Baby Products cause cancer?

I may be giving my kids cancer and you could be doing the same if you use common baby products. I use the generic Johnson& Johnson and Baby Magic. Well, it seems those are poor choices if you don't want your kids to have cancer. Okay, I am being a little over the top, but it does make me mad when there is even a slight chance that baby products-the ones made especially for the tiniest people-have dangerous chemicals in them. Come on! That is ridiculous.

Here's the story from the Washington Post: More than half the baby shampoo, lotions and other infant care products analyzed by a health advocacy group were found to contain trace amounts of two cancer-causing chemicals, the organization said today.

Some of the biggest names on the market, including Johnson& Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic baby lotion, tested positive for 1,4 dioxane or formaldehyde, or both, the non-profit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported.

The chemicals, which have both been characterized as probable carcinogens by the Environmental Protection Agency, are not intentionally added to the products and do not appear on ingredient labels. Instead, they appear to be byproducts of the manufacturing process. Formaldehyde is created when other chemicals in the product begin to break down over time, while 1,4 dioxane is formed when foaming agents are combined with ethylene oxide or similar petrochemicals.

The organization tested 48 baby bath products ranging from bubble bath to shampoo. Of those, 32 contained trace amounts of 1,4 dioxane and 23 contained small amounts of formaldehyde. Seventeen tested positive for both chemicals. "Our intention is not to alarm parents but to inform parents that products that claim to be gentle and pure are contaminated with carcinogens, which is completely unnecessary," said Stacy Malkin, a spokeswoman for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is calling for the federal government to more aggressively regulate personal care products such as shampoos, lotions and makeup.

Companies that manufacture and sell the products tested by the group stressed that they comply with government standards. "The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements in every country where they are sold," Johnson& Johnson said in a statement. "We are disappointed that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has inaccurately characterized the safety of our products, misrepresented the overwhelming consensus of scientists and government agencies that review the safety of ingredients, and unnecessarily alarmed parents."

The European Union has banned 1,4 dioxane as an ingredient in personal care products, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not established a safe limit for the chemical in shampoo, lotion, and other toiletries. It maintains that the trace amounts found in those products are not harmful.

A 1982 study by the FDA showed that 1,4 dioxane can penetrate human skin when used in lotions. Health advocates argue, however, that federal regulators have failed to consider the cumulative impact of chemicals in personal care products.

"The levels we've found are relatively low and the industry often says there's just a little bit of carcinogen in my product," Malkin said. "The problem is, we're finding a little bit of carcinogen in many products. Many of these products are used every day, so we've got repeated and frequent exposure to these low levels of chemicals. They're not the safest and purest products, and parents ought to know that."

In addition, government studies have not examined the impact of chemical exposure on the particular vulnerabilities of infants and children, whose bodies are still developing, the advocates said. Several Democratic lawmakers said the report was evidence that the nation's chemical regulation system needs reform.

"The fact that we are bathing our kids in products contaminated with carcinogens shows how woefully out of date our cosmetics laws are and how urgently they need to be updated," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). "The science has moved forward; now the FDA needs to catch up and be given the authority to protect the health of Americans."

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) called the findings "horrifying" and said she intends to introduce legislation that would require stronger oversight of the cosmetics industry.
The report can be found at www.safecosmetics.org/toxictub

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Something many parents do may be illegal

I see parents do this just about everyday and it could soon be illegal in one state. I can't remember the details about Illinois, but I think we tried to pass a similar law. Peoria County has a very high smoking rate so there is a good chance some parents are smoking in their cars with their babies in the back seat. But how far should government go to protect kids from second hand smoke? The parents most likely own the car they are smoking in. Can the state restrict smoking there? I don't know, but it's an interesting concept. I think most of you know kids shouldn't be exposed to second hand smoke, but can we force parents to abide by that rule?

FROM CNN: You've probably heard of drivers being fined for drinking and driving. Well, a Maryland lawmaker is supporting legislation that would fine drivers for smoking and driving if they have a child eight years or younger in the vehicle. 

Doing this in a car, with a child passenger eight years old or younger, even with the windows down, could cost you a 50 dollar fine. Some smokers think the proposal goes too far. They say the law of common sense should apply instead. "I have a nine-month-old granddaughter, and I am a smoker, but I wouldn't never think about smoking around her. To me it's very common sense." 

Senate bill 288 under consideration in the judicial proceedings committee also prohibits the driver from allowing other passengers in the vehicle to smoke in the presence of a child. It would not be considered a moving violation, although police agencies would be responsible for enforcing it , since a child that young must be in a car seat. "We protect adults in elevators, conference rooms, restaurants, and restrooms, buses, trains, but we don't protect our own children, our own young children in cars."

