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Toxic chemicals are everywhere. As parents most of us do our best to keep our kids safe, but unfortunately it’s not always easy or within our control. Our kids are exposed to toxic chemicals on a daily basis through a variety of consumer products found in our homes. This is unacceptable. If you’ve been a Groovy Green Livin follower for a bit you know that this is an issue I care about and I write about often.
Stand up for kids not toxic chemicals
[2]Today I’m joining forces with Safer Chemicals Healthy Families and people across the country to ask our Congressional candidates to stand up for kids NOT Big Chemical! Toxic chemicals are found in so many consumer products that are in our homes-toys, lunch boxes [3], even Halloween costumes. Through these products and many others kids and their families are exposed to toxic chemicals like lead, pthalates, cadmium, and formaldehyde. Studies have shown a direct link between toxic chemicals and childhood cancer [4], early puberty, infertility and learning and developmental disabilities. This can’t go on.
Girls and boys starting puberty much earlier than before
We already know that girls are maturing at a younger age, with many starting to develop breasts as early as age 7 or 8. Just this week research was released [5] showing American boys are showing signs of starting puberty six months to two years earlier than they did 30 to 40 years ago.
Today people across the country will be contacting their Congressional candidates to ask them to stand up for the Safer Chemicals agenda. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican, Democrat or undecided-this issue affects all of us!
Healthy Families Day of Action: Here’s how you can help
- Ask all candidates to stand up for the Safe Chemicals Act [6] and say NO to Big Chemical by signing this letter.
- Write a letter to the editor to your local newspaper calling on all candidates to support protections from toxic chemicals. Tips for writing a letter can be found here.
- Share Safer Chemical Healthy Families action materials via social media. Head over to their Facebook [7] page or find them on Twitter [8] and share our action links and images that state “I stand with kids, not Big Chemical!”
As parents it’s our responsibility to advocate for our children since they don’t have a voice. We have a voice [9] – it’s a collective voice that can be used in a very powerful way to effectuate change. Remember that any small action you make can and will make a difference.
Will you join me in this Healthy Families Day of Action? I’m hoping you will!
photo credit: Julie70 [10] via photopin [11] cc [12]