Air Pollution
91% of the world’s population breathes polluted air! Yet over one-third of countries have no laws protecting outdoor air quality! The World Health Organization (WHO) released updated air quality guidelines and targets for common air pollutants. WHO’s new guidelines aim to push governments to reduce pollution levels, protect the health of children and adults, and prevent climate change.
Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill, repel or control unwanted pests, such as insects (insecticides), weeds (herbicides), fungus (fungicides), harmful to cultivated plants, humans and animals.
Only a small amount of the pesticides actually reach their target; most of it leaches in the environment, contaminating the air, water, soil, and our food. Persistent pesticides, like DDT, can still be detected in humans 50 years after they were banned. Scientists have found pesticides in:
• Blood, urine and hair
• Breast milk
• Cord blood of newborns
• Placenta
No Safe Level
No safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to negatively affect a child’s intelligence, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. While the effects of lead poisoning may be permanent, if caught early, there are things parents can do to prevent further exposure and reduce damage to their child’s health.
PFAS: Forever Chemicals
Hundreds of everyday products are made with highly toxic fluorinated chemicals called PFAS. They build up in our bodies and never break down in the environment. PFAS are universally detected in pregnant women and cross the placenta. Very small doses of PFAS have been linked to cancer, reproductive and immune system harm, and other diseases.
Microplastics and Babies
Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic, often too small for the eye to see. And they’re everywhere.
A new study finds that they are released in huge quantities from plastic baby bottles when they’re used to prepare formula. The study suggests that bottle-fed infants around the world may be consuming more than 1.5 million particles of microplastics per day.
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What We Do
Little Things Matter raises awareness of the growing environmental risks we face as a global community by translating science into free, easy-to-understand and actionable materials. Our goal is to spread awareness about the effects of toxic chemicals on the health of our population and planet.
We believe that every child has the right to a healthy environment.
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Follow Our Footsteps
Ravitsky and Kimmin report that about 1 in 6 couples trying to get pregnant are infertile. The incidence of unexplained infertility is rising.
Exposure to some endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as lead and phthalates, increase the risk for infertility.
Reduce the impact of exposures to EDCs by:
- Choose whole foods, avoiding processed foods
- Avoid pesticides use in your home
- Do not use microwave plastic dishes
Read the study here: https://bit.ly/3Pnb49d
Check out our EDC page to learn more: https://bit.ly/3ThfNJw
#infertility #EDCprevention #healthyliving
New Research
PFAS, a group of man-made chemicals used to make consumer products water and stain resistant, may be linked to obesity. These toxic chemicals, known as “forever chemicals”, can remain in our bodies and the environment for decades.
Children exposed to high concentrations of obesogens – toxic chemicals that cause obesity – are typically born small and then catch up and exceed the BMI of children exposed to lower concentrations.
Dr. Joseph Braun and his team discovered that children exposed to higher amounts of PFAS in early life may be linked to obesity at 12 years of age.
Over 98% of Americans have detectable PFAS concentrations in their blood.
To reduce exposure to PFAS and other toxic chemicals, Dr. Braun recommends using a certified water filter, a vacuum with a HEPA filter, and avoiding heavily processed foods. In a separate study, Dr. Braun found that the obesogenic effects of PFAS chemicals were diminished in physically active children.
For more information on the effects of gestational PFAS exposure and obesogens, read the research publication: https://bit.ly/43bQ1Lx or recent news article: https://bit.ly/3r6JAfo
#PFAS #childobesity #nontoxicliving
📰 In the News 📰⠀
@Ecowatch spotlights a recent ruling from the @epagov that restored a previous statute protecting vulnerable communities from toxic chemicals. 🙌🏽⠀
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Your vote makes a difference when it comes to electing public officials who prioritize health over earnings. ⠀
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Read the story: http://bit.ly/3IuU6SI
Young women who use conventional foundation, blush, and mascara have higher levels of phthalates in their blood. Phthalates are hormone-disruptors, and can mimic or block hormones from properly signaling in the body, disrupting important reproductive and neurological systems. This is especially important in young women who may be nearing childbearing years. Six phthalate metabolites—mono-n-butyl phthalate, mono-[(2-carboxymethyl) hexyl] phthalate, mono (2-ethyl-5-carboxyphentyl) phthalate, mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, and mono (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate were shown to double the risk of endometriosis, a condition where uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus, in young women. In other studies, phthalates have been associated with reduced sperm quality and a lower chance of conception in couples actively trying to conceive.