Legislative observers are surprised that the clean indoor air act of 2007 doesn't extend to private vehicles. It prohibits smoking in vehicles used to transport children. Children are especially vulnerable to developing respiratory disorders, bronchitis, asthma, even permanent reduced lung capacity.The general assembly is considering as many as nine bills that prohibit doing something in a car. 

For example, distracted while driving carries a 500 dollar fine. The definition of distraction includes reading, writing, personal grooming, watching a video display or attending to a child. And several variations of no texting while driving is back for consideration. But the smoking ban in personal vehicles when there is a baby on board is getting a lot of attention.

"If you're in a car and you light up a cigarette, you are as good as sharing that cigarette with your three-year-old, strapped in a car seat." A similar bill failed in Maryland two years ago, but this year there are more co-sponsors, and enforcement has been taken out of health care and put in the hands of police.

Do you wish your state had this law or do you think it infringes on a person's right to smoke?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Sitting on a ball at school?

FROM CNN: Some fifth-grade students in New Jersey are having a ball learning --- by sitting on one. This is how we're used to seeing classrooms operate? Students, sitting in chairs, listening to their teacher? But in Glen Ridge, what they're used to, is about to change. "I think it's good, so let's try sitting on it."

This is the new "chair" for these 5th graders at Ridgewood Avenue school - a stability ball. Shannon Lekas introduced them to her class, after hearing about them from a former co-worker.
"I liked the educational component that came with it, having them really learn about why the ball really benefits them."

The stability balls were developed by the Wit Fit company to help promote concentration and fitness in the classroom. They have special legs on them to help students learn better balance... and proper posture. Charlie Bodell told me, when he sat down in a chair for our interview, he realized the stability balls work.

"I'm kind of slouching right now, cause i'm just used to doing that, but on a stability ball, it's uncomfortable to slouch so you sit up more straight, like this."

"We're supposed to sit in a 90 degree angle and make sure we can do stuff with the ball, like reach for things without falling off."

"That's been really great for them to learn that they can move and they can be active learners and the ball allows for that."

Students re-enforce what they've learned with computer games and by writing letters to wit fit about their progress and their principal couldn't be happier.

"The kids are excited. They're learning and if you can put those 2 things together, it's a wonderful experience for everyone."

So has anyone seen the episode of the Office when Jim punctures Dwight's stability ball? Too funny! Anyway, if this became popular at work I would totally use it, but I probably wouldn't be the Dwight at the office and be the lone person sitting on an exercise ball all day. I would end up with my stapler in jello for sure.

I would vote for it-at least part of the day- for my kids. Childhood obesity is an epidemic right now. A stability ball can't hurt!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Scrapbooking to save kids

Come scrapbook this Friday night to benefit kids. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is something every parent fears and doctors don't have all the answers when it comes to prevention.

Organizers of the SCRAP FOR SIDS event will be asking for a $20 donation to come to the party March 13th from 6p.m.-Midnight at Northminster Presbyterian Church on North Knoxville in Peoria. You can bring your own scrapping supplies or buy supplies at the event.

All the profits from supplies and the $20 fee will be donated directly to SIDS of Illinois-a group dedicated to the prevention and eventual elimination of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other causes of infant death.

Some of the women attending are bringing a snack to share. I would be there if I weren't working! It sounds fun!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Kids on Potent Drugs

Kids with high cholesterol? Doesn't that sound crazy? I would imagine there are steps parents can take to prevent the kids from going on statins. I don't think any parent wants their child on medication for the rest of their lives. That's a scary thought!

FROM CNN: The high rate of childhood obesity in the U.S. has prompted some pediatricians to start screening kids for high cholesterol. 

Take a deep breath. Maddie Zacks is only 9 and she's already been tested twice because of a family History of heart disease. What we're looking for is the results of your lab. Pediatricians like Dr. Jennifer Shu recommend the blood tests for certain Youngsters ages 2 to 10.

The children who are most concerning are those who are already overweight or Obese or if they have family history of early heart disease. If a child's cholesterol is high, what do you do about it?
Doctors point to lifestyle changes such as daily exercise and eating a healthy Diet.
As a last resort, a small percentage of children might be prescribed a Cholesterol-lowering drug called a statin.

Putting a child or even a teenager on a statin is a major step because that individual may require statin therapy for the rest of their life. Something maddie doesn't have to worry about after getting some good news. Your total cholesterol is awesome, it is 148. Is that average?It is better than average, you're a super star.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

The picture on my new desk

It is amazing to me how much a five-year-old understands. I wasn't sure how to explain to him what happened at work last week. Can a kid understand an operating agreement? Probably not. But he did understand that I am working with new people and I am at a new building. So when I came home he gave me several pictures he had painted. They looked like houses. He said, "Mamma, here are some pictures of the HOI building so you don't miss it." Isn't that sweet? I brought one to work and am slowly decorating my new desk. What a great start!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen