Parents are often surprised when I tell them that a great number of the products we use in our homes are not necessarily evaluated and declared safe by a government entity. The paints that cover your walls, the stain-resistant fabric that covers your furniture, the very carpet under your feet… these things can contain toxic chemicals that could be harmful to you and your family.

This fall I filmed a short video for Healthy Child Healthy World (I’m proud to be a member of their advisory board) that talks about how you can be a knowledgeable, diligent advocate for products that are good for your family and for the planet. Kids have the most to gain. According to the EPA, carcinogens average 10 times more potent for your kids than for an adult – and in some cases 65 times more potent – or even more – at the same dose that adults get. And kids get typically get higher doses. Adults may eat about 1/40th of their body weight each day; kids may eat 1/10th of theirs. Pound for pound, kids eat more than we do, drink more than we do, and inhale more fumes than we do.

Many of the biggest health concerns for our children are on the rise: asthma, ADHD, allergies, cancer in babies, diabetes, etc.. All of these are linked to environmental exposures. When you’re making decisions about the products in your home, cast a knowledgeable eye from the ground up. Think about the carpet and the pad underneath, the paint on your walls, the antibacterial cleansers you use throughout the home – even the personal care products you use on your body. The choices you make today are opportunities that could give your kids a better chance for the best of health throughout their lives.