A report on children and exposure to toxins, sponsored by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), aired on NPR (National Public Radio) in April, 2004. Dr. Michael Weitzman was interviewed, and if you would like to listen to it, just go to the link above and choose a media player under “listen now” to hear the audio track. A short summary follows:

There is a growing awareness within the public regarding the fact that levels of exposures to chemicals which previously were thought to be safe are actually posing a danger to our children. Unfortunately, we know less about the effects of childhood exposure to chemicals than we do about adult exposures. We know more about a child’s reaction to drugs than we do about a child’s reaction to chemicals. For instance, scientists are currently asking, ‘how do low level exposures to chemicals relate to chronic diseases in children?’ There are subtle but serious effects; but the scientific studies are few and far between because to complete a study like this, we have to follow a child for a long time and we’ve also got to be cautious about how to study children. Studies are usually limited to taking blood and urine samples from the children. In short, very little is currently known about childrens’ exposures to toxins.

This is a great source to cite as you begin talking about toxins in household cleaners. Help all the families you know to give up ‘normal’ toxic grocery store cleaners! Melaleuca’s EcoSense line of cleaners are so easy to talk about once one understands that there is a long-term and subtle negative effect on the health of our children when we don’t consciously choose what to bring into our houses.