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Chemicals of Concern
Most people assume that products must be tested for safety before being sold. Sadly, when it comes to chemicals, often this isn't true. There is virtually no government oversight to ensure the safety of chemicals used in commerce. Over 62,000 chemicals commonly used today were assumed safe when the federal Toxic Substance Control Act was passed in the late 1970s. Since then, scientific study has raised concerns about many chemicals, but the vast majority have never been fully tested for their health or environmental impacts. Today, many manufacturers don't know which chemicals are in their products - one reason for 2007's massive recalls of millions of toys due to lead contamination.
Toxic chemicals, including lead, brominated flame retardants, phthalates, bisphenol A, and others, linked to serious health and environmental problems. Yet these chemicals are legally allowed to be added to the products used by people, including children, every day under current regulations.
Hidden Hazards in the Nursery
Popular baby products, including nursing pillows and car seats, contain toxic chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and other health effects, according to a new report authored by the Washington Toxics Coalition and released today by Clean and Healthy New York. Children and families are exposed to these Tris chemicals when they escape from products and contaminate house dust and indoor air.
“Appallingly, this is just one study in a long line documenting toxic chemicals in the products families rely upon. No parent would deliberately expose their baby in this way. Product makers need to stop simply moving darting from one toxic chemical as it is banned to another,” said Bobbi Chase Wilding, contributor to the study and Deputy Director for Clean and Healthy New York. “Further state action is needed to end this toxic shell game. ”
Assembly Schedules Hearing on Toxics in Kids Products
The New York State Assembly committees on Environmental Conservation, Health, and Consumer Affairs and Protection are holding a public hearing on the Child-Safe Products Act, and the broader subject of toxic chemicals in children's products. The public is invited to attend and speak - and our Assemblymembers need to hear from parents and others concerned about children's health.
Join JustGreen Partners as we call for the Child-Safe Products Act to be made into law!
Where: 250 Broadway, New York, NY - Assembly Hearing Room
When: 10 am, Monday, December 5, 2011
To testify: Fill out this form, and call Steve Liss at 518-455-5787.
Full details about the hearing can be found here.
NYS Senate and Assembly Pass Law to Protect Babies from Cancer-Causing Chemical
Advocates Laud Passage as First in the Nation, Call on Governor to Sign the "Tris-free Children and Babies Act"
Chemical Facing Ban Was Recently Found in 17% of Foam Baby Products Tested
(Albany) Organizations in the JustGreen Partnership hailed passage of S. 4085a/A. 6919a in the Senate today, following the Assembly's earlier passage of the bill. The "Tris-Free Children and Babies Act" would prohibit the sale of products containing a cancer-causing chemical called "TCEP" if they are meant for young children and babies. TCEP is no longer produced in Europe and has been identified by Canada as posing a risk to human health. In a recent scientific study, TCEP was found in 17% of foam baby products tested. (Including the padded seat cushion shown here.) These products include those on which babies spend the vast majority of their time, including nursing pillows, car seats, crib positioners, baby carriers, high chairs, and booster seats.
"It takes forward-thinking leaders like Assemblyman Sweeney and Senator Grisanti to pass the first state-level tris ban in the nation," said Kathy Curtis, Policy Director for Clean New York and co-coordinator of the JustGreen Partnership. "Until comprehensive, sensible chemical policy is a reality, we're glad we can depend on them to protect the health of New York's babies and children," Curtis added.
Read more...Toxic Chemicals Found in Baby Products
A study of products designed for newborns, babies, and toddlers – including car seats, breast feeding pillows, changing pads, crib wedges, bassinet mattresses and other items made with polyurethane foam – found that 80% of products tested contained chemical flame retardants that are considered toxic, according to a peer-reviewed study published in Environmental Science & Technology Journal. Other retardants discovered had so little health and safety data on them it is not possible to know their effects at this time. The same flame retardants found in some of the products are also found in children’s bodies and widely dispersed throughout the environment and in food.
Read more...On the Money: BPA Found on Receipts, Dollar Bills
A new study was released today giving new meaning to the phrase “toxic assets.” On The Money: BPA on Dollar Bills and Receipts set out to investigate how widely stores use thermal receipt paper containing bisphenol A (BPA), and whether this hormone-disrupting chemical is escaping onto the money next to these receipts in people’s wallets.
Researchers found that half of the thermal paper receipts tested had large quantities of freely available BPA; 95% of the dollar bills tested positive for lower amounts. Unlike BPA in water bottles and other products, BPA on thermal paper isn’t chemically bound in any way: it’s a powdery film on the surface of receipts. Data from this report indicate that this highly toxic chemical easily transfers to our skin and likely to other items that it rubs against.
Read more...