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While environmental toxins are a concern for all of us, babies, toddlers and children are especially vulnerable to the damaging effects. As parents, we don’t always know when things in our everyday environment may expose our kids to potential harm. Photo Credit: Prospectpark.org The Coop’s Environmental Committee has compiled the information below to help you protect your family’s health. Protecting kids from sunburn is really important but choose sunscreens without oxybenzone or retinyl palmitate. The first gets into the bloodstream and acts like estrogen in the body; the latter promotes skin tumors. Sunscreens with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide are considered safe. >> Sun Screen Guide The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that children are uniquely susceptibility to pesticides’ toxicity . If you cannot buy all-organic produce, consult the EWG’s “ dirty dozen ” and “ c lean 15 ” lists , which are revised every year, to make smart choices about which kinds of produce are ...

Insects are, for the most part, an important part of our ecosystem. Many of us prefer that they stay in the outdoor ecosystem rather than in our homes. Small spiders and ladybugs can easily be scooped up on a piece of paper and returned to the outside world where they and you will be happier. Other kinds of insects, like bedbugs and roaches, have a less clear role in the outside ecosystem and when discovered indoors need to be removed ASAP. Beyond Pesticides has advice about the least toxic pesticide options. Ants, for example, plague many Brooklynites during the summer months. Beyond Pesticides has a factsheet to help you cope. There is helpful information about bedbugs as well. The Food Coop carries food grade diatomaceous earth , a safer alternative to tackle and prevent a number of indoor insects.

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature&#8212 the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” &#8212 Rachel Carson Rachel Carson was born May 27, 1907 and died on April 14, 1964&#8212 at age 57&#8212 of breast cancer. She wrote Silent Spring , credited with starting the current environmental movement. Ms. Carson was alarmed by the hundreds of new chemicals, particularly synthetic pesticides, that were being introduced into the environment each year. The effects of these chemicals on human health and the environment was not known, but even in the course of her lifetime, Ms. Carson observed the "silencing" of spring&#8212fewer birds, bees, butterflies and other life. She was villified by chemical manufacturers, not accustomed to being challenged, especially by a woman. She continued to ...