The toxicity associated with atrazine has been documented extensively. The adverse reproductive effects of atrazine have been seen in amphibians, mammals, and humans-even at low levels of exposure. Concentrations as low as 0.1 ppb have been shown to alter the development of sex characteristics in male frogs. When exposure coincides with the development of the brain and reproductive organs, that timing may be even more critical than the dose. Also of great concern is the potential for atrazine to act synergistically with other pesticides to increase their toxic effects.

Here’s how to limit your exposure to atrazine in the water:

• Get a good Home Water Filter. One good one is the Watts WP5-50 Premier Five-Stage Manifold Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment System.

• And take filtered water with you wherever you go in a safe container such as the Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottles.

For more info on water filters, check out the NRDC’s Guide to Choosing the Right Filter. The NRDC suggests you first find out what’s in your water. Ask your water utility company for a copy of their annual water quality report. “In many cities, healthy adults can drink tap water without cause for concern. However, pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable to some contaminants in tap water,” says the NRDC.

You can also contact NSF International, a nonprofit public health and safety group that tests and certifies home water-treatment devices. Or contact the Water Quality Association at 630-505-0160 or www.wqa.org.

Endangered Species "Lemur Leaf Frog" Stroller

An eco-friendly baby stroller is one of the biggest purchases environmentally savvy parents make, second to the environmentally safe crib. So when I found the Endangered Species stroller from Baby Planet featured in one of the national parenting magazines, I couldn’t wait to check it out.

First, this eco baby stroller has a great ergonomic design to ensure your comfort as well as your baby’s. It’s also disigned with state-of-the-art technology. They’re safe, really cute, and easy to use. In fact, this stroller won a JPMA Innovation award for design.

What makes it green? They recycle. Yep, you can trade your old stroller in (or the one your sister gave you) when you buy a new one from Baby Planet. It’s all part of Baby Planet’s “mission to protect and restore the planet.”

Each stroller focuses on a specific endangered animal. They got together with the Wildlife Conservation Society to create these strollers to focus attention on the plight of Endangered Species. This is great for raising consumer awareness of endangered species. But Baby Planet also makes a yearly cash contribution to the Wildlife Conservation Society and donates $5 from each stroller sold.

On the practical side, Baby Planet eco strollers come with all the stylish features. Check it out.

Have you tried this stroller? Tell us what you think of it.

NATURAL PESTICIDES IN THE HOUSE

• Properly caulk and seal doors, windows, sinks, and showers.
• Keep your kitchen free of crumbs, including underneath the sink and refrigerator.
• To route out roaches, lightly dust the area they frequent with boric acid.
• To give ants the axe, mix a cup of sugar with 3 cups of water and 4 teaspoons of boric acid. Put it in a jar, wrap the jar with masking tape, drizzle some of the mixture on the side of the jar, and poke several small holes in the top. Leave the jar(s) out for the ants to find and carry back to their ant colonies.
• Stop crawling bugs in their tracks with a nontoxic sticky product like Tanglefoot.

NONTOXIC PEST CONTROL IN THE YARD

• Light attracts insects, so keep outdoor lights turned off at night.
• Keep the area close to your house free of rocks, ground litter, firewood, and piles of trash– they serve as a welcome mat for roaches, scorpions, centipedes. While you’re at it, trim back trees and bushes close to the house so bugs won’t use tham as ladders to your windows.
• To get rid of ant piles in your yard, pour hot, soapy water down the entrance to the ant hills.
• For aphids and other plant destroying insects, try a mixture of Ivory Soap, water, and vegetable oil. (Watch Joe Lamp’l, author of “Over the Fence,”  in the video below to see it in action.)