by Corey Whelan

I'm as organic as a single mother on a budget can be.  We buy little to no canned food because of BPA, opt for organic dry cleaning and natural fibers and, well, do the best we can to avoid the avoidable junk in our atmosphere.  So it was with eagerness that I opened up a new report on PBDE's from Women's Voices for the Earth.

Don't know what PBDE's are?  I didn't know either.  PBDE stands for polybrominated diphenyl ethers.  They are a class of flame retardant chemicals used to make household objects less likely to catch fire.

Let me say right now that I am still reeling from the horrific fire that wiped out an entire family except for the mother, Madonna Badger, in Connecticut.  I dream about that mother and her anguish, it was with a heavy heart and understanding that I heard about her suicide attempt yesterday.  So my first reaction to the Women's Voices report was hell, I'd rather have PBDE's in my life than a fire. 

But there's some good stuff in the report and I request that you read it.  You can avoid PBDE's without making your family less safe.  And keep in mind that PBDE exposure has been linked in numerous studies to hormone disruption, thyroid problems, undescended testicles, delayed puberty, reduced fertility, low birth weight and birth defects.

Too much to worry about and take on, I know.  The world is very troubled these days.  But please do read the report and then do what's comfortable for you and your family.  If only love were enough to protect ourselves and our families.  Sadly, that's not the case. 

Please say a prayer for Madonna.