8 Tips To Have Toxin-Free Fun This Summer

Summer! How long did we wait for this exact moment? If you haven’t had a moment to catch fireflies yet, chances are you soon will. To wish you a happy hot and hazy season, we've compiled our favorite Healthy Child Healthy World nontoxic summer fun tips to help you enjoy to the fullest.

1. Repel bugs without DEET.

The pesticides used in insect repellent can be harmful for children as well as adults! Another option is picaridin, a chemical based on pepper. Or try a botanical spray; they work!

2. Grow a pesticide-free lawn.

Extensive use of pesticides has led to resistance in many insects and weed species. As a result, many resort to even stronger chemical pesticides, which may have greater consequences for human and environmental health. Opting for a pesticide-free lawn means playing happily (and safely!) in the grass all summer.

3. Avoid GMOs when celebrating out with friends and family!

Going out for a nice summer meal at your favorite restaurant? Consider making your restaurant food choices with GMOs in mind by avoiding high-risk ingredients like corn and soy.

4. Be careful about chlorine in pools.

High levels of chlorine in pools has been linked to asthma in small children. Children under the age of 7 who swam frequently in indoor chlorine pools may be at an increased risk for developing asthma, according to a 2006 study. Adults are just bigger kids.

5. Wade in a safe pool.

No matter how old you are, this is the time of year we fill up “kiddie” pools to cool off. Many of these wading pools are made out of PVC — the plastic known as the “poison plastic” thanks to its remarkably toxic production and disposal processes. PVC also contaminates both people and the environment with endocrine-disrupting phthalates.

6. Learn your sunscreening safety facts!

Need a new tube of sunscreen? Shop for one formulated with zinc and titanium. These two nontoxic minerals provide safer and more effective sunscreening than chemical blocks.

7. Avoid toxic nail polish.

Many nail polishes contain chemicals known as the toxic trio: dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and formaldehyde. Choose safer nail polish — or dare to go bare!

8. Don't be fooled by "natural" gardening products.

When you’re planning your summer garden, be cautious about fertilizers. Some sold as “natural” or “organic” are made from so-called biosolids, otherwise known as sewage sludge. Yuck!

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