Guest Blogger
Jennifer Taggart
Jennifer Taggart is a passionate advocate for children’s environmental health, trying to educate and inform so that we can all make the world a little bit safer for the next generation.
Jennifer is a mom and former environmental engineer. Currently, she is a partner in a Los Angeles law firm, specializing in environmental and consumer product law. She is also an avid blogger, having founded the website TheSmartMama. She also has an eco consulting business, helping parents, caregivers, teachers and more reduce toxic chemicals. She wields a Niton XRF analyzer that she uses for testing consumer products for lead and more, including compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
Her book, Smart Mama’s Green Guide: Simple Steps to Reduce Your Child’s Toxic Chemical Exposure
Healthy Homes – Simple Steps to Reduce Mold
Mold isn’t a toxic chemical like the others we’ve discussed, but it can make your home unhealthy and negatively impact your home’s air quality. Molds can cause health problems. Mold exposure to a range of adverse health effects, from minor allergic reactions to brain damage.
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Healthy Homes – Simple Steps to Reduce Asbestos
Asbestos can be found in many building materials, including those in our homes, offices and daycare centers. The sprayed on ceiling in your living room? The floor tile in your kitchen? Both may contain asbestos.
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Healthy Homes – Simple Steps to Address Radon
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Surprising? Had I’d ever been asked about the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, I would have guessed secondhand smoke.
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Healthy Homes – Simple Steps to Get the Lead Out
Yesterday, we talked about the problems of lead in the home. Today, let’s talk about simple steps to reduce or eliminate exposure to lead in the home: Take off your shoes. One study found that simply taking off your shoes can reduce the amount of lead contaminated dirt in your home by 60%.
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Healthy Homes – The Problem of Lead
On June 9, 2009, Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, MD, MPH, issued The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Healthy Homes. The Call to Action tackles a host of safety issues in the home, from falls down stairs to burn injuries to drowning in bathtubs.
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