NBC News brought Mom Detective Alexandra Zissu (pictured) on for two segments of “Modern Parenting” to discuss how caregivers can protect their kids from this increasingly toxic world. Understanding that harmful materials such as microplastics, PFAS or “forever chemicals,” formaldehyde, and endocrine disrupters are becoming common additives in everything from product packaging to clothes to toys, Alexandra advises parents to take a deep breath and focus on one area at a time.
“The idea is to enter detoxifying where you are interested,” Alexandra says in the interview.
By choosing one area—maybe it’s your closet, the toy bin, or your child’s lunchbox—swapping out plastic materials for alternatives, and seeing how you and your family feel, Alexandra explains the gradual shift to a safer life doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Safer options such as 100% cotton clothes, stainless steel bento boxes, and glass bottles are all great places to start.
Tell Congress: Protect Our Families From Harmful Toxic Chemicals
Check out the first and second NBC News segments now.
In other news
- Our Co-Founder and Director Dominique Browning explains on the Canaries in the Car Line podcast that when she founded Moms Clean Air Force 15 years ago, her goal was to harness mothers’ love and desire to protect our children into advocating for systems-level change. Today, Moms are putting that love into action, debunking the Trump administration’s lies and advocating for crucial climate and health policies.
- In an op-ed published in the Arizona Daily Star, Field Organizer Fabiola Bedoya urges Tucson Electric Power to invest in solar and wind energy sources rather than building new gas plants that will emit the potent climate pollutant methane and raise electricity bills for families and business owners.
- In an interview with CBS News Pittsburgh, Senior National Field Director Patrice Tomcik explains that there are an estimated 300,000 to 700,000 orphan wells across Pennsylvania with little documentation or indication of where they may be located. These wells can release not only climate-warming methane but benzene and other cancer-causing chemicals. That’s why Patrice is teaming up with partners like the Environmental Defense Fund to find them—so that they can be plugged.
- In an op-ed published in The Record, Moms Clean Air Force intern Bobby Cook writes about his experience as a camp counselor during a particularly smoky summer. He says he shouldn’t have found himself having to explain to his six-year-old campers that they couldn’t play kickball because wildfire smoke had made the air quality dangerously unhealthy.
- Michigan Field Organizer Elizabeth Hauptman talks to the Detroit Free Press about the benefits of the Energy Bill Relief Act, which would facilitate a transition to cleaner energy while ensuring families don’t have to foot the bill.
- Plastics News notes that Moms Clean Air Force is urging EPA not to exclude “advanced recycling” plastic incineration from Clean Air Act regulations and calling out the agency for not being transparent about efforts to skirt established procedure.
- In the Hartford Courant, Senior Manager for Field Engagement and Partnerships Liz Hurtado shares that she frequently worries about poor air quality when her child with exercise-induced asthma is playing outside. She says this type of fear is far too common in Latino communities, which are disproportionately impacted by pollution and associated respiratory conditions.
- Iowa Starting Line covers the second annual Moms Plastics Summit, which convened scientists and advocates to talk about plastics and petrochemicals back in April.
- West Virginia Field Organizer Lani Wean‘s community meeting about the danger of the Clean Seas Belle “advanced recycling” plastics incinerator is covered by WOWK 13 News and WCHS TV. “[This meeting] was essentially to educate the public on the health and environmental as well as economic impacts of this facility should it actually begin its operations,” Lani tells MetroNews.
- At a local Earth Day celebration featured in the Westminster Window, Colorado Field Organizer Laurie Anderson handed out educational pamphlets on air pollution alongside postcards people could fill out calling on their elected officials to protect clean air and children’s futures.
Honorable mentions
Over the last few weeks, Moms earned mentions in La Prensa, WBAY, KTNV Channel 13, WRAL News, Clean Technica, O Cafezinho, West Orlando News, and the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
Tell Congress: Protect Our Families From Harmful Toxic Chemicals