DO NOT POISON YOUR LOVED ONES WITH LEAD THIS VALENTINE'S DAY

Recently, chocolate has been praised for its many health benefits. Unfortunately, along with its health promoting ingredients, chocolate can also be a hiding place for lead. Lead in chocolate comes from various sources such as sloppy manufacturing practices, the leaded gasoline used in farm equipment, or from fertilizers. Whatever the source of contamination, consuming lead-tainted chocolate is harmful, especially to young children. Lead has been found in a wide range of chocolate products including dark chocolate, milk chocolate, syrup, toppings, fudge puddings, and chocolate drinks. Even the label “organic” does not mean lead-free as was evident when 40,000 pounds of one brand organic chocolate products were recalled. Of course, the amounts of lead vary from product to product. Since children absorb more lead than adults, they are the most vulnerable when it comes to lead’s harmful effects. What seems like a small amount of lead adds up and accumulates in one’s system over the years. Taking into consideration that an average person consumes 12 pounds of chocolate each year and that chocolate is eaten in large amounts by children, it is very clear – there is absolutely no excuse for chocolate to contain lead!


Joanna Cerazy
http://www.nomoreleadbabies.com/

LEAD in PURSES and other ACCESSORIES

Oh, women's purses...
Our loyal companions. Wherever we go – they go. We carry them with us most of the time. We clutch to them. We touch them constantly. They contain our precious belongings and it is certainly not unusual that we store our kids’ toys, pacifiers and snacks in them. Their straps share our shoulders with our babies. And as children put almost anything in their mouths, it is certainly not unheard of that we catch our offspring chewing on our purses, wallets and belts. And let’s not forget that these colorful, cool-looking bags are also being lugged along by our teenage daughters who are most probably proud owners of at least a dozen of various purses, wallets, belts and the like.

When the Center for Environmental Health recently tested a large number of vinyl (faux leather) bags and wallets sold by retailers such as Sears, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Macy’s, Kohl’s, and Target, they found that the lead content in these items was up to ninety times that of what is permitted by federal standards. Recent testing carried out by the Center for Environmental Health, has shown that by simply touching a lead-containing purse an illegal lead level can be reached.

Lead affects almost every organ and system in the human body. Its harmful effects are not limited to a single age group. It hurts unborn children, new born babies, toddlers, pregnant women, and men. Exposure to lead has been shown to lower intelligence, cause behaviour problems, learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, cerebral palsy, delayed puberty, fertility problems in women and men, cancer, heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, kidney problems, anemia, and cavities.

The good news is that even though we have no immediate control over what materials are being put in our shoes, belts, purses, and wallets there are a lot of things we can do to avoid exposure to lead. For example, buying products that are made from natural materials such as fabric is a good start. If you already own faux leather accessories it is easy to check if they are lead free. This can be done inexpensively, at home using a lead test kit. If the result of your testing shows that lead is present, stop using these items immediately. You might be able to take them back to where they were purchased for refund. Do not underestimate your power as a consumer - ask for products that are lead free.

Lately, a number of companies (list below) pledged that they will stop selling accessories that contain excessive amounts of lead. While this is a move in the right direction, the reasons to celebrate are limited. Instead of completely removing the lead-containing merchandise from their shelves, the involved companies agreed that starting December 01, 2010, their accessory products such as purses, belts and shoes will contain no more than 600 parts per million of lead if they are made of leather, 300 parts per million for those made of vinyl, and no more than 90 parts per million of lead in paint. Accordingly, the retailers are given over six months to get rid of their lead-laden products and instead of removing lead completely, they will merely limit its amount. Also keep in mind, that these standards have only been accepted by bigger companies and are by no means all-inclusive.

Companies that have agreed to comply with the new standards by December 1, 2010:
Acme Accessories
AIJJ (Rainbow, 5-7-9 stores)
Aldo
American Eagle
Bag Bazaar
Camuto Consulting (Vince Camuto brand)
Coldwater Creek
Diesel usa
DSW Shoe Warehouse
eBags
Express
Fantasia Accessories
Forever 21
Fossil
Guess
Haddad Accessories (says will meet the standard by September 01, 2010)
H&M (already in compliance)
JC Penney
Jones Apparel (Nine West)
Kohl's
Limited
Liz Claiborne (Juicy Couture, Kate Spade)
Macy's/Bloomingdales
Mango NY
Metropark USA
Michael Kohrs
Mondani
New York & Company (Lerner NY) (says will meet the standard by September 01, 2010)
Pacific Worldwide
Phillips-Van Heusen/Calvin Klein
Ray Enterprises (Hobo Intl)
Rosetti
Saks Inc
San Diego Hat
Sanrio (Hello Kitty)
Sears/Kmart
Steve Madden
Target
The Dress Barn
TJX Co (TJ Maxx)
Urban Brands/Ashley Stewart
Tri-Coastal Designs (says will meet the standard by September 01, 2010)
Victoria Secret/Bath & Body Works
Viewmark USA

