healthykids BE VERY AFRAID... BE AFRAID,
LEARN HOW TO AVOID THE REAL GOBLINS by Melinda Hemmelgarn
O
ur little ones, masquerading this month as ghosts and goblins, only look scary. What’s really
frightening are the toxic chemicals lurk- ing in our families’ food and water. Pregnant women, infants and children are most vulnerable, because expectant, young and growing bodies are less able to break down and excrete toxins. Halloween screams for a list of valid fears, plus strategies to keep our families safe. Pesticides: According to Charles Benbrook, Ph.D., chief scientist at the Boulder, Colorado-based Organic Cen- ter, more than 1 billion pounds of pes- ticides are used each year in the United States alone. More than half of the most widely applied pesticides are known endocrine disruptors, compounds that mimic natural hormones and interfere with normal development. At Beyond Pesticides’ annual meeting last spring, Indianapolis-based neonatologist Dr. Paul Winchester
46 Collier/Lee Counties
explained how pesticide exposure contributes to birth defects, autism, hy- peractivity, diabetes, reduced fertility, obesity and cancer. It’s no wonder that the President’s Cancer Panel Report recommends choosing foods grown or produced without pesticides. Genetically Modified Foods: An estimated 70 percent of common processed foods lining supermarkets shelves, including Halloween candy, contain at least one genetically modi- fied (GM) ingredient. Yet, genetically modified crops and foods (GMOs) have never been tested for long-term safety. Since the introduction of GM crops 13 years ago, Ben- brook says pesticide use has increased by more than 300 million pounds. Because GM crops are designed to withstand pesticide spray, over time, weeds and pests naturally develop resistance, requiring more and stron- ger chemicals. Mercury Rising:
Recent U.S. Geologi- cal Survey research found mercury con- tamination in every fish sampled from 291 streams nationwide. More surprising, the Institute for Agriculture
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and Trade Policy (IATP) found mercury in assorted products containing high fructose corn syrup, likely the result of the sweetener’s manufacturing pro- cess, says Renee Dufault, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration health officer. David Wallinga, a medical doctor
and director of the Food and Health program at IATP, says mercury is a toxic, heavy metal that harms brain development; no exposure level is considered safe.
Plastic Poisons: Like pesticides, plastics can release endocrine disrup- tors such as bisphenol A (BPA) into food and water. Even more scary, “These com- pounds are biologically active at extremely low and previously undetected levels,” says University of Missouri biolo- gist Frederick vom Saal.
Food Dyes: The Center for Science in the Public Inter- est reports that common food dyes can pose unnecessary risks for cancer, hyperactivity and
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