Learn More About the Problem of Toxic Substances
Here are some important links to look at:

• NRDC Health Home Page: with further great health links to browse
• Parent's Safety Guide: for keeping bad chemicals away from kids!
• Mercury and Bioaccumulation: from National Wildlife Foundation
• EPA's Listing of Fish Advisories: Data from 2004 (you'd think they'd update it more often!)
• Pesticide Action Network: Pesticide Database
• World Wildlife Foundation: Reducing Toxic Chemicals
• Harmful Materials in Electronic Devices: Summary by Californians Against Waste of the toxic elements found in electronic devices
• EPA's Health & Safety Resource page for Students
  

Ubiquitous Plastics: Limiting your use
It was not even in common use 50 years ago: today it is everywhere. But how safe really are the plastics that we live with every day? Take a look at these sites and decide what level of intimate contact you are comfortable having with these complex chemical substances!

• Ecology Center's Plastic Task Force: Learn what migrates out of the everyday plastics that you use
• Global TV News Release video about Bisphenol-A in baby bottles.
• Science Daily News: Bottles Release Potentially Harmful Chemicals (Bisphenol A) After Contact with Hot Liquids, from 2/4/08 and Plastics in Common Household Items May Cause Fertility Defects, from 2/15/07
• LifeScript: "Are Plastic Bottles Bad for You?" by Edward C. Geehr, MD
• Endocrine Disruptors: NRDC's page on this topic
• Mindfully.org's Paul Goettlich's on Endocrine Disruptors

Be Careful with your own Household Hazardous Waste!
We all have toxic products in our homes. Products like cleaners, paints, oil, pesticides, printer cartridges, pharmaceuticals, electronics, lightbulbs, aerosol can and other things can become dangerous to humans or animals if not used, stored and disposed of correctly. There are now special programs for the collection, reuse (if usable) and/or disposal of these products. Follow the proper guidelines from the Health Department of San Mateo County's Household Hazardous Waste Program and RecycleWorks including:

• Use the least toxic product you can get for the job. Buy only what you need
• Use only as directed by the label instructions
• Store chemicals in safe places, away from children, pets and fire sources
• Do not put toxic products in the trash, even in closed containers
• Bring your mercury thermometers to be swapped for digital thermometers

Keep your Aquatic & Amphibian Pets Safe from Chloramine-Treated Water
Be sure that you are adequately treating the tap water that you use for fish and amphibians. See this Q&A report on Animals and the Environment from the SFPUC. While you are at it, be careful in your use of the garden hose to provide water to your kids and pets. Lead contamination from garden hoses was recently tested and found to be a problem (see this video news report on "Lurking Dangers from the Garden Hose" from ABC News).

Start Checking Ingredients Before you buy!
The best way to get companies to manufacturer products that are safe and free of toxic chemicals is to refuse to purchase those products that have toxic chemicals in the first place. Check the ingredients before you buy. If the ingredients are not adequately listed, don't buy and let the manufacturer know that you have the right to know what is in the products you buy! Check out the Cosmetics Database at Skin Deep, to understand what's in the cosmetics, fragrances and other personal care products that you use!

Children's Product and Toy Recalls
There have been a rash of toy recalls due to excessive levels of lead found in toys made in China as well as concerns about toys made with the chemical phalate, a plastic softener that is banned in Europe (but not yet in the US). These recalls are only the latest in a long list of product recalls of children's toys and products due to exposure to toxic chemical or hazardous designs. The best defense is to stay informed! Check the following sites for more information:

• Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Family Eductation Recall Page
• www.Recalls.gov
• Kids in Danger: While we are at it, products don't have to be "toxic" to be dangerous for kids!

Prevent Storm Water Run-Off
With rain, a variety of toxic pollutants are washed from streets and parking lots into storm drains and creeks. The storm drains prevent flooding, by sending this run-off to the Bay or the Ocean. But this water is NOT treated. Therefore, these pollutants ultimately reach the Bay or Ocean. Recent studies indicate that 80% of the pollution entering the San Francisco Bay comes from our polluted stormwater runoff. Take a look at the FlowstoBay.org web site, which is the portal for the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program.