Frequently Asked Children's Health Questions

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• Kawasaki Disease, How to Clean Carpets
• Orange Cleaners, Homemade Cleaners, Disinfectants
• Paints
• Flea Control
• Insect Repellent
• Wood Decks and Playsets
• Beauty Products and Breastfeeding
• Storing and Heating Food in Plastic Containers
• Pesticide Spraying Policies in Your Neighborhood
• Indoor Air Pollution
• Resources for Sick Children
• Other Topics
  
  
  

Q: I read the interview with Kelly Preston in Redbook about her son having Kawasaki Disease. My daughter had the same disease in 1997. Thankfully, she's fully recovered now. Just before my daughter got sick, her kindergarten classroom was flooded and the school had the carpets cleaned several times. The kids took a nap everyday on mats placed on the floor.

I’m beginning to wonder if my daughter’s illness could be connected to carpet cleaner. Is there a safer way to clean my carpets at home?

A: We’re very sorry to hear about your daughter's bout with Kawasaki Disease, but are glad to know she's fully recovered. Although some studies have shown an association between carpet cleaning and Kawasaki’s disease, researchers have not been able to prove it. For more information, see Carpet Cleaners and Kawasaki Disease.

There are plenty of other reasons to be concerned about carpet cleaners—some contain dangerous solvents and pesticides that children can inhale or ingest when they play on carpet. Are Carpet Cleaners Safe? has specific information on the toxic chemicals found in carpet cleaners and stain repellents.

Carpets tend to hold onto everything, including pesticides, air pollutants, lead and mercury. Carpets also harbor dust mites and can easily become moldy. Both dust mites and mold are potent asthma and allergy triggers. For these reasons, proper cleaning of carpets is essential. You can learn how to do so safely in How to Clean Carpets without Dangerous Chemicals.

Q: I’ve been looking for safer cleaning products in my supermarket and found some with ingredients from oranges. Are these safe? Also, do you have "recipes" for different cleaning and disinfecting jobs?

A: There are now a number of cleaners on the market that promote themselves as citrus-based. Usually, these contain d-limonene, a natural oil found in orange and lemon peel. While d-limonene, in the quantities used in these cleaners, is not very dangerous, it can be irritating to eyes and lungs, especially for sensitive individuals and some asthmatics. Another concern is that the cleaner may contain ingredients besides the orange oil that could be dangerous.

Before choosing any cleaning product, read labels carefully. Unfortunately, manufacturers are not required to list ingredients on package labels. Nevertheless, they do carry warnings. The Cleaning Blues, from The Green Guide, outlines some additional things to look out for.

You can also mix up effective cleaners from ingredients in your pantry, like vinegar and baking soda. How to Clean with 5 Basic Tools suggests a few ways to use these and other ingredients to clean your home. We encourage you to experiment to find what works best for you. See our Recommended Books, for some great resources on cleaning.

As for disinfectants, please see:
Antibacterials and Disinfectants: Are They Necessary?
Antibacterials and Disinfectants: Safer Ways to Keep Germs at Bay

A: Today, the main concern with new paints is their fumes. That “new paint smell” comes from chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are released while paint is wet. Breathing large amounts of VOCs can cause headaches, fatigue, dizziness or difficulty breathing. Longterm exposure to some VOCS, which are found in many household products besides paint, may cause cancer and/or brain damage. Children tend to inhale a larger dose of VOCs than adults, since they take in more air pound for pound. So it’s best to minimize their exposure whenever possible.

Oil-based paints contain the highest level of VOCs, while water-based latex paints generally contain far less. Look on the paint labels and choose paint with a VOC content of less than 200 grams/liter. (The U.S. EPA standard requires the VOC-content of paints to be below 250 g/l.)

For asthmatics and other sensitive individuals, you can also find low- and no-VOC paints. “Natural” paints, while containing natural ingredients, are not necessarily low-VOC. For more information, see Paints and Finishes.

If your home was built before 1978 and you will be sanding the walls, make sure to test for lead paint. Remember to ventilate well while painting. Don’t allow your child in the room while it is being painted and wait until the fumes have completely disappeared before letting your child sleep in the room.

A: You're right to be concerned about the pesticides used in flea products — many of them can cause cancer or neurological damage. As your child grows up, he or she will probably hug your pet often. This natural behavior increases exposure to any toxic chemicals on the animal. Not to mention the fact that your pet is at risk, too.

There are plenty of less toxic ways to deal with fleas, but keep in mind that none of them provide an instant solution. The first step is prevention by taking care to keep your pet clean, using herbal products, and vacuuming frequently. If the fleas manage to move in, there are several different solutions, from flea combs to diatomaceous earth. For more information, see The Green Pet and The Green Pet: Alternatives to Conventional Pesticides, from The Green Guide.

A: DEET is the most common and effective insect repellent on the market today, but at high strengths it can cause skin irritation, headaches or nausea, and may affect a child’s central nervous system. Some DEET products also contain permethrin, a pesticide that should not be applied to skin!

The best protection against bug bites is covering up! Herbal alternatives, while increasing in popularity, vary in efficacy. If you choose to use a product with DEET on your children, make sure it contains less than 10 percent of the chemical and NEVER apply DEET to a child under two years old.

For some alternatives and tips on how to use DEET safely, see DEET is the Most Effective Insect Repellent, Study Shows, But Is It Right for Your Kids?

