LEAD POISONING DANGER from OLD BOOKS

Books published before 1985 might be a lead poisoning danger to your children. Now there's something new to worry about. Why publishers would be printing kids' books with lead based inks in the late 80s when they had long before pulled lead based paint off the shelves is beyond me.

The bottom line is that before you buy those old books for a nickel you may want to figure the long term cost of treating your kids for lead exposure. Not to mention that you may have to deal with the inconvenience of criminal behavior and low IQ which are all symptoms of prolonged exposure to lead.

So, we need to toss these mind melting tomes in the trash, right? Wrong! Not only can these vintage treasures cause lead poisoning, if they go in the landfill the lead may get into the groundwater and come back to haunt you right out of the tap. And you can't burn the things because that will taint the very air we breathe. First there's the lead laden toys from China and now when you want to share the classics with your kids you're guilty of knowingly exposing them to lead.

So what's a mom who has gone to great lengths to stock her bookshelves with children's favorites from back in the day? Or what about the local librarian who certainly doesn't have time to monitor each and every baby and book? Well, the only answer is paying close attention to the dates that books are published, watch for lead poisoning symptoms and (you're going to love this) break out the old lead test kit and test each book that was published before the cutoff date mentioned in the report.

Is there any wonder that as we speak, people are hosting lead test parties all over the country. I can imagine the invitations say something like: Come for an afternoon of fun, frolic and swabbing to test your kids' reading material for lead.

As you know I'm a careful mother and that I've often had to err on the side of pure paranoia because of my daughter's illnesses at times. So, I hope you don't think I'm careless when I tell you that I'm not rushing to quarantine the books on my bookshelves. It's just that I have bigger fish to fry than what statistics dictate is more than likely a small risk factor.

I'm going to pay close attention to the books that the littlest members of my household read because they might think it's a good idea to lick the page if there's a picture of ice cream on it. But for the older girls, I worry more about lead poisoning from pencils, toys and our water supply more than exposure from print in an old book.

Return to Oooh Baby, Family Parenting and Environmental Issues to find more stuff to worry about that will keep moms from sleeping at night.

REUSABLE BAGS - MY GREEN LIVING FAUX PAS

If you are a regular reader, you know I truly try to live green and make good chemical free decisions whenever possible. However, management of my reusable bags is one area where I struggle.


Sadly, I am a spur of the moment kind of girl that is often wagging one baby on the hip, one in the belly and pulling another along behind in protest for one reason or another. For that reason, when the lady at the checkout counter pops out the question, "Paper or plastic" I'm often left with my environmental underwear hanging out. I have a bad habit of neglecting to pack my sturdy reusable fabric bags that I vowed to use as my small part in saving trees. My mantra is "Today a tree. Tomorrow the world".

But all too often I'm left standing in the checkout line at the discount store resisting the urge to yell NEITHER at the lady who in my mind should be pushing reusable bags instead of environmentally un-friendly options. In a weak moment with an unhappy toddler and a sleeping baby I little choice but to meekly murmur that I'd like paper as paper sacks are the least offensive of the options offered. Plus, I can always reuse the paper bags for different purposes at home that will keep them out of the landfill.

Alas, going green is a process just like weight control. You can't give up just because you have one unfortunate slip. It helps me to remember that as unorganized and overwhelmed as I am most days that I still remember to pack my homemade shopping bags made of sturdy organic cotton and reclaimed burlap.

Return to Oooh Baby! Parenting and Environmental Issues to read more of my trials and travails in my efforts to go green for the sake of my family and kids as well as the planet.