CHEC Virtual Yard

Showing results 1 - 25 of 70
Show All Article Results

2002 Worst Smog Season In Recent Years
August 26, 2003, U.S. PIRG -- New data show that 2002 was the worst smog season in recent years, according to a new Clear the Air report released today by U.S. Public Interest Research Group. Danger In The Air: Unhealthy Levels Of Smog In 2002 found that smog monitors in 41 states and the District of Columbia recorded unhealthy levels of air pollution on nearly 9,000 occasions in 2002, nearly double the number of violations of the national health standard for smog in 2001.

A Sane Home: In A Plywood, Particleboard & Pressure-Treated Wood World
Safe, economical alternatives to manufactured woods like plywood, particleboard and pressure-treated wood DO exist. And they won't put your kids at risk.

Air Pollution Even Worse for Heart Than Lungs
December 17, 2003, Reuters/Planet Ark -- Long-term exposure to fine particles - so-called particulate matter - in polluted air is more likely to cause death from cardiovascular disease than from respiratory conditions, researchers say.

Air Pollution Plus Secondhand Smoke Wreaks Havoc on City Babies
January 23, 2004, New York Post -- The breath you just took puts your unborn baby at risk for learning disabilities - and worse. Air pollution and secondhand smoke together deliver a devastating one-two punch to infants.

Americans are Walking Pesticide Receptacles, CDC Data Shows
May 19, 2004, Children's Health Environmental Coalition -- According to a new report from the Pesticide Action Network (PAN), all Americans have pesticides, such as 2,4-D and DDT, in their blood and urine. PAN analyzed data collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most horrifying discoveries by PAN: Women and children have the highest levels of pesticides, and levels often exceed what is considered safe.

An Effective Weed Killer is in Your Pantry, USDA Discovers
May 16, 2002--Vinegar kills weeds quickly and effectively, according to tests conducted by scientists at the Agriculture Research Service.

Arsenic Found In Red Mulch
August 22, 2003, WESH News -- An investigation by a Florida TV station finds that some wood mulches may contain high levels of arsenic due to recycling of pressure treated wood.

Bug Repellent and Sunscreen Don't Mix, According to Study
July 24, 2003, National Post -- Now there is conflicting advice for parents -- not only about the use of bug spray and its controversial ingredient DEET, but about using both sunscreen and DEET repellent at the same time. According to a new study, mixing insect repellent and sunscreen may cause skin rashes, dizziness, disorientation, seizures or changes in blood pressure in the young and old. Laboratory tests suggest that the combination of the two products may cause DEET to penetrate the skin more readily.

California Pesticide Drifts Routinely Exceed Acceptable Levels, says Study
May 9, 2003, Environmental News Network -- Airborne pesticide levels in California routinely exceed acceptable health standards miles from where they are used, according to the Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR) coalition.

Canadian Agency Bans Some Common Insect Repellent Products, While Duke Scientist Shows Neurological Effects
May 24, 2002--The most popular insect repellents on the market contain DEET. However, the Canadian government has just banned some formulations due to the potential for overexposure that could result in damage to health. Recent studies on lab animals show that DEET may affect the brain, which could have serious consequences for children.

Cancer Risk is in the Air for California Babies
October 8, 2002--California is well-known as the nation's smoggiest state. A new report from the National Environmental Trust shows that babies in the state's metropolitan areas breathe in a lifetime risk for cancer within just a few days of being born.

Car Exhaust and Other Combustion Pollutants Damage Fetal DNA
June 25, 2004 -- A new study from Columbia University finds that babies in the womb are more sensitive to DNA damage from air pollution from cars and tobacco smoke than their mothers. Such damage Has been linked in prior studies to increased risk of cancer And reductions In fetal growth.

CHEC Action Alert: Tell the U.S. EPA to Strengthen Utility Mercury Emissions Rule
The proposed final rule on mercury emissions from utilities falls short in protecting children. Act now by submitting comments on the rule before it goes into effect. The deadline is March 30, 2004.

CHEC's Spanish Materials
List of CHEC materials in Spanish

Child and Environmental Advocates Urge US Youth Soccer to Give TruGreen/Chemlawn Partnership the Boot -- Take Action Now!
October 5, 2004, Stop Commercial Exploitation of Children -- Citing concerns about exploiting children to market toxic products to their families, thirty prominent children’s and environmental organizations, including CHEC, sent a public letter to US Youth Soccer (USYS) asking them not to renew their sponsorship agreement with TruGreen/ChemLawn.

