We often don't think about how everything in the world is connected. But what happens when bad things like chemicals and pollutants get into our environment? They can hurt us and our children in many ways.
It starts with the soil that grows our food. Bad chemicals can get into the soil and make the plants that grow in it unhealthy. Then, animals eat those plants and get sick. When we eat those animals or drink their milk, we get sick too.
The worst part is that babies and young children are most affected. They can get sick from the milk their mothers produce, which can make them develop more slowly or get very sick.
Scientists have proven that this is happening. They've found that children who are exposed to bad chemicals before they're born are more likely to have problems paying attention or behaving. They've also found that mothers who are exposed to bad chemicals during pregnancy are more likely to have children with learning problems.
These are just numbers, but behind each number is a child and a family who are suffering. Meet Maria, a young mother who lives near farms that use bad chemicals. Her baby, Juan, was born with developmental delays, and she wants to know why. She remembers the bad water and the chemicals that came onto her property during her pregnancy. It's clear that the environment is to blame, but it's hard to know what to do.
So, what can we do to stop this from happening? We need to work together to make sure our environment is clean and safe.
First, we need to make sure that companies and governments are not allowed to pollute our environment. We need to make sure that farmers use safe and healthy ways to grow our food.
Second, we need to educate ourselves and others about the dangers of bad chemicals. We need to learn how to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment.
Finally, we need to make sure that everyone has access to clean air, water, and food, no matter where they live or how much money they have.
The poisoned chain is a reminder that we're all connected and that our actions have consequences. We need to take care of the environment and each other to make sure our children are healthy and happy.
Will we take action before it's too late?