What can you do?
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learn more

Education is the first step. The more we know about the risks and benefits of synthetic chemicals, the better our decisions will be. These resources on endocrine-disrupting chemicals can guide you on your own explorations and decisions. 

The recent (May 6, 2010) President's Cancer Panel report on environmental pollutants and cancer is particularly illuminating and well worth reading. Download it here.

Visit this page to learn more about BPA.

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reduce exposure

As individuals, we have many choices to make that allow us to reduce our own personal exposure. For women and men of reproductive age, these choices are particularly critical. Yet it's always important to remember that personal choices alone won't protect us: political action is a necessity.

• avoid using pesticides at home: lawn care products and insect sprays are important sources of exposure for many families
  
• avoid heating food in plastics, particularly those that contain BPA or phthlates. Use ceramics or pyrex.
  
• seek out water bottles, children's toys, and cosmetics that are free of BPA and phthlates. 
  
• minimize canned foods--the linings contain endocrine disruptors
  
• choose meats that are raised without additional hormone exposure
  
• choose grass-fed meats: see www.eatwild.com for lists of suppliers near you.
  
• choose wild fish that are lower on the food chain (ie, whitefish rather than lake trout)
  
• choose fruits and vegetables that are raised without synthetic chemicals.
  
• choose organic or grass-fed dairy products.
  
• don't wear outdoor shoes inside--shoes track in toxic chemicals.
  
• choose personal care and household cleaning products that are free of synthetic fragrances, parabens, phthlates, and bisphenol A. Environmental Working Group has helpful lists.
  
• before choosing to take supplemental hormones, whether for menopause or for contraception, educate yourself about the potential benefits and risks. No one can make that decision for you; each woman is different, and for many women, the decision to take supplemental hormones may be the best option. For other women, other alternatives may be better. 
  
  

The Children's Environmental Health Network has a set of tips for reducing children's exposure to environmental toxins. These include:

• Choose to use fewer chemicals, in your home, on your lawn.
• Have your child's blood lead level tested, especially if your child spends time in a house built before 1960.
• Don't smoke or let others smoke near your kids.
• Vary children's diets as much as possible while giving them plenty of fruits and vegetables. Consider buying organic foods if available.
• Pay attention to air pollution reports and limit children's outdoor activities on ozone alert days and other times when air pollution is bad.
• Learn about your local drinking water. Read your water system's Consumer Confidence Report, available from your water supplier -- and it may be online at http://www.epa.gov/safewat er/dwinfo.htm.
• Ask your pediatric health care provider to take an environmental health history of your child.
• Work with your school, community recreation system and others to decrease their use of chemicals. Many schools are cutting back on pesticide use and are giving parents advance notice before applying pesticides.
• Tell your elected officials that you want government policies to specifically take children into account and that protect children's health. (from http://www.cehn.org/cehn/education/Tips.html )

take political action

Personal choices can go a long way toward reducing exposure, but it's critical that we act as part of a larger community, particularly to protect those who lack access to alternative choices. Many families cannot afford organic foods, or do not know about potential risks. Without local, state, and federal action, we will make little progress toward a healthier environment. 

You can take action in numerous ways: join organizations that share your goals; write to your local paper; educate your community; speak to your elected officials at hearings; run for office; join in shareholder activities to shape the activities of producers. Environmental Working Group has a page filled with ideas for concrete ways that you and your community can make a difference.

Examples: Learning what other communities have done to reduce exposure offers us inspiration and ideas:

• Cosmetic pesticides bans: Ontario paved the way for reducing non-essential exposure to pesticides with their recent ban on "cosmetic pesticides." (These aren't pesticides in cosmetics; they are pesticides that aren't being used for public health, agriculture, or forestry). METRO (Portland regional planning authority) is now considering similar guidelines.
  
• Non-toxic lawn and garden care: Just as many families are deciding to eliminate toxic chemicals in lawn care, so too are many universities beginning to explore less-toxic alternatives. Harvard University was one of the first; and now, thanks to decided efforts by alumnae such as Danna Olsen, University of Wisconsin-Madison's Physical Plant is beginning a pilot project as well.
  
• Removing BPA from children's projects: many state and local authorities are now moving to ban BPA from children's products. The Wisconsin State Legislature recently voted unanimously to do this, and other states are following Wisconsin's lead.
• Transparency of information: we need to know what we're exposed to before we can make wise decisions about potential risks and benefits. However, no law requires that manufacturers release information about inactive ingredients in many products--both those "inactive" ingredients are often hormonally-active. Consumer pressure is persuading some manufacturers to move toward greater transparency, releasing that information even if it's not required by law. 
• Toxic Substances Control Act Reform: reform of TSCA is perhaps the most important federal action that can take place to protect environmental health. Learn more about TSCA here; and follow the efforts of Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (New Jersey) to overhaul TSCA here.