extremely small doses it can be dangerous.

What can we do?

• Grow our own food (not necessarily realistic living in New York City)… or shop at places that offer organically grown food
• Use plastics that are not petroleum based and be wise with your use of plastics
• Increase your understanding of your home environment
• Avoid pesticides
• Use non- toxic products
• Clean up your indoor air… open a window!
• Eat healthy
• Take a moment to watch this short video at www.Awakeupstory.com

In closing, each of us can help by raising awareness personally and in your community. Encourage other family members and friends to TAKE ACTION!

Take a fresh approach when purchasing food for your family and shop healthy. You can even download mobile apps for your mobile device to help with your efforts in making healthy choices towards raising a healthy child. As a result of our efforts we will develop “greener children” and create a “greener environment.”

For additional resources visit www.healthychild.org and www.HealtheHome/WEBMD.

Fun photos from the event taken by Leslie: