Little Things Matter

latest LTM News

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.

Follow Our Footsteps

#FridaysForFuture 💫⠀
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The Indian state of Sikkim banned import of all pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers and GMOs in 2003, becoming the world’s first fully certified organic state in 2016. ⠀
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The result? 🧐⠀
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The government says wildlife have returned 🦌, crops are flourishing 🌼 and tourism increased by 70% 🚲. ⠀
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https://bit.ly/3BIbjoa

#FridaysForFuture 💫⠀

The Indian state of Sikkim banned import of all pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers and GMOs in 2003, becoming the world’s first fully certified organic state in 2016. ⠀

The result? 🧐⠀

The government says wildlife have returned 🦌, crops are flourishing 🌼 and tourism increased by 70% 🚲. ⠀

https://bit.ly/3BIbjoa
...

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🌟 Little Facts 🌟Over 1 billion children are at high risk for climate change events that can lead to disease and death.“Children’s health will benefit from reducing and eliminating fossil fuel emissions as rapidly as possible and transition to clean and renewable sources of energy,” says Dr. Frederica Pereira, founder of the @CCCEH_columbia.Due to their smaller body size, frequent hand to mouth behavior, and rapidly growing cells, children are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, air pollution, disease, and natural disasters caused by climate change.🤰 Baby’s early years = extra vulnerable to climate change 🔥 and air pollution 🏭Read the full review here: https://bit.ly/3CaYWTO

🌟 Little Facts 🌟

Over 1 billion children are at high risk for climate change events that can lead to disease and death.

“Children’s health will benefit from reducing and eliminating fossil fuel emissions as rapidly as possible and transition to clean and renewable sources of energy,” says Dr. Frederica Pereira, founder of the @CCCEH_columbia.

Due to their smaller body size, frequent hand to mouth behavior, and rapidly growing cells, children are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, air pollution, disease, and natural disasters caused by climate change.

🤰 Baby’s early years = extra vulnerable to climate change 🔥 and air pollution 🏭

Read the full review here: https://bit.ly/3CaYWTO
...

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✋ YOU asked... WE answered! 👇

Q: You asked: "What chemicals are found in breastmilk and should I be concerned?"

A: While toxic chemicals like PFAS and POPs can be found in breastmilk, most women do not have levels in their breastmilk that should cause them to stop breastfeeding (Balk & Etzel, 2020). We feel strongly that women should not bear the brunt of having to worry about chemicals in their breastmilk, and industry should be held accountable.

While we continue advocating for stronger regulations to prevent chemicals from entering breastmilk, women can reduce exposure to chemicals while breastfeeding by:

1. eating fresh/frozen foods and choosing organic when possible;
2. avoiding packaged foods and heavily processed foods;
3. cleaning with a wet-mop and avoiding dust build up;
4. avoiding fragrance and other chemicals in personal-care products;
5. checking home and water for lead hazards and other heavy metals.

Read more about how to prevent exposures here: littlethingsmatter.ca/little-facts

❓ What other questions do you have for us?

Reference: Protecting Your Child`s Health: Expert Answers to Urgent Environmental Questions
By Sophie J. Balk, MD, FAAP and Dr. Ruth A. Etzel, MD, PhD, FAAP
https://bit.ly/4kr7YOX
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People often hear “the dose makes the poison” but chemicals can be active at very low levels. Besides, toxins don’t occur in isolation. 👎

Watch to learn which toxins all children are exposed to. You can reduce levels to these exposures by:

1. Writing a letter to your representative and demanding that there be stricter regulations on chemicals found in food and personal care products. 📩
2. Eating fresh or frozen food, and choosing organic when possible. 🍎
3. Avoiding canned or processed foods. 🚫
4. If you are pregnant, eating fish with low levels of mercury. 🐟
5. Not using pesticides in and around your home. 🚫
6. Checking your home for lead hazards. 📝
7. Dusting floors and surfaces to reduce exposures. 🧹
8. Reading labels on personal care products. 📝
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#LittleStepsBigImpact ...

