• Learn if your local health department monitors the water supply for major toxic pollutants, such as nitrates, fumigants, herbicides and industrial contaminants. If not, work with others to encourage the health department to set up a monitoring process.

• If your water supply comes from groundwater, see if you are near a potential source of groundwater contamination. The Citizen's Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste can send you a list of hazardous waste dumps in your neighborhood. (CCHW, P.O. Box 926, Arlington, VA 22216, (703) 276-7070).

To learn more

• Mothers and Others for Pesticide Limits has produced a booklet entitled "For Our Kids' Sake: How to Protect Your Child Against Pesticides in Food" which is available for $7.95 through the Natural Resources Defense Council. Call (202) 783-7800.

• Order "Drinking Water-A Community Action Guide" from Concern, Inc. 1974 Columbia Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20009.

• For more information or answers to specific questions or concerns, try these hotlines: Pesticide Hodine: 1-800-858-7378

Safe Drinking Hotline: 1-800-426-4791.

Children spend a good part of each day at home where they eat, sleep, play and study.

Where

CHILDREN

For most children, home is a source of security, comfort and love. But there

can also be things in our homes that can be harmful to children. Fortunately, we can protect children from these dangers. Just like matches, some of these things must be kept out of children's reach. In other cases, we must take steps to remove the hazards altogether.

Hazardous household products

Some items we use in our homes can be harmful to children, such as most cleaning products, nail polish and remover, drain cleaner, antifreeze and pesticides. Sometimes they are stored within children's reach, presenting a serious danger to young children and babies. If they give off dangerous fumes or residues, hazardous household products can be harmful to children (and adults) whenever used. If hazardous products are thrown away improperly (such as left in the garage), harmful chemicals can contaminate the soil and water, threatening children where they play.

Indoor air pollution

This is caused by the build-up of gases or particles inside a building. Among the major threats to children is second-hand ("passive") tobacco smoke, which can lead to respiratory problems. Another source of indoor air pollution known to cause health problems in children is formaldehyde (found in some types of carpeting, wallboard, panelling and insulation) which can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, mouth and throat, and has been shown

to cause cancer in laboratory animals at high doses. Asbestos also contributes to air pollution. For information about asbestos, see page ten.

Lead

Exposure to lead, especially in fetuses and young children, can cause kidney damage, anemia, hypertension and neurological and learning problems. Experts have learned recently that even small amounts of lead in children can be harmful. Children can be exposed to lead by breathing fumes from leaded gasoline, drinking water pumped through lead pipes (found typically in houses built during the early part of this century) or copper plumbing with lead soldering (a common practice until it was banned in 1986). Lead-based paints, found in buildings painted before the 1970 lead paint ban, also pose a threat to children if they eat paint chips or breath dust. Children can be harmed by lead even before they are born if their mothers are exposed to lead during pregnancy. Radon

Radon is a by-product of decaying radium and uranium and is found naturally in the rock and soil of some areas of the country. Radon can become dangerous when it seeps into a building through openings in the foundation and remains there without ventilation. Prolonged exposure to high levels of radon can cause cancer.

Personal steps you can take today • Whenever possible, use less hazardous products in your home. For example, instead of window cleaner, try vinegar and water.

• Store hazardous products in safe places out of the reach of children.

• Don't smoke where children live or visit. • In homes last painted before 1970, the chances are good that the paint is lead-based. There are no easy answers to removing the threat from lead paint. Peeling paint should be covered up, or if necessary, removed. However, removal of paint can be hazardous for adults and children, so removal should be done by professionals who

are aware of the risks involved.

• If you are renovating an older home or removing lead paint, make sure that children and pregnant women do not stay there until after the job is done.

• It's a good idea to flush out the pipes in the morning before using the water for drinking or cooking to get rid of lead and bacteria. Let the water run for at least three minutes. This is particularly important when using tap water for preparing baby formula or other foods for small babies and pregnant women.

• All children should be tested for lead levels before they are six years of age. Have a doctor test for the level of lead in your child's blood. If you have no doctor, your state health department (which is listed in the telephone book under "State Government") can help you find someone to test your child.

• Have your home tested for radon. Call your area's regional office of the Environmental Protection Agency (which is listed in the telephone book under "U.S. Government") for a list of reliable companies.

Steps you can take with others

• Work with groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics for increased funding for state and federal programs for testing and treatment of children for lead and removal of sources of lead.

• Educate others in your community (such as your congregation, PTA, child care group, civic groups) about household products that can present dangers to children. Encourage the use of alternatives.

• Help create a household hazardous waste program in your community. A guide is available through Seattle METRO at (206) 4475875.

• Talk with the managers of your neighborhood hardware and grocery stores about stocking less hazardous products for you to buy.

To learn more

• The Golden Empire Health Planning Center has published "Making the Switch: Alternatives to Using Toxic Chemicals in the Home." It can be ordered for $5 from the Local Government Commission in California by calling (916) 448-1198.

• Greenpeace Action has a booklet on household hazards entitled "Stepping Lightly on the Earth: Everyone's Guide to Toxics in the Home." Call (202) 462-1177 for more information.

