Preface Introduction 1. Changing diseases in a changing environment Patterns of childhood disease -- then and now Environmental changes 2. New chemicals and new childhood chemical exposures Explosive growth of chemicals Early warning signs Gaps in safety and toxicity testing Childhood exposure to new chemicals 3. Children's unique vulnerability to toxic chemicals in the environment Unique windows of vulnerability exist in children Children process toxic exposures more slowly than adults Children's higher metabolism rates make different demands on their bodies than adults Childhood exposures can incubate for many years and may cause adult disease Exposures are proportionately greater in children than in adults Normal hand-to-mouth behavior increases their exposure to toxins Children live closer to the ground and have different exposures than adults Other risk factors compound the problem 4. The links between childhood disease and toxic chemicals in the environment The increase in autism, ADHD, and other problems of the developing brain The increase in male birth defects, early puberty in girls, and testicular cancer in young mem The increased incidence of asthma and allergies New links between household toxins, obesity, and diabetes The links between childhood exposures and adult disease The growing problems with reproduction The increases in childhood cancer 5. A Guide for Parents: Keeping Your Child Safe from Environmental Toxins An environmental checklist for your home Over 100 ways to protect your children and promote health as they grow At home 10 ways to make baby's room safer 8 ways to avoid asthma and allergy attacks 10 practical ways to prevent lead poisoning 25 ways to minimize your child's exposure to endocrine disruptors 9 cautions about pesticides 11 ways to reduce exposure to unsafe foods 14 tips for avoiding exposure to household chemicals 6 ways to grow your child into a healthy adult At day care 10 ways to make day care safer At school 10 ways to make school safer In the neighborhood 10 ways to make the neighborhood safer Tips for future moms and dads 10 ways to protect future children 6. A Call to Action Children's health, toxic chemicals and you Policy and legislation: where we stand now Evidence-based prevention US standards vs standards in other countries Consequences of our current situation A call for a new public health revolution New ways to protect children from environmental toxins Our call to action - community based actions, state initiatives, federal legislation Career opportunities for the future of public health

"I can't overstate the respect and admiration I have for Dr. Landrigan and the important work that he does--this book is a gift for families everywhere." - Jessica Alba "Every parent needs to read this book. Not only does it offer excellent information on the realities of environmental toxins in our midst; it also explains what actions to take to avoid or prevent them. You couldn't ask for more reliable, diligent authors than Philip and Mary Landrigan. This is the new Bible that needs to be in every home." - Jennifer Beals "Lead, pesticides, BPA, allergens-it's a chemical jungle out there for our kids. At last parents have the definitive field guide to get through it, one grounded in science and loaded with practical advice." - Ken Cook, President and Co-Founder, Environmental Working Group "The essential must-read for every new parent, serving up science-based information and actionable daily solutions to prevent harm and ensure a happy, healthy, worry-free start. The Landrigan are national treasures, and this book will be valued for generations to come." - Christopher Gavigan, Founder of The Honest Company; author of Healthy Child Healthy World "Philip and Mary Landrigan have done us all a great service by pulling together authoritative information about environmental toxins. And more than that, they have given us practical solutions about how to navigate and live safely in our increasing complex environments." - Judith Palfrey, MD, Harvard Medical School "Families encounter a greater array of complex chemicals in everyday products than ever before. With a lifetime of knowledge, Landrigan and Landrigan offer a useful guidebook for everyone, from parents to policymakers, concerned with protecting the health and wellbeing of our children." - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

"I can't overstate the respect and admiration I have for Dr. Landrigan and the important work that he does--this book is a gift for families everywhere." - Jessica Alba "Every parent needs to read this book. Not only does it offer excellent information on the realities of environmental toxins in our midst; it also explains what actions to take to avoid or prevent them. You couldn't ask for more reliable, diligent authors than Philip and Mary Landrigan. This is the new Bible that needs to be in every home." - Jennifer Beals "Lead, pesticides, BPA, allergens-it's a chemical jungle out there for our kids. At last parents have the definitive field guide to get through it, one grounded in science and loaded with practical advice." - Ken Cook, President and Co-Founder, Environmental Working Group "The essential must-read for every new parent, serving up science-based information and actionable daily solutions to prevent harm and ensure a happy, healthy, worry-free start. The Landrigan are national treasures, and this book will be valued for generations to come." - Christopher Gavigan, Founder of The Honest Company; author of Healthy Child Healthy World "Philip and Mary Landrigan have done us all a great service by pulling together authoritative information about environmental toxins. And more than that, they have given us practical solutions about how to navigate and live safely in our increasing complex environments." - Judith Palfrey, MD, Harvard Medical School "Families encounter a greater array of complex chemicals in everyday products than ever before. With a lifetime of knowledge, Landrigan and Landrigan offer a useful guidebook for everyone, from parents to policymakers, concerned with protecting the health and wellbeing of our children." - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

Selling point: An accessible guide to the chemical threats in children's environments and food, authored by two of the foremost researchers and advocates in the field of pediatrics and environmental health Selling point: Includes coverage of the most misunderstood and pressing topics in this area, including childhood diseases (autism, asthma, ADHD, obesity, diabetes, and even birth defects) that have grown in occurrence alongside the rise of new chemicals in our environment Selling point: Practical, actionable advice for mitigating the threat of chemical toxins in one's home and environment Selling point: An essential reference for parents, parents-to-be, community advocates, and anyone else committed to healthier children and a healthier environment

Philip J. Landrigan, MD, M.Sc., is Professor of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine and Founding Director, Children's Environmental Health Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. Mary M. Landrigan, M.P.A., is a health educator who spent 25 years at the Westchester County Department of Health.

Selling point: An accessible guide to the chemical threats in children's environments and food, authored by two of the foremost researchers and advocates in the field of pediatrics and environmental health Selling point: Includes coverage of the most misunderstood and pressing topics in this area, including childhood diseases (autism, asthma, ADHD, obesity, diabetes, and even birth defects) that have grown in occurrence alongside the rise of new chemicals in our environment Selling point: Practical, actionable advice for mitigating the threat of chemical toxins in one's home and environment Selling point: An essential reference for parents, parents-to-be, community advocates, and anyone else committed to healthier children and a healthier environment