In addition to makeup, phthalates can be found in personal care products like body wash, shampoo, and soap.
To reduce the amount of phthalates in your blood, swap personal care products for those without phthalates, parabens, or PFAS (or just stop using them). Products without these chemicals can be found by searching EWG’s SkinDeep database.
When the young women in the study stopped using products with phthalates, the level of some chemicals in their blood lowered up to 45% after three days.
Join the fight to ban phthalates in your state!
Read the study https://bit.ly/3DUvgKm
Read the complete article by Professor Leslie Hart, Phd in the Conversation https://bit.ly/3OEPqhD
#littlechangesbigimpact 💪
#littlethingsmatter 🐣
#peopleoverproducts 💄
A new study led by Maria Jose Talayero found that babies born in Mexican towns of cities with heavy industrial activity were more likely to be born with congenital heart defects – especially in regions where access to medical care was limited.
Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defects worldwide and the second leading cause of death in Mexican children younger than five.
How can we protect babies from pollution?
● Stronger rules for polluting industries
● Better access to doctors and hospitals
● More research and tracking of pollution’s effects
● Helping communities stay informed about local industries
PMID: 40079194https://bit.ly/42IXeEP
Un nuevo estudio dirigido por María José Talayero ha descubierto que los bebés nacidos en pueblos o ciudadesmexicanas con una intensa actividad industrial tienen másprobabilidades de nacer con defectos cardiacos congénitos, sobre todo en regiones donde el acceso a la atención médica es limitado.
Las cardiopatías congénitas son los defectos congénitos máscomunes en todo el mundo y la segunda causa de muerte enniños mexicanos menores de cinco años.
¿Cómo podemos proteger a los bebés de la contaminación?
● Normas más estrictas para las industrias contaminantes
● Mejor acceso a médicos y hospitales
● Más investigación y seguimiento de los efectos de la contaminación
● Ayudar a las comunidades a mantenerse informadas sobrelas industrias locales.
PMID: 40079194 https://bit.ly/42IXeEP
Meet Teresa Vincente
Teresa Vicente led a historic, grassroots campaign to save the Mar Menor ecosystem—Europe’s largest saltwater lagoon—from collapse, resulting in the passage of a new law in September 2022 granting the lagoon unique legal rights. Considered to be the most important saltwater coastal lagoon in the western Mediterranean, the once pristine waters of the Mar Menor had become polluted due to mining, rampant development of urban and tourist infrastructure, and, in recent years, intensive agriculture and livestock farming.
Worried by the slow death of the Mar Menor, Teresa was moved to action after a mass fish die-off in 2019. She became convinced that the only way to give the lagoon a chance of survival was to grant it legal personhood and recognize its rights. “Rights of nature” has been proposed and debated for years, but the theory did not gain much traction until recently: Ecosystems in Latin America and New Zealand had been granted such legal rights but none in Europe. Despite being told by experts that it was impossible, Teresa pushed ahead. Courtesy of the Goldman Environmental Prize
The Toxic Chemicals Line Up
Phthalates
Phthalates
EDCs
EDCs
Pesticides
Pesticides
Lead
Lead
Air Pollution
Air Pollution
PFAS
PFAS
Fluoride
Fluoride
Microplastics
Microplastics
PFAS
PFAS
little Steps big impact
Sometimes the events that alter history and have enduring impact happen behind the scenes or without much fanfare. Little Steps, Big Impact takes a moment to highlight those significant events and celebrate their contributions.
Shifting to phthalate-free products
can quickly lower toxin levels
A new study shows that young women who use conventional foundation, blush, and mascara have higher levels of phthalates in their blood. Phthalates are hormone-disruptors, and can mimic or block hormones from properly signaling in the body, disrupting important reproductive and neurological systems.
When the young women in the study stopped using
products with phthalates, the level of some chemicals
in their blood lowered up to 45% after three days.
To reduce the amount of phthalates in your blood, swap personal care products for those without phthalates, parabens, or PFAS (or just stop using them). Products without these chemicals can be found by searching EWG’s SkinDeep database.
little videos that capture the big picture
Expand your mind and understanding of how environmental toxic chemicals affect all of us with these short educational videos.
The Deadly Impact of Airborne Particles: air pollution is all around us, what can we do?