Joanna Cerazy
"LEAD BABIES How heavy metals are causing our children's autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, low IQ and behavior problems"

LEAD FOUND in BABY FOODS and JUICES

On June 9, 2010 the Environmental Law Foundation, a non-profit organization from Oakland, California filed a Notice of Violation of California Proposition 65 alleging that lead was present in a variety of children’s and baby food. More specifically, lead was reported to be contained in apple and grape juices, packaged pears and peaches (including baby food), as well as various fruit cocktails.
Environmental Law Foundation purchased a large number of samples of assorted brands of juices and fruit products around California and tested them in an EPA-sponsored lab. The results showed that many individual servings of these products, contained lead levels that are above the federal daily limit established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Lead is very a potent toxin that has to be avoided at all cost. Babies and small children are especially sensitive to lead’s harm. Lead-containing baby food and juice can provide significant exposure sources of this dangerous metal. It has been established by various scientific communities that the lead effects such as learning disabilities, ADHD, lowered IQ, mental retardation, behavior problems, criminal activity, autism, cerebral palsy, and birth defects can be caused by lead exposure and it is now common knowledge that levels below what is considered toxic contribute to behavioral and learning problems.
It is hard to say with any certainty how the lead got into these foods but since it does not dissolve over time, once released, lead stays in the environment. It can be taken up by plants from the soil or it can be deposited on plants and fruits as airborne particles. It can also end up in these products as a contaminant from the processing process.

Some brands and products reported to have exceeding amounts of lead include:
Beech Nut 100% Apple Juice
Chef's Review Fruit Cocktail
Del Monte 100% Juice Fruit Cocktail
Dole Diced Peaches, Yellow Cling in light syrup
Earth's Best Organics Apple Juice
Eating Right Fruit Cocktail packed in Sucralose
First Street 100% Apple Cider from concentrate
Full Circle Organic Bartlett Pear Slices
Gerber 100% Juice - White Grape Juice
Golden Star Mixed Fruit in Light Syrup (peach, pineapple, pears)
Great Value 100% No Sugar Added Apple Juice
Hansen's Natural Apple Juice
Kedem Concord Grape Juice 100% pure grape juice
Kroger 100% Juice Apple Juice
Langers Grape Juice (Concord)
Libby's Fruit Cocktail No Sugar Added (Sweetened with Splenda)
Libby's Yellow Cling Peach Slices No Sugar Added (Sweetened with Splenda)
Market Pantry Diced Peaches in light syrup
Maxx Value Fruit Mix in Light Syrup (peach, pear, grape)
Minute Maid Juice Apple - 100% Apple Juice
Motts 100% Apple Juice
Mrs. Brown's Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup (peaches, pears, grapes)
O Organics Organic Grape Juice from concentrate
Old Orchard 100% Apple Juice
Parade 100% Juice Apple
Polar Mixed Fruit
R.W. Knudsen Just Concord Grape Juice
S&W Natural Style Fruit Cocktail in Lightly Sweetened Juice
Safeway 100% Juice Apple Cider
Santa Cruz Organic Concord Grape Juice
Simple Value Yellow Cling Peaches in light syrup
Stater Bros. 100% Juice Apple Juice
Sunny Select Yellow Cling Sliced Peaches in Pear Juice
Trader Joe's Certified Organic Apple Juice, pasteurized
Tree Top 100% Juice Apple Cider
Truitt Brothers Pacific NorthWest Bartlett Pear Halves, in pear juice
Valu Time Grape Drink from Concentrate
Walgreens Apple Juice from concentrate 100% juice
Walnut Acres Organic Concord Grape
Welch's 100% Red Grape Juice from Concentrate
A complete list of all products and other details pertaining to this case can be found at the Environmental Law Foundation’s website at http://www.envirolaw.org/
Joanna Cerazy
co-author Lead Babies

LEAD SMART TIP --THERE IS NO PLACE FOR LEAD IN YOUR COSMETICS

Lead has been used as an ingredient in cosmetics for thousands of years. As far back as six thousand years ago, Egyptian women mixed lead and copper ore to prepare a paste they applied to their faces. Greeks and Romans slathered lead-containing concoctions all over their bodies. For similar purposes, a blend of lead and rice powder was used in China. In America, lead- containing creams, ointments and powders were legally sold well into the 20th century.

Lead is a versatile ingredient. In cosmetics, it was utilized in eye makeup products, as a whitening solution, as hair plaster, as well as face and body powder. Really, lead has had an unlimited utility in the beauty industry.

As a result, people suffered from this kind of self inflicted lead exposure for millennia.

