Plastic is bad news for the environment and for our children’s health. Mom Detective shares tips for minimizing exposure to harmful chemicals and choosing toys with safer materials.
Articles by Alexandra Zissu
The Placenta Is Not the Barrier We Once Thought It Was
The scientific community is just starting to study and understand which environmental pollutants can cross the placenta and how they impact babies. Learn more about what we know in Moms’ new fact sheet.
Ask Mom Detective: How Do I Know If I Have Toxic Mold?
As much of the country transitions from a wet winter into a likely wetter spring, Mom Detective shares tips to identify toxic mold in your home—and then clean it up.
Ask Mom Detective: How Do I Find a Safe Couch?
Mom Detective shares tips for avoiding flame retardants and other toxic chemicals when buying a new couch or upgrading an old one.
Ask Mom Detective: Are Reusable Bags as Bad as Single-Use Plastic?
Everything new has an environmental impact. Mom Detective shares tips for ensuring your grocery tote has the smallest possible footprint—and introduces us to the term “bag hoard.”
Ask Mom Detective: What Are the Safest Pots and Pans?
Chemicals, metals, and elements leaching from the surfaces we cook on daily can and do get into our food. Read Mom Detective’s tips for finding the safest pots and pans for your family.
Ask Mom Detective: How Can I Tell If Tap Water Is Safe to Drink?
How do we know if our tap water is safe to drink? Mom Detective weighs in on water testing, lead pipes, filtration systems, and the many cons of bottled water.
El Niño Has Arrived. You May Need a Snow Shovel.
Meteorologists are warning that 2023/24 is going to be a very snowy winter in many parts of the country—and El Niño is to blame. Learn what this weather pattern is and how it could impact your health.
Ask Mom Detective: What Are the Safest Options for a Child’s Mattress?
Want to find the healthiest mattress for your child? Moms Detective demystifies mattress materials and gives quick tips on shopping for the best option.
With Strong Standards, Ozone’s Health Burdens Are Avoidable
Ozone pollution, or smog, impacts tens of millions of people in the US every day, but EPA has opted to delay strengthening protections from this pollution. Learn how ozone affects our health and what we can do about it in our new fact sheet.
Healthy and Clean Transportation is Possible
Breathing tailpipe pollution can trigger asthma and damage our lungs, hearts, and brains. And vehicle exhaust contribute to climate change. Learn why we need strong tailpipe pollution protections and cleaner air for our children and our communities in our new fact sheet.
Here’s How to Improve Air Quality in Your Child’s School
Clean school air is essential for kids and staff. Yet EPA estimates that half of students in the US spend the day in schools that do not have an air quality management plan. Here’s how to assess and improve the indoor air in your child’s school.