I remember very clearly the day I first learned that the vast majority of chemicals used in consumer products are unregulated by the government. Until that point I believed (as many people mistakenly do) that if I could buy it in a store it must have passed safety testing. Boy was I wrong. Out of [...]
This past President’ Day my oldest child turned 18 and instead of celebrating his young adulthood with him, I was across the country standing on the National Mall with more than 40,000 strangers. While I may sound like an uncaring mom, the opposite is true. I’d gone to Washington DC precisely because I care [...]
A new report from Women’s Voices for the Earth, Secret Scents: How Hidden Fragrance Allergens Harm Public Health, finds that millions of people are affected by skin allergies caused by chemicals in fragrance. In fact, allergic reactions to fragrance chemicals are common, and have increased significantly among children in the past few decades. Women are [...]
Before my days as the “crazy chemical lady,” I figured that most things sold for use by children are tested for safety in all areas. As long as I steered clear of cheaply made Dollar Store finds I could sleep at night knowing that my kids were not being exposed to hazards such as lead, cadmium, and other carcinogenic materials. I was wrong.
History will almost certainly mark the 2012 election as a turning point after which the Latino vote was one of the most powerful forces shaping the nation’s political landscape. With an average of 878,000 Latino citizen children reaching voting age every year for the next two decades, future candidates and policymakers ignore the priorities of [...]
In 2011, I taught two summer courses, directed a federal budget research organization and paid taxes. Taxes are the dues I pay for living in a democracy. Like you, I contribute at the local, state, and federal levels. I want us to fall a little bit in love with the federal budget and there’s no [...]
Jack-o-lanterns! Spider webs! Spooky witches! My neighborhood has already started the Halloween festivities: Our block is bordering on a haunted house these days. There are so many great ways to get in the Halloween spirit through decorating. It’s also a great opportunity to get creative and make some green choices by trying out fun recycled [...]
Tis the costume-planning season! Keeping Halloween green and nontoxic doesn’t have to be a chore. It can actually be a fun way to get creative and save money, while staying safe and earth-friendly. Try one of these tips to make your Halloween a little greener. Share your green Halloween tips and ideas in the comments, or [...]
When we first got the lab results back for our report on phthalates in children’s vinyl (polyvinyl chloride or PVC) school supplies, we were utterly shocked by all of the Disney school supplies that contained such high levels of these toxic chemicals. Disney Princess and Spider Man lunchboxes were chock full of these harmful chemicals, at levels so high they [...]
Phthalates are toxic chemicals already banned from children’s toys because we know they’re dangerous to kids. But they aren’t yet banned from all products intended for kids: It turns out phthalates can be found in many back-to-school products as well, including lunch boxes and backpacks! This year, an independent study found levels of phthalates in Disney-licensed lunch boxes that would be illegal if these products [...]
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