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For more information and to register, visit The National Pesticide Forum Website.

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“The court rejected the agency’s blank check to spray people’s yards, exposing children and pets to a range of pesticides that can cause serious long-term problems, including cancer, asthma, and IQ loss,” said Debbie Friedman, founder of MOMS Advocating Sustainability. “If only the $4.5 million in taxpayer dollars used to develop this outdated program had been spent to develop a modern, sustainable approach that does not rely on toxic chemicals, just imagine what progress we could have made toward a healthier environment for everyone.”

“Now California has to take reasonable, site-specific steps to curb the harms of pesticides to our water supplies and imperiled species like salmon,” said Jonathan Evans, environmental health legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “This ruling affirms that people should have a voice in pesticide use in their neighborhoods.”

The state’s attorney told the court that the Department of Food and Agriculture had already carried out more than 1,000 pesticide treatments since the program was approved in 2014.  Pesticides used in the program include these dangerous chemicals:

·      Chlorpyrifos, known to cause brain damage in children and to threaten 97 percent of endangered wildlife;
·      Neonicotinoid pesticides that are highly toxic to pollinators like bees and aquatic invertebrates like crustaceans and mollusks;
·      The toxic fumigant methyl bromide, which depletes the protective ozone layer;
·      The chemical warfare agent chloropicrin, which causes genetic damage.

“The judge has told the state that harmful pesticides simply can’t be sprayed indiscriminately, without robust consideration of impacts on people, animals and water,” said Bill Allayaud, California Director of Government Affairs for the Environmental Working Group. “The ruling also affirms that Californians have the right to know about pesticides being sprayed around them and the ability to challenge spraying that endangers public health and natural resources.”

The suit was brought by the City of Berkeley and 11 public-health, conservation, and food-safety organizations: the Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Working Group, California Environmental Health Initiative, MOMS Advocating Sustainability, Center for Food Safety, Pesticide Action Network North America, Center for Environmental Health, Environmental Action Committee of West Marin, Beyond Pesticides, Californians for Pesticide Reform, and Safe Alternatives for our Forest Environment. The plaintiffs are represented by Arthur Friedman of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter, and Hampton, along with Jason Flanders of ATA Law Group.

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An appeals court threw out the State of California’s Light Brown Apple Month (LBAM) pesticide program on the grounds that it violates state environmental laws. Their plan was to spray toxic pesticides over multiple counties in the San Francisco Bay Area every 30-90 days for seven years for an agricultural pest. This “spray now, think later” approach was outdated and based on a decades old approach to pest management.

How This Legal Fight Started

• The LBAM pesticide program began with an aerial spray over populated areas of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties in 2007, resulting in hundreds of complaints of harm to human health and wildlife.
• The state planned to continue the spraying in the Bay Area, over millions of people, farms and coastal waterways, all without real environmental review.
• In 2008, MOMS Advocating Sustainability started as a small group of Marin moms called Mothers of Marin Against the Spray (MOMAS), to fight against the LBAM spray.
• Through extensive organizing, outreach to press, and coalition building, MOMAS and other groups were able to halt the aerial spraying – a tremendous and important victory for the citizens of both the Bay Area and of our state.
• Knowing this would not be the end of the CDFA’s pesticide program, we filed a lawsuit with several other groups and cities.

A Big Thank You

MOMAS was a leader in an incredible coalition of non-profit organizations and cities all throughout Northern California, with amazing pro-bono attorneys at Earthjustice and Cooley, that all teamed together to make this victory possible. You can read more about the efforts in our coalition press release  and in the news. We thank each and every one of you that supported us along the way with phone calls, letters, and meetings with our officials, and most importantly your encouragement.

What Next?

We are also hopeful this decision will have a positive impact on another of our litigation efforts over the Statewide Plant Pest Prevention and Management Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), which allows dangerous chemicals to be used anywhere in the state, any time into the indefinite future, without an option for affected communities to stop the spray. The state can also approve new pesticide treatments and treatment sites behind closed doors without public scrutiny or notice.

Read more about our PEIR efforts here.

To read the appeal document certified for publication, click here.

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By Myrto Ashe, MD, MPH, a functional medicine family physician

Sometimes it can be hard to decide: Should you spend the extra money on organic foods? Will it matter for your health? For your kids? Who do you believe?

Up until now, we have only had clues that organic foods make a difference. We have argued mainly that it should “be expected” to make a difference. But a new study from Norway involving tens of thousands of families brings us closer to the truth.

