How to Raise Chemical Free Kids: Non-Toxic Solutions from Deirdre Imus

Deirdre Imus has been a staunch advocate for children's health for years, and she's particularly made a name for herself by comforting kids with cancer and arguing for safe alternatives to the toxic substances we encounter in our day-to-day lives.

She's the author of the popular Green This! series of books (most recently The Essential Green You), the founder with her husband Don, of the Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer, and the founder of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology at Hackensack University Medical Center. Its mission: "Identify, control and ultimately prevent exposures to environmental factors that may cause adult, and especially pediatric cancer, as well as other health problems with our children." One of its biggest successes has been its "Greening the Cleaning" program to remove toxic substances from cleaning products. Approximately 500 businesses, including 100 schools and school systems, have participated.

That's why The Daily Green honored her in 2009 with one of its Heart of Green Awards, and it is why we asked Deirdre to help us put together a back-to-school feature for parents about keeping their children safe from toxic chemicals and other health threats.

Browse through this feature to learn some essential tips for protecting your child, but not before watching her acceptance speech at the Heart of Green Awards ceremony. It sums up well why these tips are so important:

For more tips about keeping your child healthy and safe, sign up for the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology newsletter.