Environmental Leader

Over a year ago there was a huge uncovering of the harmful levels of lead in many toys throughout the world. This was mainly to poor practices of toys made in China and other Far East countries. After this information was made public, parents everywhere began switching to “made in USA” or wood toys. Although it was a good move for many, there is still a large culprit lurking beneath the surface; plastic. Almost every toy available on the market is made with cheap plastics that are full of harmful chemicals. Most of the bottles, nipples and other baby products share in this harmful saga.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), there are over 120 chemicals interested by children on a daily basis. Most of these toxic chemicals are either absorbed through the skin or mouth. Although this issue has been brought to the FDA’s attention many times, it still has not made any advancement in research or increased regulation.

There are currently no current restrictions on the various plastics used in everyday products marketed to children. These plastics that make up your everyday toys contain many harmful chemicals that are categorized as carcinogens, cancer causing chemicals. Many others contain phthalates (an additive to make plastic flexible and durable) which causes reproductive disorders in boys.

Babies and children alike are still developing at a much faster rate than an adult which leads to greater vulnerability and risk. An adult’s body is able to resist and overcome many of the toxic chemicals found in everyday plastic products, but a baby’s body is a blank canvas, open to everything it ingests. A child’s development can also be directly linked to the toxins in toys. Links have been made between colds, ear infections, allergies and behavioral changes and these harmful chemicals.

These toxins lead to greater danger in infants that are more prone to allergic reactions. The term “toxic overload” refers to the condition of the body when it is at its max capacity of fighting off toxins. Many children’s immune systems cannot regulate the various toxic chemicals (60 or more on a daily basis) and so the body goes into toxic shock. The body will shut down to protect itself and your little one would have to receive medical attention immediately.

To avoid these toxic chemicals, buy baby products that are solid wood or are clearly marked as “BPA free.” Purchasing 100% organic products is another way to ensure safety. When a products is 100% organic you can rest assured that it is natural and doesn’t contain any additives that have been manipulated by science.

Many parents blindly trust that just because a product was made for a baby it is safe. This assumption has lead to many issues plaguing our children today. Unfortunately, most of the major brands are more concerned about making money than your child’s safety. In this modern world you have to be an advocate for your children. Take the time to research and learn to ask the right questions before surrounding your baby with plastic products.

[Source: Toxins in Toys]

If you’ve been caught up in the controversy over bottled water vs tap water, I’m happy to tell you that the verdict is in. Unfortunately, neither side emerges as the winner. If you were hoping to make an informed decision between the two, I’m afraid you’re going to have to look for other solutions to your need for clean, safe drinking water. Let me explain.

The majority of our municipal water treatment systems continue to use outdated disinfection processes based upon chlorination. This process is inadequate when it comes to removing the extensive list of chemicals that wind up in our water supplies each year.

For example, the National Academy of Sciences points out that, “residues of 39 pesticides and their degradation products have been detected in the groundwater of 34 states.”

The National Resources Defense Council recently acknowledged this problem by stating, “Drinking water plants are old and out of date, and water supplies are increasingly threatened and contaminated by chemicals and micro-organisms.”

These contaminants cannot be removed by chlorination. They can only be removed by effective filtration technology. Updating our water treatment plants with this technology is an expense that most municipalities do not want to incur.

The issue of tap versus bottled water puts the spotlight on other problems. Medical experts have linked exposure to chlorine in tap water with an increase in cancer. The U.S. Council on Environmental Quality has expressed it concern by stating, “Cancer risk among people drinking chlorinated water is as much as 93% higher than among those whose water does not contain chlorine.”

Exposure to chlorine has also been found to trigger asthma.

But what when it comes to bottled water vs tap water, why isn’t bottled water a viable alternative?

Well, even though municipal water treatment systems are outdated, the federal government still requires them to meet certain safety standards. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the bottled water industry. There are no governmental standards that oversee the safety and purity of bottled water. These companies are under no obligation to provide water that is any safer than tap.

There are also serious environmental issues that cannot be overlooked when it comes to bottled water.

The pollution that is added to our planet from the production, transportation and disposal of the 60,000,000 plus plastic bottles rivals the worst chemical manufacturing plants.

As a result, cities across the country are taking steps to prevent this harmful environmental impact by enacting legislation that makes it illegal to spend city monies on bottled water. Chicago has levied a 5 cent per bottle tax to discourage the consumption of bottled water by its citizens.

But if there is no winner in the bottled water vs tap water contest, how can we protect ourselves from this serious public health risk?

Fortunately, modern technology has made it possible to have effective home water filtration systems easily installed in our homes. Affordable, convenient, easy-to-install and maintain home water treatment appliances continue to be at the top of many family’s “must have” lists.

While reverse osmosis and distillation remain popular, they have serious drawbacks when it comes to getting rid of certain chemicals and bacteria. I have found that the best of these water treatment systems are based upon multi-stage filtration.

This health-guarding technology has been designed to protect against the harmful effects of chemical contaminants, including chlorine, guard older plumbing from heavy metal leeching, and provide you and your family with a convenient source of healthy minerals.

Now that the issue of tap versus bottled water has been solved, why not take a minute or two to look into this exciting, yet simple solution to clean healthy water. It can be one of the most important steps you can take to avoid the risk of serious disease.

[Source: Bottled Water Vs Tap Water - The Verdict is In]