Kids Face Dangerous Toxins As They Go Back To School

No, not the Common Core Federal Standards or Mayor Bloomberg's "Close Schools First" reforms, although those are certainly toxic too - I'm talking school supplies:

AN ALARMING number of school supplies contain a toxic chemical that’s already banned in toys, a new report found.

Sen. Chuck Schumer and the Center for Health, Environment & Justice released the report on Sunday. The advocacy group found that 75% of vinyl back-to-school products tested contained higher levels of the chemical phthalates than are allowed in toys.

The chemical has been linked to birth defects, asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, and other health issues.

Researchers tested lunch boxes, backpacks, rain boots and raincoats bought at city stores. A “Dora the Explorer” backpack had 69 times the allowable level of the chemical.

Schumer (D-N.Y.) and the advocates are pushing for the passage of the Safe Chemicals Act, which would give the Environmental Protection Agency more authority to regulate chemicals used in consumer products.

If it was a slow news Sunday, Senator Schumer must have filled the void with a press conference.

Schumer's self-aggrandizing act aside, the point he tried to raise here is an important one.

Our corporate consumer culture is literally poisoning us - between the toxic food they grow, the toxic technology they hoist on us, the toxic clothing and toxic materials they sell us.

Did you ever stop to wonder just how safe all this wireless is - especially around babies and children?

Or all the iPhone use?

Or the laminated stuff we buy?

Or the non-labeled GMO crap Monsanto, ADM, Cargill and the rest sell us?

We live in a very toxic culture with very toxic materials - and it is a systemic problem.

From the education system to the health care system to the media culture to agriculture to consumer culture to the financial system to the political system - it's all toxic.

Don't have any quick answers for you, don't have any data to back up my "reforms", don't have some talking points I can go on CNN and Education Nation with to promote my latest "Bolder, Faster Change."

But I do know this - our society, our culture and our economy is sick, and it is harming everybody, young and old.

Toxic school supplies are just another emblem of what is wrong.

And then we wonder why autism rates are sky-rocketing.