Here is how the argument has gone so far:

1. Research has shown that people who eat organic food have lower levels of certain pesticides in their bodies
2. Research has shown that people with these same pesticides in their bodies tend to have more health problems such as hyperactivity
3. So you would expect people who eat organic food to have fewer health problems

It made sense as an argument but it was vulnerable to the belief that there is a low level of pesticides that is safe, and that the FDA knows what this level is and won’t permit food to be sold if it contains poisons above that level.

So the study from Norway is crucial because it finally made the link between what pregnant women eat and the health of their babies. Researchers followed 35,107 pregnant women and asked them whether they ate mostly organic or mostly non-organic food. Pesticide standards are definitely just as strict in Norway as they are in the US, if not more so. The outcome of the study was that women who ate mostly organic foods had half the chance that their baby boys would be born with a birth defect called hypospadias.

Hypospadias is just the sort of defect you would expect pesticides to cause because it involves the development of male sex organs and is dependent on sex hormone levels during development. And we know that many pesticides are hormone disruptors. So the finding makes perfect biological sense.

So, is this a failure of regulatory agencies?

Well, not exactly. The problem seems to be that the agencies never considered the effect of using several chemicals at the same time. Yet, in the food we eat, there are dozens of pesticides, along with other chemicals. A rat study provides the answer: when 7 different chemicals were used, they acted additively, meaning that it was as though you had 7 times more of a single chemical.

Our FDA has been assuming that if a small amount of X chemical is OK, and a small amount of Y chemical is OK, then you will be fine eating something with both X and Y. But it turns out that the maximum allowable amount depends on how many chemicals are in there. That is much harder to test for and legislate.

So your best strategy is to eat organic, because everything matters, regardless of what the FDA says: how many chemicals you are exposed to, which ones, how often, how much, what you are prone to, and how efficiently you detoxify.

For more reasons to eat organic, read here.

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We have noticed a rash of comments in a variety of mainstream media accusing anyone who questions the safety of genetically modified foods of being “anti-science” and “hysterical”. These comments will also typically include the statements that hysterical anti-science people also oppose vaccinations and deny climate change. They go on to list beneficial GMO foods, skipping over the approximately 98% that involve heavy pesticide ingestion. The latest salvo came recently in a post from NY Magazine accusing Chipotle of fueling hysteria by announcing that they would serve only non-GMO foods.

We see the “anti-science” and “hysterical” claims connected to those asking questions about the safety of GMO food and the pesticides associated with them so often, and in that exact combination, that we now take it as a clue that the authors may have been schooled in the pesticide industry’s talking points. When Monsanto admitted that they fund a whole department devoted to opposing claims that their products are unsafe, no one was surprised. “Our products are safe” is what Dupont said right up until the day they were fined the largest ever EPA fine for hiding the known harms of PFOAs, a major  component of Teflon. We are used to this argument but in recent months we’ve seen it more in attacks than defense.

A group of doctors who recently attacked Dr. Mehmet Oz for promoting unproven treatments and questioning the safety of glyphosate were found to have ties to the tobacco industry, having defended them against accusations that tobacco causes cancer. Dr. Oz has promoted some unproven treatments, which makes the charge closer to the truth, but make no mistake, the group’s attack letter was timed to follow his viral video on the dangers of glyphosate, which was fully based on recent science.

When the IARC (World Health Organization group for research on cancer) declared glyphosate a probable carcinogen, credible accusations that people and organizations relying on this report to ask for limits on the widespread use of the herbicide are “anti-science” was not possible. IARC is one of the most highly respected scientific groups internationally. This puts Monsanto in an awkward position. It is an inescapable fact that our consumption of foods sprayed with glyphosate involves exposing farmers to quantities that are probably carcinogenic. This includes all Roundup Ready crops, for example, and much non-organic wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, and many more. How is this anti-science?

We get it, that is not what Chipotle implied, but their policy is a step in the right direction.

We are not saying that anyone accusing anyone else of being anti-science and hysterical always has the hidden agenda of supporting industry’s right to poison us, but we do consider that possibility anytime we see those words in print.

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By, Myrto Ashe, MD, MPH, a functional medicine family physician

Glyphosate, the world’s most common herbicide, has been declared a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) via its International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC). Glyphosate is the key component of Monsanto’s “Roundup” and also a component of the new “Enlist Duo” recently marketed to be used in conjunction with some of the newest genetically modified crops resistant to both glyphosate and the herbicide 2,4-D.