A: For many years, more than 90 percent of all pressure treated wood contained chromium copper arsenic (CCA), an arsenic-laden wood preservative to prevent damage from rot, insects and fungi. Arsenic, a known human carcinogen, can leach to the surface of the wood and into surrounding soil, exposing children to unsafe levels. Tests have shown that even years after installation, arsenic continues to leach from pressure treated wood.

In 2002, wood manufacturers agreed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to phase out CCA-treated wood by December 31, 2003. Many manufacturers and retailers have already complied, switching to safer alternatives.

Alternatives to chemically treated wood include recycled plastic or naturally rot-resistant domestic woods like aromatic cedar and black locust. Playground equipment and decking materials may be available in these materials — check with the manufacturers directly.

If it’s not possible to replace your deck or playset, you can somewhat reduce the risks by following the suggestions in How to Avoid Arsenic Exposure from CCA-Treated Wood.

See also:
Playgrounds Pose Safety Risks to Children
A Sane Home
A Sane Home: Safe Wood Choices

A: Kudos for making the commitment to breastfeeding! It’s wise of you to be cautious about what you use while nursing, since many chemicals can make their way into human breast milk. Still experts agree that the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh any risks.

Many doctors do advise against using chemical hair dyes while pregnant or nursing. The most dangerous hair dyes are the dark colors. There are some natural options though, such as henna and herbal dyes. See The Cosmetic Mask: Perms to Dye For.

Recent reports show that many cosmetics, including some hair sprays, nail polishes and perfumes, contain phthalates, which pregnant and nursing women should also avoid. See Phthalates in Hair Spray, Perfume, Deodorant? and Fragrances in Cosmetics.

Q: I’ve heard that chemicals in plastic containers can leach into some foods when they are heated in the microwave. Is the same true about foods stored in plastic, like take-out containers or plastic wrap? Are there any safe alternatives to these kinds of products?

A: According to several scientific studies, trace amounts of some chemicals can leach from plastic into food. For example, polystyrene from foam cups or containers can leach into hot drinks or meats. Researchers have found that bisphenol-A can enter baby formula when it is heated in polycarbonate plastic bottles. And phthalates, used to soften PVC plastic, can also migrate into foods stored in it. The chemicals in plastics are generally more likely to migrate into high-fat or acidic foods, such as meats, cheeses, tomato sauce, etc., when heated, such as in the microwave. Therefore, it is best to transfer foods to non-plastic containers and making sure that plastic wrap does not touch food when heating it in the microwave. The Shopper's Guide to Plastics & Food explains about this issue in greater detail.

Plastics to avoid for food storage and heating are PVC (#3), polystyrene (#6) and polycarbonate (often marked #7). Plastics: What do Those Numbers Mean? will help you identify safer choices. For alternatives, see Shopper's Guide to Plastics & Food: Alternatives to Problem Plastics. There you’ll find a link to a downloadable Plastics Products Chart.

You may also find the following articles of interest:
Feeding with the Bottle
Toxic Toys? No Thank You!
PVC: The Most Toxic Plastic

A: If you’ve taken step to eliminate pesticides in your home, in can be particularly frustrating to have to deal with pesticide applications by neighbors, schools and parks. As you know, pesticides don't obey property lines and often drift via wind or rain.

Some local and state governments have passed pesticide notification laws, which require homeowners, landlords, municipalities, schools and other to post signs before spraying pesticides to allow citizens enough time to protect themselves by staying away. That would help you know when to keep your son indoors or away from the park. For details on notification laws, see Information Please! Notification and Posting of Urban Pesticide Applications.

Even if there is no law on the books where you live, you can still ask your neighbor to let you know when he is spraying. Also ask what he’s using, so that you can get obtain health and safety information from CHEC’s HealtheHouse or other sources, such as those listed in Research Tools on The Web. Perhaps you can convince him that the chemicals are dangerous and provide him with information on alternatives, such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). You can also try to work with other like-minded neighbors to put pressure on your neighbor. Some schools have adopted pesticide policies that require the use of IPM, usually because parents have put pressure on their school officials.

To organize your own community campaign to protect children from pesticides, see Advocacy 101 for tips.

For more information on safer pest control see:
Pest Control Without Pesticides
Lawn and Garden Pesticides

A: Poor indoor air quality is a common problem in many different kinds of homes—from urban apartments to suburban houses to farms to mobile homes. Air pollutants enter homes from many sources, such as carpets, cleaners, paints, pesticides, personal care products, art supplies, gas appliances, fireplaces, cigarette smoke. Outdoor air pollution can get trapped indoors. And conditions in the home can promote the growth of mold and dustmites.

To assess your home, we suggest you take the Health eHome Quiz to help you identify sources of pollution in your home. The results will also provide you with tips on how to minimize the specific problems in your home.

For general suggestions, see Healthier Indoor Air.

Other Topics:
We receive many queries on the following topics. Please see the articles mentioned for more information on them.

Healthy Schools
Healthy Schools: A Resource List

Renovation
Old Home Renovation
Detecting and Removing Lead Paint

Lead
Lead Profile
Safe Pipes: Lead in Your Drinking Water?
Detecting and Removing Lead Paint

Mold
Mold Basics: Resources in the HealtheHouse
Mold Profile