Children and Environmental Toxins

Philip J. Landrigan, MD, M.Sc., is Professor of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine and Founding Director, Children's Environmental Health Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.Mary M. Landrigan, M.P.A., is a health educator who spent 25 years at the Westchester County Department of Health.

"I can't overstate the respect and admiration I have for Dr. Landrigan and the important work that he does--this book is a gift for families everywhere." - Jessica Alba"Every parent needs to read this book. Not only does it offer excellent information on the realities of environmental toxins in our midst; it also explains what actions to take to avoid or prevent them. You couldn't ask for more reliable, diligent authors than Philip and Mary Landrigan. This is the new Bible that needs to be in every home." - Jennifer Beals"Lead, pesticides, BPA, allergens-it's a chemical jungle out there for our kids. At last parents have the definitive field guide to get through it, one grounded in science and loaded with practical advice." - Ken Cook, President and Co-Founder, Environmental Working Group"The essential must-read for every new parent, serving up science-based information and actionable daily solutions to prevent harm and ensure a happy, healthy, worry-free start. The Landrigan are national treasures, and this book will be valued for generations to come." - Christopher Gavigan, Founder of The Honest Company; author of Healthy Child Healthy World"Philip and Mary Landrigan have done us all a great service by pulling together authoritative information about environmental toxins. And more than that, they have given us practical solutions about how to navigate and live safely in our increasing complex environments." - Judith Palfrey, MD, Harvard Medical School"Families encounter a greater array of complex chemicals in everyday products than ever before. With a lifetime of knowledge, Landrigan and Landrigan offer a useful guidebook for everyone, from parents to policymakers, concerned with protecting the health and wellbeing of our children." - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

• Preface Introduction 1. Changing diseases in a changing environment Patterns of childhood disease -- then and nowEnvironmental changes 2. New chemicals and new childhood chemical exposures Explosive growth of chemicalsEarly warning signsGaps in safety and toxicity testing Childhood exposure to new chemicals 3. Children's unique vulnerability to toxic chemicals in the environment Unique windows of vulnerability exist in childrenChildren process toxic exposures more slowly than adultsChildren's higher metabolism rates make different demands on their bodies than adultsChildhood exposures can incubate for many years and may cause adult diseaseExposures are proportionately greater in children than in adultsNormal hand-to-mouth behavior increases their exposure to toxinsChildren live closer to the ground and have different exposures than adultsOther risk factors compound the problem 4. The links between childhood disease and toxic chemicals in the environment The increase in autism, ADHD, and other problems of the developing brainThe increase in male birth defects, early puberty in girls, and testicular cancer in young memThe increased incidence of asthma and allergiesNew links between household toxins, obesity, and diabetesThe links between childhood exposures and adult diseaseThe growing problems with reproductionThe increases in childhood cancer 5. A Guide for Parents: Keeping Your Child Safe from Environmental Toxins An environmental checklist for your homeOver 100 ways to protect your children and promote health as they grow At home10 ways to make baby's room safer8 ways to avoid asthma and allergy attacks10 practical ways to prevent lead poisoning25 ways to minimize your child's exposure to endocrine disruptors9 cautions about pesticides 11 ways to reduce exposure to unsafe foods14 tips for avoiding exposure to household chemicals 6 ways to grow your child into a healthy adult At day care10 ways to make day care safer At school10 ways to make school safer In the neighborhood10 ways to make the neighborhood safer Tips for future moms and dads10 ways to protect future children 6. A Call to Action Children's health, toxic chemicals and you Policy and legislation: where we stand now Evidence-based preventionUS standards vs standards in other countriesConsequences of our current situation A call for a new public health revolution New ways to protect children from environmental toxins Our call to action - community based actions, state initiatives, federal legislation Career opportunities for the future of public health