This is a huge blow to Monsanto, whose business model involves developing, marketing and obtaining market near-monopoly for crops genetically engineered to withstand the pesticides they sell.

Without glyphosate, there is no need for the majority of genetically engineered crops (not by type, but by volume). Without Roundup and Enlist Duo, I am not sure there is really any Monsanto.

So, while I greet the news from the WHO with a sense of satisfaction that decades of scientific findings had finally prevailed, I am also very concerned about this decision being retracted. This has happened previously in response to research claims about the adverse effects of glyphosate.

So I went to bed last night with a sense of vindication tempered by a sense of concern about the futility of opposing such a huge global trend.

But then I woke up with this thought in mind: we may not have as much power as Monsanto, as individuals, but with our social networks, we just might.

Here’s what you can do: glyphosate is used by agriculture, by business and government, and by individuals. Address these with one small action each.

1.      Understand that pesticides are not needed to feed the world. Famine is about politics, not agricultural production. Please don’t fall for industry arguments.

2.     Buy organic food: as far as your food supply is concerned, most of the glyphosate is used in wheat, sugarcane and potato harvesting. The FDA does not test for glyphosate residue, having declared it safe. The production of soybeans and corn to feed livestock is another huge contributor to the use of this herbicide, so processed food and conventionally grown meat may be other important sources of dietary glyphosate.

3.     Make a small fuss at any restaurant you frequent: let them know their cookies-brownies-pastries-pretzels-bagels-donuts-noodles-baguette-pizza-burger bun need to be organic because otherwise they are full of glyphosate, which causes cancer.

4.     Write your local Parks and Rec, school superintendent, children’s playground or local business with landscaping. Explain that you certainly hope they do not use glyphosate as an herbicide because it is carcinogenic according to the WHO.

5.     If you have Roundup at home, return the leftovers to the store where you bought it. Offer to return your neighbor’s. Take it to the hazardous waste dump if they can’t remember where they bought it.

6.    Post to your online neighborhood or parents’ group. Just let them know that no matter what they hear in the future, this product is very unlikely to be as safe as previously thought. This is a huge deal: I am sure the International Agency of Research on Cancer did not come to this decision lightly or hastily.

7.     Please understand that discovery of harm is likely to happen eventually with all pesticides, including herbicides and insecticides. These are biologically active chemicals, or they wouldn’t actually work. They won’t kill us, but they will make some of us sick, especially those of us who apply the chemicals, and those of us who are genetically susceptible.

8.    If you see weedy landscaping, please do not write to complain. If you need to comment, recommend they find landscaping alternatives that naturally discourage weeds.

9.    Live organic! This may include purchasing key items made of organic cotton, organic wool (such as Icebreaker), organic shampoo ingredients and so on. Each of the consumer items you use may represent agricultural workers somewhere who had to apply chemicals to eventually produce what you are thinking of buying. Protect them with your dollars if you can. Look for an organic seal, not just the word “Organics” in the name of the product (or read the list of ingredients).

10.  And thank you for helping every day to create a safer, more vibrant world.

A version of this article was originally published on Unconventional Medicine, a blog by Myrto Ashe, MD, MPH.  © Myrto Ashe, MD, MPH.  It is reprinted here by permission.

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Stop Spraying Toxic Pesticides in Schools

Do you know whether your child’s school is spraying toxic pesticides on school grounds? If so, do you know what they are spraying, how much and when they apply these products? If you can answer yes to these questions then you are in the minority of educated parents. Most parents are in the dark about what is occurring on our public school campuses and I think this is simply because a common sense person would ask, “Why would they apply Roundup (glyphosate) and Speed Zone (2,4-D), around young children?” And, unless your school is posting signs before and after application, there is absolutely no way for you to know what your children are exposed to 180 days a year.

I am one of those parents who had no idea until a year ago. This is when my journey began of awareness about the nasty truth behind toxic pesticides and herbicides, where studies are linking them to cancer, ADHD and asthma, to name a few.

I am a 41 year-old-mom of two elementary school children in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District (N-MUSD). I started noticing posted signs about Roundup application on my children’s schools and asked the very question, “Why?”

