Speak Up and Advocate

First opportunity: I don't think babies should be gulping down a rocket fuel ingredient -- do you? But I just learned from Environmental Working Group that when you mix infant formula that contains perchlorate (a rocket fuel ingredient than can interfere with infant brain development) with water that's also contaminated with perchlorate, you put rocket fuel on baby's menu. We need the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which regulates the nation's water quality, to set a permanent and stringent safe drinking water standard for perchlorate. I just sent an email to newly-appointed EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to make that a reality: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1144/t/1875/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26980

Why now?
1) New risk for babies
A new report by scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found perchlorate contamination in 15 brands of powdered infant formula.

2) It is in our drinking waterPerchlorate pollution has also been found in the drinking water of 28 states and territories. (Check out Environmental Working Group's tap water quality database to see if yours is one: http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/yourwater/index.php)

3) This is the moment.During her Senate confirmation hearing, EPA head Lisa Jackson promised to act "immediately" to reduce perchlorate contamination in drinking water to protect children and pregnant women. Please join me in calling on EPA Administrator Jackson to make good her pledge. Send her an email today asking to keep perchlorate at safe levels in our drinking water: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1144/t/1875/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26980

Second opportunity: Compact fluorescent bulbs have huge energy savings, but could be made even better if the Energy Star program would push companies to reduce mercury levels.Join me and urge Energy Star to ask for a better mercury standard for bulbs, and while you are at it check out the 7 companies identified by Environmental Working Group that make the lowest mercury, long-life bulbs. That one can be accessed at: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1144/t/1875/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26304

This is one that worries me because so many people don't know that CFLs contain mercury and even those that do know don't dispose of them appropriately. Hopefully everyone realizes that mercury is a pretty harmful substance to human health. I just wish CFLs didn't contain it and that they would reduce the levels since they can. Hence I tailored my message to say so...and as always asked that if they do respond that they do so via email and not waste paper and shipping. (Which I did get a response saying that it's voluntary for industry to choose their levels, but why not apply more pressure?)

Both of these I got in my Take Action Newsletter from Environmental Working Group this morning and wanted to pass on to you.