YOUNG GIRL MAKES A DIFFERENCE

This month I would like to spotlight a young girl in Colorado who has been advocating for earth issues since she was 6 years old. I read about Madhvi Chittoor in a Time Magazine article in August. After she heard that Colorado state senator Lisa Cutter proposed banning single-use plastic bags in 2021, she spoke with mayors and businesses and conducted a signature campaign to encourage its passage. That measure took full effect in 2024.
Later she and her mother met with Senator Cutter about PFAS chemicals. These “forever” chemicals have been used in consumer products since the 1940s, and have made their way into drinking water, soil, food products, and the air. I had thought that the PFAS problem was only in a few places in the country, but it turns out it’s much more widespread. Because these chemicals do not break down, it’s not possible to just wait for them to disappear. PFAS chemicals are now present in nearly all of our bodies, as well.
As you probably know, at certain levels they can lead to negative developmental effects in children, decreased fertility, increased risk of some cancers, reduced immune function, and increased cholesterol levels. Because of the encouragement of Madhvi and her mother, the senator introduced a bill that bans “intentionally added PFAS” in a wide range of consumer goods, from cosmetics to carpets. Madhvi testified at the state Capitol and spent months emailing with the governor. The bill passed in the Colorado legislature. It’s amazing what one person, especially such a young one, can do.
I believe we have more power than we realize to affect legislation to protect our environment.
Sandy McKitrick