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The more we learn about toxic chemicals, the more we realize they are everywhere. They are in our air, our water and our soil. They are in the products we buy and use at home and at work. There are about 80,000 chemicals in use in the U.S. today and while many of them have added to our quality of life, the effects on our health from thousands of these chemicals is simply not known. Infants and children are a special concern – they tend to have greater exposures because pound for pound, children breathe more air, drink more water, and eat more food than adults. Also just being kids – putting their hands and toys in their mouths, playing on the ground – exposes children to toxics in a way adults aren't. We know that many toxic chemicals have neurological and developmental effects on children. Others are suspected of having these same effects. An estimated 17% of children in the U.S. have a developmental disability. While the link between this disability and toxics is not entirely clear, we know that pre-natal exposure to chemicals like lead, mercury, and PCBs can cause deficits in the way our kids learn and behave – and the effects are permanent. We also know that even though childhood asthma rates are leveling off, Washington has a much higher rate than the nation as a whole. It's triggered or made worse by toxics in the air we breathe, like particulates from diesel cars, trucks and off-road equipment, and from outdoor burning. Just as we all share the same environment, we all have one or more roles to play given the decisions we make and the actions we take. Even though infants and children are our primary concern, businesses are very important in the larger environmental picture. If you represent a business, get more information about environment-friendly practices or regulatory requirements. WHAT YOU CAN DO - Learn more about simple things you can do to reduce toxic exposure.
WHAT ECOLOGY IS DOING - Learn more about Ecology programs that are focused on reducing the threat of toxic exposure. Public Participation Grants provide funding to citizen groups and not-for-profit public interest organizations to provide public involvement in monitoring the cleanup of contaminated sites and prevent pollution by reducing or eliminating waste at the source. An application period is usually opened once each year. Please check for exact dates. CONTACTSMichael Bergman |
Pound for pound, children breathe more air, drink more water, and eat more food than adults. CONTROL OF TOXIC CHEMICALS STUDYA three-phased study to understand sources of contaminants in the Puget Sound ecosystem SHELL MULTI-SITE CLEANUP PROJECTWashington's first commitment by a fuel marketing company to clean up contamination at multiple current and former gas station sites WASHINGTON WATERS - OURS TO PROTECTClean water campaign to help people change behaviors that pollute Washington's lakes, rivers, wetlands and marine waters. CHILDREN'S SAFE PRODUCTS ACTGov. Gregoire signed legislation improving toy safety LOWER DUWAMISH RIVER CLEANUPLEAD CHEMICAL ACTION PLAN (CAP)Lead CAP Advisory Committee information HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE INFORMATION & EDUCATION OFFICE (HSIEO)Resources for a safer family, workplace and community CLEANUP GUIDE FOR HOMEOWNERS & SMALL BUSINESSESHSIEO SHOPPER'S GUIDELearn about the products you use DIRT ALERTProtecting children from exposure to lead and arsenic ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICS MONITORINGISSUE UP CLOSE: REDUCING TOXIC THREATS(pdf) CHEMICALS IN WASHINGTON STATEThe toxics release inventory for 2004 OIL SPILL EQUIPMENTDistribution of oil-spill-response supplies around Puget Sound TOXICS IN PUGET SOUNDPuget Sound Partnership's site |
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.