Environmental Health What is environmental health? How we choose to live, the products we use everyday, and the way we care for God’s Earth impact our health and the well-being of all creation. Environmental hazards such as water pollution, poor air quality, and exposure to toxic chemicals represent one of the greatest threats to human health and the environment. Faith Connections God calls us to be stewards of His good creation (Genesis 2:15), and to glorify Him by caring for our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We are also asked to care for vulnerable populations, “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40, 45), and seek justice for others in love (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39). Children, the elderly, and women are particularly vulnerable. People of color and low-income communities are disproportionately exposed to environmental pollution. We have an opportunity to choose mercy and justice for all of God’s children by eliminating toxic health threats to those least able to protect themselves and to help restore creation. Environmental Health Updates 4/21 Seeking clergy sign-ons to the Christian Principles for a Healthy Body and Spirit. Click here to view them. 4/21 Maine Governor Baldacci signs the Kids Safe Products Bill, a comprehensive chemicals policy that received unanimous support from the House and Senate. Our partner, the Maine Council of Churches, faithfully engaged congregations to bear witness and protect Maine's children. 4/17 The National Toxicology project of the federal government reversed their position on bisphenol-a's safety saying that "The possibility that bisphenol-a may alter human development cannot be dismissed.” Canada decided to list it as a toxic chemical the same week. Read our blog post on it. 4/8/08 Congressional investigation finds that FDA used industry studies to base approval for bisphenol-a in infant formula can liners. Read press release. Read more about bisphenol-a 4/3/08 Governor Gregoire sign's nation's strongest children’s product safety bill in the country in Washington. Our partner Earth Ministry worked faithfully to engage people of faith in making Washington safer for all of God’s children. Read more from the Washington Toxics Coalition.  3/11/08 US Senate passes bill to strengthen standards in children’s toys. The Consumer Product Safety Commission Bill passed the Senate with a vote of 79-13 on March 6th. This vote creates tougher standards on lead in children’s products, bans six classes of phthalates used in plastics found in items from children’s teethers to children’s toys, and creates a public database of product safety complaints. This is one step in a path towards protecting the health of children and the most vulnerable from toxic chemicals in everyday household products. 2/13/08 New report on bisphenol-a leaching from 95% of plastic baby bottles on the market. Download it! Faith-Based Resources New education and worship resource from the NCC! Mindful Living: Human Health, Pollution and Toxics US Conference of Catholic Bishops Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life Evangelical Environmental Network Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota Click here for more faith-based environmental health educational resources. Learn more about environmental health Issues from the NCC Environmental Health- Home Toxics Environmental Justice and Health Children’s and Women’s Health Pesticides Our daily Bread- Food and Health Plastics Mercury- Our Children’s Inheritance Air Quality Flame Retardants Take Action! More environmental health organizational links Commonweal Healthy Legacy Coalition- Minnesota Environmental Working Group Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine Center for Disease Control- Environmental Health Healthy Families, Healthy Environment The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow-Massachusetts Children's Environmental Health Network Physicians for Social Responsibility Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health   environmental health, toxics and faith environmental health, toxics and faith environmental health, toxics and faith environmental health, toxics and faith