My adventure began when the Superintendent sent out a district-wide email inviting parents to a roundtable meeting. Topic: “Address parents concerns about the application of Roundup.” I decided to go to the meeting, expecting a full house. I was very surprised to only see three other parents at the meeting. The Superintendent and the Director of Facilities were there to address the questions.

By the end of the meeting, I had committed myself to working with the Director of Facilities with the idea of offering alternative solutions to the application of Roundup. However, I was in for more than I bargained for when I asked the Director for information about what, when and how much of the toxic pesticides were applied on our campuses. I took all the information and started on my adventure. The more I researched the products they were using, the more I realized I had to do something…this had to STOP.

Four months of research resulted in a thirteen-page report. I submitted it to the district with an idealistic attitude that we were going to be a progressive district and leaders of change. Well, idealistic being the key word.

The current California law about the application of toxic pesticides in schools is extremely lenient. It wasn’t until The Healthy Schools Act of 2000, that schools were required to post a sign 72 hours after application. For a parent to be notified of an upcoming application, they must sign up through the district’s notification database at the beginning of every year. You know that big packet you get at the beginning of every school year? There is supposed to be a form explaining where you can sign up for notifications of upcoming toxic pesticide application. The caveat being even though you are notified of the upcoming poisoning of your children, keeping them out of school is your only option…hmmmm? Additionally, the state of California only recommends that school districts adopt an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, it is not mandatory. Just because a school district adopts the California recommended IPM program, implementation of the IPM protocol is another story.

I had to face the reality that change within my district will not happen overnight and to expect a large school district to change their protocol was wishful thinking. So, after meeting with our principal and the PTA unit president, we decided to approach the district with the idea to stop using Roundup on my daughter’s campus, Davis Magnet School, and use it as a “test campus.” They agreed, and January 2014 was the last application of Roundup on the Davis campus, the largest elementary campus in the district. Since this time, the maintenance crew is weed whacking and have only had to add one man hour a week. While there are several weeds in our un-mulched planter beds (mulching is an IPM approach), no other concerns have been expressed by the district.

Because of our success at Davis, with the support of the principal at my son’s campus, Newport Elementary, I approached the school district once again to stop the application of Roundup. Seeing as only one additional man-hour per week was needed at the largest elementary school campus, I thought it would be an easy sell for Newport Elementary, the smallest campus in the district. After a couple of weeks of emails getting the run around about “protocol,” I was annoying enough to get a meeting with the Director of Facilities. That morning is when everything changed…behold the Smoking Gun!

Two hours before my meeting, a colleague told me of a school district in Southern California that has eliminated conventional toxic pesticides, Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD). I immediately called LVUSD and voila, a public school district with an invested team to eliminate toxic chemicals from ALL their campuses! I knew it would be much more difficult for N-MUSD to ignore me if another school district had an existing model to follow. It worked! Not only did the district agree to stop applying Roundup on Newport Elementary campus, they agreed to start a conversation to create an IPM committee…hopefully with me on it.

With the knowledge that N-MUSD is applying Roundup on the other elementary schools, and Roundup and 2,4-D on high school sports field, I will continue to push the district to form an IPM committee with me as a member. This is the solution to protect our children from exposure to these toxic pesticides every six to ten weeks.

Together with a mom from the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD), we are in the process of repeating this process. IUSD agreed to use one of their elementary school campuses as a “test campus.” Hopefully with the success of IPM programs at LVSD and N-MUSD, IUSD will follow suit. From there, I hope for a snowball effect forcing the passing of legislation mandating that ALL public school districts adopt, implement and enforce an IPM program.

All in all this is a fight I never saw coming into my life. As more and more scientific studies surface about the long-term health risks linked from exposure to these toxic pesticides, it motivates me to push forward and educate parents and our community.

We don’t allow smoking on our children’s campuses, so why are these toxic pesticides that “protect children from weeds” allowed to be applied directly on the surface where they play, eat and relax? It makes no sense, and let the school districts of California know, we are not stopping and we will not rest until our children are protected from poison that is simply used to kill a weed.

“The human race is challenged more than ever before to demonstrate our mastery-not over nature but of ourselves.” – Rachel Carson

Scientific Studies on Toxic Pesticides:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12512947

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4025008/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23756170

Vanessa Handy is an Orange County native and lives in Costa Mesa, CA.  Her primary job is being a mom to an eleven year old daughter and nine year old son.  Since 2012, Vanessa has been advocating community involvement and sustainability in K-12 education, including being part of a team expanding a K-6 public school into a curriculum-based educational nature center.  She is leading a charge to eradicate toxic pesticides from public schools and parks, and educate our children and community of the truth behind conventional agriculture and the health implications of our current food supply.  Vanessa has a Bachelor of Science in Business from California State University, Long Beach, a Permaculture Design Certificate from The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano and is the PTA Legislative Chair at her children’s schools.  Her vision is to create social change towards a healthier future for our children and planet by converting all public school campuses into experiential nature centers, bridging the gap between nature and science. 