Children's Blood-Lead Levels Declining, but Studies Show Exposure Causes Long-Term Risks
January 12, 2003--New national statistics show that lead levels in children are declining, but new studies emphasize that any exposure to lead can have an impact on a child's future. One study links lead exposure to delinquency and another shows that high levels of lead in adults can increase significantly the likelihood of mortality.

Cleaner Air? Proposed Reductions in Smog but Not Mercury
December 5, 2003, Environmental News Network and Reuters (Planet Ark) -- EPA has released proposed rules to cap emissions of sulfur dioxide and smog-causing nitrogen oxide at power plants in the eastern half of the country.

But meanwhile the Bush Administration has been sharply criticized for being lax about mercury emissions, which can harm the developing brains of fetuses and young children. The Natural Resources Defense Council claims that delaying a Clinton-era plan to reduce mercury emission will endanger countless children. See: Mercury Cut Delay Could Endanger Newborns

EPA Approves Amendment to Phase Out Arsenic Wood Treatments
March 19, 2003 -- Environmental Working Group
See Also: Firms Making Arsenic-Treated Products To Notify California Consumers of Risks

EPA Completes Comprehensive Review of Insecticide Carbaryl
July 8, 2003, Capitol Reports - A reevaluation of the common pesticide carbaryl will result in some new restrictions.

EPA Emails Alerts to Prevent Skin Cancer and Asthma
October 7, 2005, Childrens Health Environmental Coalition -- Sign up for email alerts for air quality and UV radiation.

EPA to cut air pollution from off-road diesel vehicles
April 17, 2003 -- Reuters

EPA Won't Regulate Dioxins in Sewage Fertilizer
October 21, 2003, Reuters -- The U.S. EPA will let farmers apply sludge as fertilizer without concern for the amount of dioxin, a class of organic chemicals that the agency's studies have shown pose a possible cancer risk in humans.

From Our Readers: Safe Play Sand?
A reader recently discovered a carcinogen warning on a bag of play sand. She asks: How can they sell such a product for children? Fortunately there is safe play sand on the market.

Funds for Cleaner School Buses Available
Sept 29, 2004, Children's Health Environmental Coaltion -- A new program will provide funds for retrofitting school buses with cleaner technologies. Pass this article on to your school district soon.

Games, Arts & Crafts
Kids can paint, draw, mold and build creatively without sniffing noxious chemicals from their art supplies. Here's a roundup of safe products.

Showing results 1 - 24 of 24
Show All Chemical Results

Red	Orange	Yellow
Danger! Prevent Exposure	Warning Avoid Exposure	Caution Limit Exposure

(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid
Widely used herbicide

1,4-dichlorobenzene
used in mothballs and deodorizers

2-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy)propionic acid
A widely used herbicide used on lawns and golf course

3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid
herbicide, sometimes combined with 2,4-D or MCPP

arsenic
toxic heavy metal

atrazine
a triazine herbicide, the most commonly used herbicide in the U.S. due to its widespread use on corn fields

benfluralin
Herbicide used primarily on lawns and golf courses

bromethalin
toxic rodenticide that affects the nervous system

carbaryl
neurotoxic insecticide used in anti-flea products and garden pesticides.

chlorothalonil
organochlorine fungicide

chlorpyrifos
Organophosphate insecticide, phased out for use in homes in 2000.

diazinon
An organophosphate insecticide

dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)
persistent organochlorine insecticide, banned in the U.S., but used in other countries

diphacinone
highly toxic rodenticide

endosulfan
persistent bioaccumulative organochlorine insecticide

environmental tobacco smoke (ETS)
smoke produced by burning tobacco products

fipronil
insecticide used to control cockroaches, ants, fleas, ticks, mites and termites

glyphosate
widely used herbicide

malathion
An organophosphate insecticide.

N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide
insect repellent

permethrin
pyrethroid insecticide

polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
toxic organochlorine compounds, once used as insulators in electrical equipment, that remain in the environment years after their use was banned in 1977

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
particles formed when coal, oil, gas, garbage, tobacco and food are burned

resmethrin
pyrethroid pesticide