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📰 In the News 📰⠀
@Ecowatch spotlights a recent ruling from the @epagov that restored a previous statute protecting vulnerable communities from toxic chemicals. 🙌🏽⠀

Your vote makes a difference when it comes to electing public officials who prioritize health over earnings. ⠀

Read the story: http://bit.ly/3IuU6SI
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#LittleFact 5: The Impact of Air Pollution on Children's HealthEvery day, over 90% of children breathe polluted air. Learn more about the impacts of #airpollution on children's health and development, and what you can do to lower your family's exposure: littlethingsmatter.ca/air-pollution

#LittleFact 5: The Impact of Air Pollution on Children`s Health

Every day, over 90% of children breathe polluted air. Learn more about the impacts of #airpollution on children`s health and development, and what you can do to lower your family`s exposure: littlethingsmatter.ca/air-pollution
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#LittleStepsBigImpacts

#LittleStepsBigImpacts ...

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#FridaysForFuture

#FridaysForFuture ...

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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

Phthalates are a series of widely used chemicals that demonstrate to be endocrine disruptors and are detrimental to human health. Phthalates can be found in most products that have contact with plastics during producing, packaging, or delivering. Despite the short half-lives in tissues, chronic exposure to phthalates will adversely influence the endocrine system and functioning of multiple organs, which has negative long-term impacts on the success of pregnancy, child growth and development, and reproductive systems in both young children and
Learn More

EDCs

EDCs

Endocrine disruptors are found in many everyday products, including some plastic bottles and containers, liners of metal food cans, detergents, flame retardants, food, toys, cosmetics, and pesticides.
Learn More

Pesticides

Pesticides

Pesticides are designed to kill pests, but they often end up in our water, soil and food. They can disrupt human health, particularly children’s health. Babies can be exposed to pesticides in their mothers’ womb since they cross the placenta. Children can be exposed when they play in parks, around their homes or when consuming non-organic foods. Children can be exposed to pesticides from their parent’s workplace or if they live near agricultural fields.
Learn More

Lead

Lead

Lead-based paint, water service lines and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings are common sources of lead poisoning in children. Even small amounts of lead, especially for children, can cause serious health problems and affect mental and physical development.
Learn More

Air Pollution

Air Pollution

Air pollution is caused by solid and liquid particles and certain gases that are suspended in the air. These particles and gases can come from car and truck exhaust, factories, dust, pollen, mold spores, volcanoes and wildfires.
Learn More

PFAS

PFAS

PFAs, the "forever chemicals" are found in water, air, fish, and soil and also in many consumer and industrial products. Pregnant woman and their babies are particularly susceptible to exposure with potential adverse health impacts including reduced fetal weight, childhood obesity, learning and behavior issues.
Learn More

Fluoride

Fluoride

Over the past 75 years, health authorities have declared that community water fluoridation–a practice that reaches over 400 million worldwide–is safe. There is emerging evidence from Canada, Mexico, and China, suggests that fluoride exposure, specifically during pregnancy or early infancy when the brain is rapidly developing, may be associated with decreased intelligence.
Learn More

Microplastics

Microplastics

Microplastics are microscopic plastic fragments that flake off of plastic materials as they degrade. They are shed from plastic bottles and bags, car tires and synthetic textiles. Microplastics or microbeads are also added to some personal care products, like toothpaste and scrubs. Some of our favorite foods and drinks contain microplastics from packaging, pipes, and equipment used to process food.
Learn More

PFAS

PFAS

PFAs, the "forever chemicals" are found in water, air, fish, and soil and also in many consumer and industrial products. Pregnant woman and their babies are particularly susceptible to exposure with potential adverse health impacts including reduced fetal weight, childhood obesity, learning and behavior issues.
Learn More

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? 

Little Things Matter: The Impact of Toxic Chemicals on the Developing Brain

Going Organic
A simple choice that can change the world.