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As spring started coming around this year, I noticed lots of Facebook posts about the sharp decline of the bee population and the related overuse of pesticides, especially Neonic or nicotine based pesticides and Glyphosate based herbicides, and most specifically Roundup. As Earth Day approached, I made a commitment to step outside my comfort zone and voice my concerns about what was happening to our pollinators and how we could individually do our part to address the situation.

As I tried to find out just exactly what the cause was for the bees drastic decline, it became clearer and clearer to me that what was really happening to the bees and other pollinators could not be separated from what was happening to our food, our health, our wildlife and the earth itself.

If we think catastrophic climate change is a wake up call to the devastation the industrial age has wrought, the devastating loss of one third of our bee population globally over the last few years and the disappearance of our monarch butterfly population over the same time is no less a clarion call for what is to come if we do not put the brakes on our reliance and subsequent parasitical destruction of the ecosystem in ways it’s hard to conceive.

It has become more and more certain that Roundup herbicide is not the harmless weed killer we thought but an extremely toxic, even deadly substance to humans, suspected in a long list of health disorders including chronic kidney failure, endocrine disruption, liver atrophy, autism, Parkinson’s Disease and Muscular Sclerosis to name a few. President Obama released a statement this June regarding his own concern about the loss of the honeybee and the pollinator population in general in the US calling for a 180 day period of research and reassessment regarding the use of Neonics and other chemicals used in weed and pest control that might be the underlying cause of colony collapse disorder. Be aware that these chemicals are often what so many of us allow sprayed on our lawns by companies like True Green and remain toxic to us, our children and our pets for long after they are applied and also find their way into our aquifers, our food and our air, killing not just bees but birds, amphibians and other wild life.

Research over the last twenty years or so makes it clear the Roundup and Neonics as well as Organophosphates do not just disappear from our food once treated, but are actually systemic and remain in every molecule of the plant and the soil. Our intake of these substances is high and it has been widely reported that the herbicide Roundup has been found in alarmingly high levels in the breast milk of nursing mothers.

Now we are beginning to see what’s been called a “global resistance” to the deadly triumvirate of GMO, Roundup and Neonic pesticides. Conversely, there is also a spike in the interest and subsequent increase in small and large organic farming as well as the adoption of permaculture as a new paradigm which helps us envision our environment in completely different and eco-loving way allowing us to understand the natural checks and balances of our ecosystem that can support, nourish and increase our farm and garden yields without the use of synthetic poisons.

I truly believe we can heal the earth through a new paradigm that re-perceives our role as being co-gardeners with this planet of ours. In fact, I think the generations to come will take this up as one of their main tasks. Our earth needs our time and love and we need the same from the earth. Together we heal each other…and in doing so save our bees!

So if you are wondering, right here and right now, what can I do that would make a huge difference for the bees and other pollinators, here is a list of five important ways you can make a difference:

Five things you can do to save the bees:

1.  Plant organic friendly plants and flowers, preferably home grown from heirloom seeds. The Organic Consumers Association shares the importance of buying organic seeds, especially in light of drastic decrease in the variety of seeds available. Beyond Pesticides has a Pollinator-Friendly Seeds and Nursery Directory and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds is a great source for organic seed purchases.

2. Don’t use toxic herbicides or pesticides in your home or garden.  Integrated pest management practices, composting and mulch can all help grow your garden naturally.  The Garden Guides site has suggestions on alternatives to pesticides for garden plants.

3. Support local sustainable agriculture which houses up to 50 % more healthy bees.  A recent Harvard study has linked the widespread colony collapse of bees to the use of certain kinds of pesticides.

4. Purchase raw organic honey from local sustainable apiaries.  Tests show that most mass produced honey sold in stores doesn’t even contain pollen – most mass produced honey sold in stores doesn’t even contain pollen.  For more information on what to look for when purchasing honey, The Benefits of Honey website breaks it down.

