Posted on January 26, 2012 —
Originally published at SAFER States by Sarah Doll, mother of an adorable three year old, and the national director at SAFER. The organization is coalition of state-based organizations championing solutions to protect public health and communities from toxic chemicals.
The past couple years have seen unprecedented changes in the toxic chemicals landscape across the United States. In the past nine years, over 80 chemical safety laws have been passed with an overwhelming margin of bi-partisan support in statehouses across the country.
But this is not a time to rest on our laurels. Across the country, families still come into contact with unregulated toxic chemicals. Every day, we are exposed to hundreds of different chemicals in our home and at our work—chemicals like formaldehyde and chlorinated Tris which are known carcinogens, and bisphenol-a (BPA) which contributes to health problems with reproductive development.
None of these chemicals are effectively regulated by the federal government: it is a widely held myth that manufacturers even have to prove a chemical's safety before introducing it into products we buy. They don't have to, and they won't often even disclose which chemicals make up their products. Instead, they hide behind the claim that the information is proprietary.
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Posted on January 19, 2012 —
CONGRESS CONSIDERING NEW LAW - Seeking protection from toxic chemicals
By Linda Modenbach, president of the Learning Disabilities Association of Oklahoma, which provides support and services to people with learning disabilities, as well as their families, educators and health care providers (originally posted in the Oklahoman on Saturday, November 19, 2011 Edition: DRIVE, Section: OPINION, Page 11A.)
I admit that I never used to think about chemistry. But as an advocate for the learning disabilities community, new science has piqued my interest in chemistry as it relates to the increase in learning and developmental disabilities.
Take, for example, a notorious group of toxic chemicals that permeate our lives. Toxic flame retardants are used in furniture, electronics, mattresses, building materials and carpeting. These chemicals are present in more than 90 percent of Americans and are found in umbilical cord blood. They build up in breast milk.
"A body of scientific evidence shows that these toxins can interfere with healthy brain development, contributing to learning and behavior problems and developmental delays."
A body of scientific evidence shows that these toxins can interfere with healthy brain development, contributing to learning and behavior problems and developmental delays. Yet these chemicals were never tested for their effect on children's brains and bodies before being mass produced and marketed.
Current law allows chemicals to go on the market untested for health effects, but Congress is on the verge of passing legislation to overhaul this outdated law. The Safe Chemicals Act would assure American families that the chemicals in our products are safe — especially for the developing fetus and children.
Even greater news is the growing bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate for the Safe Chemicals Act. Sens. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, and Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J., recently wrapped up a series of meetings on the Safe Chemicals Act, with positive reports from all involved.
The time is now for us to put common-sense limits on chemicals linked to serious disease and disability. The Learning Disabilities Association of Oklahoma is especially concerned with chemicals that can harm brain development, and with the particular vulnerability of children to toxic chemical exposures.
The incidence of learning and developmental disabilities is increasing, driven by the rising prevalence in autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that nearly one in six American children was diagnosed with a learning or developmental disability in 2008.
The National Academy of Sciences estimates that environmental factors cause or contribute to at least a quarter of learning and developmental disabilities in American children. Scientists have learned that the developing brain is much more susceptible to toxic substances than the adult brain, and that certain chemicals can have a profound effect on the developing brain at levels once thought safe.
The learning and developmental disabilities community has been waiting a long time for protection from toxic chemicals used in commerce, our homes and workplaces. We applaud Inhofe in joining with Lautenberg to consider the Safe Chemicals Act in a productive, bipartisan manner. We anticipate Congress coming together at this critical time to pass a strong bill that protects the health of current and future generations of Americans.
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Posted on January 11, 2012 —
By Deanna Duke, author of the book "The Non-Toxic Avenger: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You" and the environmental blog, http://www.thecrunchychicken.com. Deanna lives in Washington State where the tests were conducted and can also be found on Facebook.
When my children were babies, their health and safety were high priorities for me as their mother. They still are. I made sure I breastfed my children as long as possible and made sure I bought them car seats with the highest safety ratings. As a mom, I take pride in making sure that I am doing everything I can for their well being. I expect that children's products available on the market are safe and contain nothing to expose their young, growing bodies to hazardous chemicals. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case.
A report released from Washington Toxics Coalition and Safer States shows that children and families are exposed to chemical flame retardants in children's products. These toxic flame retardants were found in 85% of the products tested, ranging from nursing pillows, changing pads to car seats. The most prevalent flame retardant found was chlorinated Tris (TDCPP), a chemical that was voluntarily removed from children’s pajamas in the 1970s when it was found to cause adverse health effects. In fact, California recently classified chlorinated Tris as a carcinogen, and evidence links the chemical to neurotoxicity as well as hormone disruption. It's a chemical that should not be anywhere near our children.
So, that nursing pillow from My Brest Friend that I received as a gift and used with both my kids when they were tiny? Two different kinds of toxic flame retardants. The co-sleeper my babies slept in by Arm's Reach? Five different kinds of toxic flame retardants. The Babies R Us Changing Pad that we used for at least three years? Three different kinds of toxic flame retardants. And the Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seat and Britax Roundabout car seats that got years and years of use? All contain chlorinated Tris.
"To say this makes me irate is an understatement. Without research like this, how would consumers even know what kind of toxic exposures our children are being subjected to?"
To say this makes me irate is an understatement. Without research like this, how would consumers even know what kind of toxic exposures our children are being subjected to? And, furthermore, this illustrates the fact that there are probably far more undiscovered toxins lurking in the many household products that are surrounding us.
Also, there are bills introduced at both the state and federal level working to ensure that manufacturers use only materials made with safe chemicals. Here in Washington state, a new bill called the "Toxic-Free Kids Act" was just introduced this week. States are passing chemical regulation laws because the current federal law that regulates chemicals is completely broken. Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ) has introduced the "Safe Chemicals Act" in the US Congress which if passed would help keep all American families safer from toxic chemicals.
Until these laws are passed, here are four basic tips for consumers to stay safer:
- Look for companies that avoid chemical flame retardants and use naturally fire-resistant materials instead.
- Avoid all products containing polyurethane foam with a label reading TB117, which means it has likely been treated with toxic flame retardants.
- To get rid of dust particles that are harboring flame retardants, use a wet mop and a vacuum with a true HEPA filter to clean your home.
- And, finally, tell your legislators to support policies like the Washington state "Toxic-Free Kids Act" and the federal "Safe Chemicals Act" that will help eliminate toxic flame retardants from consumer products, especially products intended for kids.
For more information on the Hidden Hazards report, including the health effects of flame retardants as well as which products were included in the testing, go to: www.watoxics.org/publications/hidden-hazards.
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