Many of us couldn't imagine that the chemicals in our air, water and land can affect a newborn. Body burden testing has changed all that. We now know, through biomedical tests on umbilical cords, that newborns have been exposed to at least 287 chemicals found in our everyday environment.  For more information, see: BodyBurden:  The Pollution in Newborns).

Testing on children and adults has rendered similar results, as a recent CNN article reports. As more biomedical tests for body burden are done by environmental health nonprofits, the CDC, and others, the question is no longer if we are exposed, but how to limit those exposures. That's what our Center is all about: finding the ways to prevent cancer and other diseases that harm our children, through research and education.  For more information, see  Tests Reveal High Chemical Levels in Kids' Bodies (CNN).

Story Highlights:

So-called "body burden" testing reveals industrial chemicals in humans. Many of these chemicals harm rats, but studies on humans are preliminary. One scientist warns modern-day humans living an "unnatural experiment." Now what to do? Take one step at a time towards a healthier you, a healthier family, and a healthier world. All it takes is one action, which we've found inevitably leads to another. To reduce environmental exposures to toxins, begin by:

• Replacing traditional cleaning chemicals with Greening the Cleaning® products, based on natural ingredients.
• Replacing traditional lawn and garden pesticides with natural alternatives.
• Avoiding pesticide residues on food by buying organic produce.
• Buying cosmetics and toiletries based on natural ingredients.
• Maintaining a healthy, whole-food, organic diet whenever possible.
• Avoid fish contaminated with mercury and PCB's.

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Updated 2/18/2010