Healthy World Watch October 9th, 2009

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Top Tips

Budding artists love Play Dough, but for some parents the smell and stickiness can be a bit nauseating. Mama K’s Play Clay is a safe and natural alternative. Essential oils used to scent the clay is a calming playtime bonus!
It’s really tough to give-up the handiness of plastic baggies, but the environment needs our help. Mom Goes Green has some tips on how to “ditch” the wasteful plastic bags and find reusable storage options.
Family Education has some great craft activities to get your kids engaged in the Fall Season. What a wonderful way to involve the whole family in decorating for the upcoming holidays. Just think how proud Jr. will be showing grandpa his leaf prints.
As we gear up for the “Ghouls and Goblins” to visit our front door at the end of the month, we struggle between choosing popular snacks like M&M’s or go with healthy but not so desirable treats like apples. Well we don’t have to choose anymore, The Daily Green has 9 Green Halloween Treats we can feel good about giving and the kids good about getting.

Recent Research

New government studies show 1 in 91 children between the ages 3 to 17 have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Researchers are unclear as to why there is such an increase in the past decade, but offer possible explanations including a broader definition of autism disorders and a heightened awareness by physicians and parents. However some children’s health advocates believe the triggers to be linked to toxic chemicals present in our environment.
Is atrazine in your drinking water? The EPA is finally addressing the health risks associated with the popular herbicide, commonly used on corn fields, golf courses, and some lawns. After years of dismissing scientific research showing that chemical runoff is harmful to ecosystems and wildlife, new studies are linking the chemical to birth defects, low birth weights, and reproductive problems among humans. Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, admits “This (new evidence) is a strong signal that the world is changing for some of the most widely used chemicals.”

Other News

Wal-Mart is spending $420,000 to measure the carbon footprint of their supply chains. The World Resources Institute was awarded the grant to create a set of tools to determine energy usage and also to produce the “Green Standards Guide” a book examining environmental certifications. Suppliers are to start reporting the environmental impacts of their operations this week. This new chapter in Wal-Mart’s efforts to be more environmentally friendly coincides with the first phase of their new Sustainability Index initiative.
Target to pay $600,000 fine for selling lead tainted toys. The Consumer Product Safety Commission accused the retailer of being negligent in taking the proper steps to ensure toy safety. The toys in question were sold under Target’s private-label as well as national-brand-labels between May 2006 and August 2007.
“Meatless Mondays” has started in the Baltimore City Public School System to encourage children to eat right. In addition to offering healthier food options and using local produce, the system has created a teaching farm at each of its more than 200 schools. This is a great start in fixing a growing epidemic of childhood obesity. A recent study showed that less than 10% of all teenagers ate the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables.