BPA, phthalates, kids & cancer: What's a parent to do?
My colleague Kelly Brewington has a thoughtful piece in the Baltimore Sun today on the dilemma people face, especially parents, in sorting through the confusing information and advice about the health hazards posed by the many chemicals used to make a panoply of consumer products.
The President's Cancer Panel recently issued a 240-page report warning that "the true burden of environmentally induced cancers has been grossly underestimated" and urging steps be taken to reduce people's broad exposure to carcinogens.
The panel's assertion has been disputed by the American Cancer Society, which argues that lifestyle factors like smoking and diet are the main causes of cancer, and environmental exposures are involved in only a small share of cases.
It's hard to know what to do when even health experts can't agree. But as Kelly's story points out, some suggest people can and should look for all ways to reduce cancer, stopping or shying away from smoking, eating right and avoiding products with toxic or potentially toxic ingredients. It can be overwhelming, though, when you consider all the things that are or might be hazardous.
I felt that way recently after skimming through National Geographic's Green Guide Families, an encyclopedic 400-page rundown on virtually everything about which concerns have been raised, from cell phones to vaccines. Not one thing did they advise you not to worry about, it seemed, no matter how thin or discounted the evidence of potential harm. I finished wishing the authors or someone could provide the average person a little triage, at least a ranking of what to avoid or worry about most to least.
On some things, though, many on both sides of the environment/lifestyle cancer debate seem to agree. More study is needed of toxic substances, and government oversight needs to be tightened to assure the safety of what's in the products we all consume, young and old. Meanwhile, they suggest at least a little prudent avoidance.
What products do you avoid and why? Please share if you have any tips for parents ore the rest of us about how to navigate the confusing and conflicting advice about what causes cancer and how to prevent it.
(Baltimore Sun photo by Amy Davis)
Comments
Search for Curcumin and apoptosis. I began to use it as a prophylactic against cancer after reading dozens of studies. Indian food does seem to be good for you.
Posted by: SXS | May 27, 2010 3:03 PM
It is true that parents are feeling more confused than ever about how to protect their children's health. Parents need an authoritative source for information about the chemicals that can potentially harm children. National Geographic's Green Guide Families is a must-have reference book for the concerned parent. The concise format makes it easy to look up specific chemicals. Parents can turn to it when they read something online and wonder, is that chemical really bad for my child? What scientific studies have been done? The book is an excellent antidote to the confusion that so many parents are feeling.
Posted by: Catherine Zandonella | May 28, 2010 12:26 AM
These days, parents are inundated with information on potential dangers to their children. With a plethora of scare stories, it is often hard to determine what a true threat is from hype. When it comes to concerns over phthalates, parents shouldn’t be alarmed. Media stories have raised concerns over these chemicals despite their strong record of safety. The phthalates found in toys have been studied by several government agencies and have proven to be safe for use. These chemicals have never been shown to cause harm to children or adults. There are several real and more serious risks that warrant parents’ attention. More information about phthalates and a list of the top ten real risks to kids can be found at www.childsafetytaskforce.com.
Posted by: Bob Johnson | May 28, 2010 11:01 AM
The New Yorker has an interesting take this week on the environment/lifestyle cancer issue. See it here: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/05/31/100531fa_fact_groopman
Posted by: Tim Wheeler | May 29, 2010 2:45 PM