children's health

The key issue is not "global warming," but climate change.

The adverse biophysical changes being experienced by all species on the planet is beyond debate and is linked to man-made pollution and the climate changes happening right now on Earth.

The Earth changes in an abundance of ways... many of which are extreme in nature. There is little we can do to defy these natural shifts and changes. At the same time, however, mankind is creating many global shifts and changes of its own. Shifts that are affecting all species on the planet. The effects of man-made pollution are creating undeniable & adverse conditions for all life forms. Air quality, water purity, physical health and a host of other conditions vital to a functioning global ecosystem, are fundamentally the key issue in regards to the attention & resources of humanity. Debates do not provide any considerable progress in the arena of these concerns. Rather, they delay paramount action and render allocated resources in stagnation, thus multiplying the adverse effects in a compounding fashion... on a global scale.

Asthma rates in children are climbing in every locale where air pollution rates are identified as hazardous. How, then, does debating whether the cause is global warming or climate change work to improve the health and damaged D.N.A. of these children?

Forget the debate of "global warming!"

• Global, man-made pollution is a key issue to face.

• Global climate change is a key issue to face.

• Health of all life on earth is a key issue to face.

We've been told for years to buy flame-retardant pajamas for our children, and tuck them into flame-retardant beds. Indeed, the government has often mandated the use of fire retardant chemicals in manufacturing, with an eye toward preventing the flaming family Christmas tree from igniting your child's bedding.

Science News reports that the chemicals used to retard flames include Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), neurotoxicants that are particuarly harmful to children. Worse, the dust-borne toxins accumulate in the system and are not flushed out by the body. Even the EPA now acknowledges that there maybe a downside to fire-retardants.

What can you do at home? The Healthy Children Project lists suggestions for ways in which you can ameliorate the situation, with tips that range from avoiding buying flame-resistant children's clothing, to buying used furniture that has already off-gassed much of the harmful chemical residue.

Link via enviroblog, which should be a daily read if you have children in the house.

image sxc.hu.