• The American Lung Association has information on indoor air pollution and makes referrals for testing. Check your telephone book for the chapter in your state or community. • The Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control have produced a "Citizens' Guide to Radon," available through regional EPA offices (listed in your telephone book under U.S. Government).

pesticides in their system as quickly as adults. Asbestos

Asbestos is a name for a group of mineral fibers found in nature. Asbestos was commonly used for fireproofing, insulation and soundproofing in schools (as well as other buildings) between the 1930s and 1970s. We now know that breathing certain kinds of asbestos fibers can increase the chance of developing chronic diseases, including cancer. A 1986 federal law requires schools to develop and implement plans to "manage" asbestos. While it is usually not a good idea to actually remove asbestos, there are ways of containing it so that children are not exposed. Many schools have yet to meet the law's requirements.

Personal steps you can take today • Obtain a list of hazardous art supplies from one of the groups listed below and remove dangerous supplies from your home. Share the list with friends, neighbors, teachers and schools. • Suggest to your school's principal that she/he meet with the PTA and other parent groups about the steps being taken to make the school healthy and safe for children.

Steps you can take with others

• Organize a letter writing campaign to federal and state health officials in support of the establishment of a government registry to verify which school products and art supplies are genuinely non-toxic,

• Work with your PTA, civic group or religious congregation to make sure your local Board of Education is aware of the hazards that may be present in schools and help to develop a plan for removing them. For example:

1) Encourage your Board of Education to adopt a plan to control insect and other pest problems without pesticides. A model school district policy regarding pesticide use, which has been adopted by a number of school districts, is available from Citizens for a Better

Environment ((415) 788-0690). At the least, insist that plans for pesticide use be posted in advance and that use be restricted to periods when school is not in session.

2) Check whether your community schools have been tested for radon and lead in drinking fountains, and if action has been taken to protect children from exposure to these hazards.

3) Encourage your Board of Education to purchase art supplies that are proven to be safe for children.

To learn more

Information on hazardous art supplies is available from:

• U.S. Public Interest Research Group (202) 546-9707.

• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which has published a booklet for $3.95. Call (212) 949-0049.

• Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI) has prepared a fact sheet, available in single copies for free. Write for a list of their publications at Resource Center of EOHSI, Division of Consumer Education, UMDNJ-RWJMS, Brookwood II, 45 Knightsbridge Rd., Piscataway, NJ, 08854.

• Center for Safety in the Arts has a number of materials including a list of materials approved for use by children under 12 which was prepared by the California Department of Health Services. (While still useful, the list has not been updated since 1987.) (212) 227-6220.

Children spend a large amount of time outdoors running, jumping and playing. They should be encouraged to play outdoors for exercise and fresh air, but there are precautions that we should take to avoid exposing children to hazards outdoors. It is also critically important that we take steps to prevent further pollution of the outdoors.

Air pollution

Dangerous play areas Children are naturally curious and often play in places which may be dangerous to them, such

There are a number of kinds of air pollution that can be harmful to children. One important source is ground level ozone which can be hazardous to children when they run and play outdoors. Ozone is a colorless gas that is harmful when near ground level. In areas like Los Angeles, Denver and cities throughout the country with air pollution problems, ozone can be harmful to

hildren when they breathe deeply during exercise. The ozone level is highest in summer, late sunny afternoons and near busy roads. In 1988 alone, ozone levels in Los Angeles exceeded California's standards for safety a total of 178 days. Studies show that air pollution can cause serious short-term respiratory problems in children (such as coughing and shortness of breath) as well as long-term respiratory conditions.

Harmful sun exposure

Because of depletion of a protective layer of gases in the stratosphere, humans- and children in particular are increasingly susceptible to the harmful effects of the sun, including sunburns and eye damage. The sun is most harmful in the summer between 10 am and 2 pm, and not just on sunny days. Children are at special risk because they spend so much time outdoors and because they have a lifetime ahead of them to develop serious problems. Studies show that even one serious sunburn can increase susceptibility to skin

cancer.

as construction sites or abandoned factories that may contain toxic chemicals. Parents at Love Canal first learned of their toxins problem when their children came home covered with hazardous waste after playing in a nearby field.

Personal steps you can take today • Whenever possible, take public transportation, carpool, ride a bike or walk to reduce air pollution from cars.

• Whatever a child's skin tone, sunscreen should be worn when playing outdoors for long periods of time to prevent sunburn.

• Scout out your neighborhood for potentially hazardous play areas and educate your children about the safe and unsafe places to play. Abandoned buildings and factories that are accessible to children and/or appear to contain toxic materials should be reported to your state health department (found in the telephone book under "State Government").

• Write to car manufacturers requesting that they make cars that get better mileage and contribute less air pollution.

Steps you can take with others

• Work with your school district and day-care programs to develop policies that restrict outdoor activities when health advisories or smog alerts have been issued or on summer afternoons, especially near busy streets.

• Organize a letter writing campaign to the President and members of Congress in support of stronger clean air laws and strict enforcement of current standards.

• Urge your local government to come up with a plan to promote public transportation, carpooling,