foundly neurotoxic,” says Miller, especially to the devel- oping brains of children. Instead try integrated pest man- agement, which involves controlling pests’ food sources and applying non-toxic deterrents. Eliminating potentially carcinogenic herbicides might mean managing more weeds, says Snow, but it’s worth it. Eat green. “Buying produce as close to its source as possible, from a farmer or farmers’ market, provides three- fold benefits,” says Snow—less wasteful packaging, reduced exposure to chemical plastics and greater concentration of health-promoting nutrients. Buy in bulk and favor glass con- tainers or rectangular cardboard cartons. Take tests. Radon, an invisible, odorless gas that can emanate from the ground and accumulate in homes, an- nually causes 21,000 U.S. lung cancer deaths, according to the U.S. EPA. Lead, a neurotoxin that may occasionally leach from home water pipes, can also hide in pre-1978 paint. Testing for both and implementing reduction or pre- cautionary measures is simple, advises Smith. Most hard- ware stores stock test kits. Take action. Join with other concerned citizens by launching a pertinent petition at Change.org; campaign- ing with organizations like the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) or Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families (SaferChemicals.org); and supporting cleaner, greener companies with family purchases.


Lane Vail is a freelance writer and blogger at Discovering Homemaking.com.


natural awakenings


April 2015


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