Whew..(and some CEH resources)

So after 4 weekends in a row of being away from my house and feeling like I've been on the go during the weeks as well....I finally had a day to "catch up" today. Thus I did those great things that make me feel like my life is a bit more orderly. I vacuumed the house, swept the floors, cleaned the bathroom and kitchen, did two loads of laundry including the sheets, prepared a cabbage salad I can take to work with me this week, paid a couple bills, wrote some Thanksgiving cards, aired out my room, generally got organized, and now I'm in the process of cleaning up my email inboxes.

I have three email addresses but two of them I have linked together so I only have to worry about checking two. One email I primarily use for personal contacts and some class stuff, as it was started when I was having problems with professors receiving emails from my old account. So the old account has turned into list-serv central. I receive newsletters from my church, from three environmental organizations, from Mother Earth News, from a social work research institution, from a public health organization, and from a local charity. Then I have two list-servs and a Bible verse that are delivered daily, and multiple emails everyday from my MPH program. Needless to say, its very easy for me to get behind on the "news from the field." So here are some great resources for all of you! :-)


A REPORT CARD BY WOMEN’S VOICES FOR THE EARTH which looks at the chemicals that are in common cleaning products.

Another new book I need to check out: Poisoned Profits which argues that many of the negative health and behavioral outcomes we are seeing in children are related to the toxins we all are exposed to...which the newest research is demonstrating an even stronger connection to this theory.

And another push for breastfeeding as breastfeeding has now been linked to decreasing child behavioral problems. (Although, scientifically I do have some questions about definitively stating that just breastfeeding is the reason for this...there are many other factors that could also be related to this outcome.)

If you haven't noticed, a lot of the research that I focus on pertains to childhood outcomes associated with exposures to everyday chemicals. While I would argue that these chemicals also can be associated with negative outcomes in adults (such as the fact that 1 in 3 people will develop cancer in their lifetime), it seems to me that when we talk about children we are more able to get people to listen. Thus a lot of what I am interested in and some of the best ways to get legislation passed, is by focusing on how our lifestyle is damaging our kids.

While my original intention with this blog was to be much more educational than personal, I've struggled with writing meaningful blogs full of what I'd like to transmit while I've been in school. The irony is that I have more research available to me, but it's harder for me write posts about it while I have so many different health subjects rattling around through my brain. So hopefully in six more months, I might be able write a bit more educational of posts....until then I'll probably just continue to direct any readers to where they can glean some of the information.

Hope everyone is having a great day!