Cleaning chemicals can be dangerous to a child’s health

Recently, Mayor Scarpelli did what he does best; he used the stature of his office to bring together a consortium of experts, activists and policy makers to affect change for the public good, in this instance, an aggressive campaign to remove cancer causing cleaning agents from public buildings, hospitals, and most importantly, schools.

In cooperation with the Deidre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology, named for its founder and wife of radio host Don Imus, Mayor Scarpelli hosted a “Greening the Clean” symposium.

The objective of the program, devised by Deidre Imus, is to substitute nontoxic, plant-based cleansers for traditional cleaners that can contain a chemical cocktail of carcinogens, including volatile organic chemicals, mercury, cadmium, and lead, just to name a few.

These chemicals can be incredibly damaging to a child’s health. Children are especially vulnerable to damaging environmental factors because their immune systems are not developed. The same is true for senior citizens. As we age, our immune systems begin to decline.

Every time we use a chemically based cleanser, we not only come into direct contact with these carcinogens, but we also breathe in the fumes that develop during evaporation. These fumes accumulate, and indoor air pollution can become quite a problem. This is especially true in schools where ventilation systems may not be state of the art.

Then we rinse these cleansers down the drain, and these pollutants enter our water supply.

As highlighted in the symposium, asthma rates have climbed 40 percent in 10 years in New Jersey. Autism rates are now one in 166 babies, as opposed to 1 in 500 only five years ago. The cancer rate among children is on a steady increase.

Coming from a nursing background, I would not want to suggest that children are getting sick simply because we’re using toxic cleansers. However, it’s the cumulative effect of environmental risk exposures that can cause disease. By removing one area of risk, we’re one step closer to preventing illness, especially in children.

Mayor Scarpelli implemented “Greening the Clean” in the Brick Municipal Building as a test case for the local schools, hospitals, nursing homes and municipal utilities authorities. The results have been good. These cleansers are effective, and cost competitive.

This is a program that all school districts could implement. The county Board of Chosen Freeholders could play a strong leadership role by designating the use of green products in county buildings, including libraries and Ocean County College.

It’s heartening to see a program launched at prevention. We read too many stories, attend too many fund-raisers, and cry too many tears for children with life-threatening disease. It’s time to hunker down and fight the good fight for our children’s futures.

Paula Gotsch

Brick