Editor’s Note: In honor of Pediatric Safety’s 4 year bloggiversary, we are publishing 4 of our favorite posts from the past, one each Friday for four consecutive weeks. This is our 3rd: an overview of radon and it’s tie to lung cancer – in particular, the increased risk of childhood leukemia. It was originally posted in January 2010 by Jennifer Taggart – aka The Smart Mama....
While we are trying to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, we often overlook potentially one of the greatest risks in our home – radon, a radioactive gas. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Surprising, right? I would have guessed secondhand smoke. The EPA estimates that radon causes 21,000 lung cancer...
Brothers in Pajamas As we head into the holiday season with cold weather, you might be considering buying your children new pajamas. When buying children’s pajamas, you are faced with a choice. A choice as to whether you want to buy pajamas treated with flame retardants or not. Whether that matters to you is a decision you’ll have to make for yourself. But at least you should understand...
Earlier this year, a study reported in Pediatrics found a relatively inexpensive but surprisingly successful solution for children suffering eczema – a dilute bleach bath. In fact, the results were so remarkable and so quick that the Northwestern University study was terminated early so that the placebo group could benefit. On the other hand, bleach can be hazardous. So if your child is suffering...