Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) are in danger
Read more about this:
Hidden dangers in NICUs |
Children's
Health
Greening Childcare Centers
WHEN is providing training to 20 childcare centers in the region on using non-toxic cleaning products, practices and policies. For the past five years, WHEN, in partnership with other organizations, has been helping to educate staff, administrators and custodial staff on the impact on health from chemical cleaning. Parents learn to incorporate green cleaning at home.
WHEN participates in 2 childcare studies.
WHEN participated in 2 childcare studies. The first study was a survey of childcare centers to review green cleaning and integrated pest management in the facility. The second study tested the feasibility of a programs to educate childcare providers and parents about green cleaning and integrated pest management (IPM). The results from the survey are in the following poster, produced by Christa Sauer-Smolenski, an Arcadia University MPH graduate student that won an award for student presentation at the American Public Health Association in Boston, MA.
APHA Poster on Childcare Survey
Determining pesticide and cleaning agent usages in childcare centers
Christa L. Smolenski1, Julie Becker, PhD, MPH2, Teresa Méndez-Quigley, MSW, LSW2, and Andrea Crivelli-Kovach, PhD, CHES3. (1) Arcadia University, 450 Easton Road, Philadelphia, PA 19130, 215-763-0298, ja.becker@verizon.net, (2) Women's Health & Environmental Network (WHEN), 704 N. 23rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, (3) Department of Community Health, Arcadia University, 450 Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038
Growing children need safe, secure educational environments in which they can learn and socialize. Specific environmental factors and practices, such as the use of conventional pesticides and commercial cleaning products can adversely affect normal development in infants and young children. This group is especially vulnerable to environmental exposures because of their body weight and immature immune and endocrine systems. Presently, there are few regulations regarding the use of conventional pesticides and commercial cleaning products in and around child care facilities. The purpose of this project was to assess a) the awareness level concerning the pesticide and disinfectant use among directors and mangers of child care centers in Philadelphia County, and b) their knowledge of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Green Cleaning. More than 20 childcare centers in 45 zip codes were surveyed via the telephone through a collaboration of childcare credentialing agencies. The researchers examined the type and use of commercial cleaning products among childcare staff, awareness of IPM and parental notification prior to pesticide application, and practice of IPM and Green Cleaning considering the location of the facility. Preliminary results from this study suggest there is little awareness of either Green Cleaning practices or IPM. The results from this study will be used to structure new interventions to educate childcare providers and parents about these issues. The ultimate aim of this project is to encourage and/or establish a mandate in the state of Pennsylvania requiring all childcare centers to practice IPM and Green Cleaning.
The results the education program were a total of 176 people (75 parents, 101 childcare staff) were trained in 6 centers with 104-250 children in attendance per site. Short process evaluation surveys were conducted that showed an increase in knowledge and change in attitude towards green cleaning alternatives and IPM.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005
WHEN
Receives Children's Environmental Health Recognition Award from
the US Environmental Protection Agency
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/2005_CEH_Awards.htm
Targeted
Toxins DEHP
3 things that help kids |
Safer Spaces for Children to Live, Learn & Play
| Products |
Uses |
Dangers
to User |
Harm
to
Community |
Safer
Choices |
Health
Benefits |
| Chlorine
Bleach |
Whitening
Disinfecting |
Accidental
ingestion
and inhaled
fumes pose a
health hazard.
On skin, it is
an irritant. |
Creates dioxin
(cancer agent)
every time it is
made and when
incinerated. |
Sodium
hexametaphosphate
or the sun.
Buy paper products
w/o bleaching. |
Non-toxic.
Reduced exposure to dioxin. |
| Air
Fresheners |
Masking
odors in
bathrooms with
little/no ventilation,
in houses, in centers. |
Formaldehyde
(a known cancer
causing agent)
petroleum
distillates,
p-dichlorobenzene,
and aerosol
propellants. |
Highly
flammable.
Solid forms
can cause
death if eaten
by people or
pets. Accumulated
exposures. |
Vinegar
in
a bowl.
Baking soda
in a bowl.
Herbs like
lavender.
Open the
windows. |
Non-toxic
if eaten
or spilled.
Reduces risk of
harm and death. |
Bug
Killers
Weed Control
(insecticides, pesticides, etc.) |
Elimination
of bugs/pests. Weed & feed lawn care. Termite control. |
Endocrine
disruptor,
cancers, birth defects, learning problems, Alzheimer’s,
anemia, kidney damage.
Affects heart, lungs, brain. |
Same as users
plus build up from multiple users.
Drinking water contamination |
Corn
gluten for garden/lawn.
Keep wood
piles away
from house.
Borax. Grow peppermint
around points
of entry.
Eliminating food sources.
Fixing leaks. |
Reduced
risks from exposures to harmful chemicals. Protecting
drinking water sources. Safe for children and pets to
play on grounds. |
Vinyl
(PVC) |
Floor coverings,
table covers, shower curtains, fences, pipes |
Vinyl flooring
(moisture) linked
to asthma. Volatile Organic Compounds affect respiratory
tract. Phthalates linked to reproductive harm. |
Similar to
users plus dioxin air emissions during manu-facturing
and disposal (burning). Plant workers exposed. |
Flooring:
Bamboo, cork, linoleum. Table/Shower: Cotton, linen, hemp.
Pipes: Copper (not outdoors since affects wildlife). |
Decreases
global dioxin air emissions linked to cancers. Reduces
risks
of asthma and infertility. |
Bisphenol
A
(Plastic compound detectable in 95% of Americans) |
Baby bottles,
Water bottles, Food covering plastics.
Leaks when plastic is heated, scrubbed or exposed to acidic
liquids or foods. |
Endocrine
disrupter
(man-made chemical) mimicking
hormones
regulating
the thyroid,
pancreas,
ovaries and testes.
Alters (in animal
studies) development of reproductive tract,
immune system, increases
prostate tumor proliferation,
changes brain
chemistry & structure
and affects an array
of behaviors,
including
hyperactivity.
|
At manufacturing,
workers exposed. At disposal or when incinerated, leaks
into environment and potentially exposes everyone.
|
Use
glass when heating foods in microwave.
Do not put
plastics in
microwave or dishwasher.
Buy and use only glass baby bottles. |
Reduces
risk of ingesting compound into body thus reducing potential
harm. |
Pressure-
Treated Wood
(arsenic) |
Playground
equipment, Raised beds, Railroad ties. |
Linked
to
bladder cancer
in children
playing nearby. |
If burned
(incineration or landfill smoldering), can expose everyone. |
Cedar
or teak from sustainable sources.
Trex wood composite. |
Reduces
risk of bladder cancer in children. Protects food grown
in raised beds. |
Developed by: Women’s Health & Environmental
Network
Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Beyond Pesticides, Health Care Without Harm, Our Stolen Future,
Debra Lynn Dadd’s Home Safe Home, Healthy Building Network,
Environmental Working Group. |
|
