As the warm season begins, I wanted to share some ideas for a healthy summer.
As always, remember that BPA-free is not endocrine disruptor or cancer free. And children’s skin soaks up these toxins very quickly.
Remember to buy a drinking water safe hose for outdoor play…and for your garden! Avoid regular garden hoses as they contain plastics, lead, and usually some antibiotic and antifungal interior coatings. These toxic interior coatings also harm your plants, leaving them vulnerable to insect infestations. My roses haven’t had any insect problems since I switched hoses.
This is so true. It takes so long for effects to be clear and the product (like BPA) to make the news that you are better off using something tried and true. Wood is good (without the toxic chemicals for durability), glass and ceramic (if they don't have lead or cadmium colors). Don't use galvanized products for water. The coating is primarily zinc, but has lead as an incidental constituent. 0.35% lead is allowed. The European regulations require 0.1% or less, and "lead free" is 0.25% or less in the US. I'm sure in 20 years or so we will change our "lead free" definition be lower, so why not be ahead of everyone else?