Author Archive
Posted August 15th, 2012 by Kristin Schafer
Teeth swiped from tooth fairies could provide important information about the link between chemicals and autism. Researchers are excited. We already know that timing is a critical piece of the autism/chemical connection. Scientists now say that by grinding up baby teeth, they can accurately measure not only what toxicants children have been exposed to, but [...]
Posted July 30th, 2012 by Kristin Schafer
Three cheers for sanity on Capitol Hill! For the first time in 36 years, lawmakers voted last Wednesday to strengthen the national law governing toxic chemicals. If it keeps moving and becomes law, the bill will tighten the rules governing those 84,000+ substances that make their way into our homes in everything from baby bottles [...]
Posted June 6th, 2012 by Kristin Schafer
There’s an interesting debate emerging in the public health world. It has to do with whether we need to rejigger our thinking about the risks pesticides and other chemicals pose to children’s health. Traditionally, we’ve had a “disease-oriented” approach, assessing risk based on the severity of a health outcome (think birth defects or cancer). But [...]
Posted May 16th, 2012 by Kristin Schafer
Part of my job at Pesticide Action Network is keeping track of the latest research about how pesticides are harming children’s health. This has kept me too busy of late, as studies seem to be coming fast and furious linking pesticides with childhood asthma, autism, birth defects, cancer and more. One recent study gave me [...]
Posted April 27th, 2012 by Kristin Schafer
If we set our minds to it, we can turn back the rising tide of autism. But it will take the courage to embrace the following common-sense goal, in both policy and practice: Expecting parents and young children should not take in chemical contaminants that are known to harm developing minds. This week, scientists released [...]
Posted April 24th, 2012 by Kristin Schafer
Last week was a busy one for Sofía Gatica. On Monday, she won the global Goldman Environmental Prize for her efforts to protect her children and neighbors from pesticides. On Wednesday, she asked President Obama to investigate Monsanto’s “pesticide poisonings and livelihood harms” in her community and beyond. It makes perfect sense. After all, both [...]
Posted April 16th, 2012 by Kristin Schafer
Hats off to this mother of three who got fed up and took charge. Thirteen years ago, Sofía Gatica’s newborn died of kidney failure after being exposed to pesticides in the womb. After the despair came anger, then a fierce determination to protect the children in her community and beyond. Today, she’s one of six [...]
Posted April 5th, 2012 by Kristin Schafer
It’s been the official mantra of pesticide companies for decades: “The dose makes the poison.” While it makes intuitive sense — you’d think that the more of chemical you’re exposed to, the sicker you’ll get — the science has, in fact, been saying otherwise for years. A team of 12 scientists recently released a report [...]
Posted March 21st, 2012 by Kristin Schafer
Today, a pesticide that scientists have called “one of the most toxic chemicals on earth” is being pulled out of strawberry fields and off the U.S. market altogether. I love good news. And this victory is a big one. It’s a win for kids living and going to school near strawberry fields. It’s a win [...]
Posted March 14th, 2012 by Kristin Schafer
In the past year, there have been a slew of studies showing that when a child is exposed to certain pesticides — whether before birth or while eating conventionally-grown food — his or her IQ may drop. Sometimes by several points. But what does this really mean? As a society, what might the impacts be? [...]
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