This post was written by Leigh Garofalow, Green4U and What I Want My Kids To Know:

As my son’s first birthday approaches and my brother and sister-in-law are about to welcome their first child into their home, I think about what I can do to protect my son, daughter, niece, and millions of other children from SIDS, asthma and other airborne-caused diseases.

My strongest tool is my voice.

When my children were born I did everything I could to protect them. I followed all the rules to prevent SIDS, but the responsibility falls on the parents for the day-to-day protection and prevention. What can all of us do to protect all children from the harmful effects of soot and other airborne toxins?

I can use my voice to let the government know that I want them to keep our air clean. The Clean Air Act went into effect over 40 years ago to protect Americans from the airborne contaminants that affected our health. Amendments were added throughout the years in an effort to continue to protect us from newly discovered dangers in our air.  The law requires that every 5 years the EPA review the current standards, and that the standards are “requisite to protect public health with an adequate margin of safety” and “requisite to protect the public welfare.”

Right now the EPA is accepting public comments on the stronger limits for soot pollution. So in order to protect my niece that I will meet soon and all the other babies born in the US you can join me by doing these three things:

1. TELL THE EPA THAT YOU WANT STRICTER REGULATIONS ON SOOT POLLUTION

2. TELL THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES: BARRACK OBAMA AND MITT ROMNEY THAT YOU WANT THEM TO TAKE A STAND ON AIR POLLUTION AND TALK ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING

3. JOIN MOMS CLEAN AIR FORCE as an Aunt, Uncle, Grandparent, or anyone who cares about the health and safety of the babies in the world. Moms Clean Air Force will let you know when there is critical legislation and how to contact your local officials to let them know you vote and you care about this issue.

Use your strong voice to let all the babies in the world know that the air they breathe was protected by you.

Thank you, Leigh!

Leigh Garofalow is a mother of two children and was born an environmentalist. She writes two blogs: Green4U giving green living tips to the average person and What I Want My Kids To Know, a blog of thoughts and advice to her kids.