5. Tell your local garden store to stop selling bee killing insecticides, pesticides and chemicals.     Consumer demand is key to effectuating change.  You can also sign a petition to tell Lowes and Home Depot to stop selling plants treated with pesticides that are toxic to bees.

Melissa Sklar is the founder of the community based awareness raising group Bee Aware. (www.facebook.com/beeawares) and can be found manning her information booth every Tuesday through the summer and fall (barring inclement weather) at the Cobblestone Farmers Market from 4-7 located off Packard Road in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her email is beeawares@gmail.com

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As a kid, I used to love getting new school supplies at the end of each summer.  I loved the shininess of new Trapper Keeper folders, the feel of a blank composition book, and perfectly formed new crayons.  I never thought about the toxic chemicals that are so prevalent in our school supplies, especially those marketed to children.

I was shocked and dismayed when I came across a 2012 study by the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) which found that 75% of children’s back to school supplies tested in a laboratory had elevated levels of toxic phthalates, including popular Disney, Spiderman, and Dora branded school supplies, such as vinyl lunchboxes, backpacks, and 3-ring binders.  According to CHEJ, over 90% of all phthalates are used to soften vinyl products that are widely used in school and office supplies.  Phthalates are linked to asthma, learning disabilities, diabetes, and other chronic health issues.  PVC is a carcinogen and reproductive toxin.  Thankfully, there are a growing number of companies and stores (including online retailers like Amazon and Life without Plastic) that sell safer alternatives.    I will share from my shopping journey 8 tips for finding safer school supplies:*

(*Please note that all school supply brand recommendations are my personal opinion, not a product endorsement or affiliation on behalf of MOMS Advocating Sustainability.)

Backpacks

To steer clear of phthalates and PVC, avoid products with the word ‘vinyl’ on the label or the recycle number ‘3’.

Tip #1:  Backpacks made of natural fibers like cotton, hemp or canvas are better options. I just purchased EcoGear and EcoZoo backpacks for my kids, which are made of cotton.   Read more about purchasing PVC free backpacks at I Read Labels for You.

Lunch Containers

Plastic lunchboxes and water bottles can contain PVC, as well as the hormone disrupting chemical Bisphenol -A (BPA).  BPA is widely used in polycarbonate water bottles, which can be identified by the recycle number ‘7’.

Tip #2:  Look for stainless steel lunch boxes from companies like To-Go Ware and Planet Box or eco-friendly soft-sided lunch totes like Lap Top Lunches that are PVC, BPA and lead free.  For reusable water bottles, I am a fan of the Kleen Kanteen stainless steel bottles and Takeya  glass bottles.

Paper Products

Chlorine is commonly used a bleaching agent in paper products.  It is a reproductive toxin and linked to asthma.  Ordinary chlorine bleach is listed as a pesticide by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Tip #3:  Look for unbleached paper products or those whitened without chlorine bleach.   Many big box office supply stores sell chlorine free, recycled paper products.  You can find recycled printer paper at Office Max and New Leaf sustainable notebooks at Office Depot.  Online retailer Green Line Paper sells a variety of chlorine free paper products and unbleached envelopes.

Binders/presentation materials

Traditional 3 ring binders and plastic folders are made with PVC and may contain phthalates.

Tip #4:  For greener alternatives, look for binders made of paperboard like those found at The Naked Binder or recycled binders by Earth Binder.  For binders and other presentation accessories like pocket folders and binder dividers, and other green school supplies, check out The Green Office.

Tip #5:  When shopping for paper clips, opt for the plain metal varieties, as the colored ones are often coated with PVC.

Coloring supplies

Markers are a staple of any art supply kit, but often contain toxic solvents and artificial fragrance that cause respiratory system damage.  I like the Clementine Art brand, which is now sold at Whole Foods.  I am also a big fan of the Stubby Pencil Studio, which sells eco-friendly school supplies like markers, crayons, highlighters, pencil sharpeners, and more.

Tip #6:  Avoid permanent and dry erase markers which contain higher levels of solvents, as well as scented products.

Tip #7:  Beeswax crayons are a more eco-friendly alternative to paraffin crayons which are made from crude oil.

As hard as we try as parents to protect our children’s health, my last tip is for the kids that are still coveting a Spider-Man backpack, a sports team binder, or fairy princess lunchbox:

Tip #8:  Decorate with stickers and patches!  This can be a great way to liven up plain school supplies without the added toxins.

Happy (and healthy) shopping!

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