Despite the fact that the use of lead in beauty products has since been regulated, lead still finds its way into today’s cosmetics. For example, lipstick produced by top brand cosmetic companies has been reported to contain lead. So were some progressive hair dyes, henna products, and a whole array of imported eye makeup products.

Unfortunately, the argument you will often hear is that the amount of lead contained in lipstick or other cosmetics is so small that, in fact, it cannot cause any harm. This is not entirely true. First of all, there is a mounting body of evidence that no amount of lead is safe. Second, a very tiny amount of lead might not harm you immediately, but since lead accumulates in human bodies (in bones and teeth), small amounts grow over time adding up to the past and future exposures. This is especially true for products such as cosmetics, as they are being used frequently, often multiple times each day.

Repeated ingestion of minute amounts of lead adds up in your bones and brain.
Remember: There is no place for lead in your cosmetics!

Joanna Cerazy
http://www.nomoreleadbabies.com/

Co-author Lead Babies Breaking the cycle of learning disabilities, declining IQ, behavior problems, and autism

LEAD SMART TIP -- GOOD DAILY HYGIENE PREVENTS LEAD EXPOSURE

While we all know that proper hygiene protects us against germs, not many of us realize that practicing good daily hygiene also minimizes the risk of lead exposure.


Follow these simple guidelines to avoid lead's harm

1. Wash hands before eating;
2. Wash hands after playing with pets;
3. Wash hands after gardening and other outdoor activities;
4. Shower to remove lead from skin and hair;
5. As dust stick to wet hands, dry your hands after washing;
6. Avoid progressive hair dyes;
7. Use lead-free personal care products;
8. Avoid using products that contain zinc oxide.

Joanna Cerazy
co-author LEAD BABIES Breaking the cycle of learning disabilities, declining IQ, behavior problem, ADHD, and autism.

For more information visit: http://www.nomoreleadbabies.com/

Lead Babies…fascinating and informative!

I thought I knew everything I needed to know about lead but truly, the information I had was out-of-date, and minimal at best. Lead Babies opened my eyes about how little it takes to do so much harm. And what a price we all pay. I now have a fuller grasp on the cycle that needs breaking, and on what I can do to break it.


Special note - the chronology was particularly interesting; the stuff documentaries are made of! 
Lead Babies is a rational and constructive approach to a very serious problem. I highly recommend it, whether you are young, old or in between. It’s a very informative and enjoyable read.

Reviewer: Al, May 2009

LEAD SMART TIP -- IT'S IN WHAT YOU EAT

You can protect yourself and your family from the harmful effects of lead with proper nutrition. Since lead mimics calcium, it tricks our bodies to store it as such. Some lead leaves the body via the bladder and bowels. What remains enters the blood system and ends up stored in the brain tissue and bones.

Eating right reduces the amount of lead that gets stored in the system. Some lead-smart eating guidelines include:

• eating regular healthy meals (lead is more readily absorbed on an empty stomach)


• eating foods rich in iron vitamin C, and calcium


• avoiding fatty foods


• avoiding canned foods from foreign countries

If you know of a LEAD-FREE product or retailer you think needs to be added to our LIVING A LEAD-SMART LIFE LINKS, please post it in the comments. We'll contact them and add them to the list of links and below.

Joanna Cerazy, co-author of LEAD BABIES

Kunati Inc.

LEAD BABIES RELEASED

Announcing the release of : LEAD BABIES

May 2009

LEAD BABIES exposes the epidemic of learning disabilities, ADHD and low IQ that until now has been treated as an unsolved mystery or genetically caused condition – at best, a spin of the Roulette wheel. With research confirming this is not case, LEAD BABIES ties proven science to everyday life, so that readers can grasp the reality of lead’s prevalence and the danger it poses. It then provides simple steps to follow to eliminate future lead exposure and encourages women who are planning a family to reverse the accumulations of lead already in their body, before getting pregnant.

The book was written by Joanna Cerazy M.Ed. and Sandra Cottingham Ph.D., researchers and authors with a combined 35 years experience as special education teachers. They believe it is time to make people aware of the facts about lead and the damage it is causing to developing brains. “Toys and food containing lead are a concern for all of us, but an unborn or newly born baby is at far higher risk to suffer more severe brain damage from lead.” The authors set out to empower the upcoming generation of parents to break the cycle of what Cerazy and Cottingham call, “lead babies”; those whose brains were damaged by lead early in life and now struggle in school or have compromised employment potential as adults.

Exposure to lead and the permanent neurological damage it causes comes down to two things: awareness and choice. Both are responsibilities that lie with our next generation of parents.

For more information, visit www.nomoreleadbabies.com.

Publisher: Kunati Inc (USA & Canada) 1-866-356-2442


www.kunati.com


Distribution: Independent Publishers Group (IPG)


ISBN: 978-1-60164-192-2