The document discusses the dangers of pesticide exposure for children and provides tips for parents to reduce pesticide exposure. It notes that babies are born with hundreds of industrial chemicals in their blood and pesticides have been linked to increased rates of conditions like autism, asthma, and cancer in children. The document recommends buying organic food to avoid pesticides, getting rid of toxic cleaning products, taking off shoes to prevent bringing in toxins from outside, and choosing inexpensive natural alternatives to commercial pesticides when possible. Overall, it encourages parents to make small changes to reduce pesticide exposure and create a healthier future for children.

1. What Parents Need to Know
About Pesticides
AFive-Minute Guide to Protect Your Kids For Life

2. Until I had my third baby, I didn’t know that there could be
pesticides in food and cleaners — even the soap that
I’d used with the first two!

3. I did some research and learned things like taking off
your shoes prevents 85% of dirt — including toxins
like lead and pesticides — from entering your
home.
Source: WebMD

4. As I shared this information, my friends and family weren’t
convinced. “We grew up with chemicals and we’re
okay,”they said.

5. But are we? Today, babies are born with
200+ industrial chemicals in their blood.
Source: Centers for Disease Control

6. There are 80,000+ industrial chemicals approved for use in
our household products and none have been tested for
children’s safety.
Source: Environmental Working Group

7. One of the most dangerous classes of these chemicals are
pesticides. 80% of our exposure occurs indoors
through products like these…
Source: Environmental Protection Agency

8. …but also through food. Today, an apple can contain as
many as 56 different pesticides.
Source: Environmental Working Group

9. Pesticides have been linked to serious health
problems
such as autism, asthma and pediatric cancer.
Source: Centers for Disease Control

10. Today, autism affects 1 in 88 children —
that’s a
600% increase over the past 20 years.
Source: Centers for Disease Control

11. Asthma now impacts 9 million kids — including black and
latino children, who are 60% more at risk and three
times more likely to die from the condition as adults.
Source: Centers for Disease Control

12. With rates up 30% in 30 years, pediatric cancer is now the
leading disease killer of children. It’s more lethal than
asthma, diabetes, AIDS, cystic fibrosis and birth defects
combined.
Source: National Cancer Institute

13. Pesticides even affect unborn children. The dangers of
common pesticide exposure are equal to those of smoking
during pregnancy: low birth weight and early labor.
Source: National Institutes of Health

14. Going shopping? Sadly, “natural” and “healthy” don’t mean
much: Only USDA Certified Organic is regulated by the
government not to contain pesticides — as well as other
chemicals like rBGH, found in American milk but
banned in Europe because of cancer links.
Source: Prevent Cancer

15. But can you afford pesticide-free? Yes, organic food can be
expensive: A gallon of milk is about $2 more.
Source: Consumerist

16. The average American now spends more than $2 each day
on coffee. Wouldn’t you give up a cup a week to make sure
what your kids drink every day isbetter for them?
Source: Consumerist

17. Plus, eliminating pesticides from your home can actually
save you money! Instead of costly commercial products, try
red pepper to deter ants and wine for fruit flies.
Source: Healthy Child Healthy World

18. Warm water and soap work as well or better than
pesticide antibacterials or antimicrobials like triclosan.
Source: Federal Department of Agriculture

19. When it comes to food, simply avoid the Dirty Dozen
to reduce your family’s pesticide exposure by 80%.
Source: EWG

20. Concerned? It can be tempting to bury your head in the
sand like an ostrich — I know I did, for a while.

21. But small shifts can make a huge difference: After just one
day of eating organic food, children can eliminate most
pesticides from their bodies.
Source: National Institutes of Health

22. And making these changes are so important — even for
those of us who don’t have children. Kids are only 30% of
our population, but they’re 100% of our future!

23. Inspired? Thank you for every step you take to
create a better future — for all of us.

24. www.MommyGreenest.com