There is no need or place for toxic chemicals in our everyday, household items. We can't shop our way out of the problem - we need policy reform - but here is a data-base that can help us avoid some of the bad chemicals in the meantime...
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Environmental Health Strategy Center
Preventing harm where we live, work and play
www.preventharm.org Find out What's in Your Stuff... | | |
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| | | New searchable web-site launched!  16 September 2009
Statement of Mike Belliveau, Executive Director, Environmental Health Strategy Center on the New Database on Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products:
www.healthystuff.org
Parents, women, pet lovers, and all who love our health and well-being
will appreciate this terrific new consumer guide from our friends at
the Ecology Center in Michigan.
"HealthyStuff.org" reports the results of more than 15,000 tests for
toxic chemicals found in 900+ common consumer products, ranging from
women's handbags to dog chew toys, and from car seats to back-to-
school supplies.
The findings are shocking. Toxic metals like lead and toxic plastic
additives like brominated flame retardants are frequently detected in
brand name products.
HealthyStuff.org shines a light on the badly broken chemical safety
system in the United States. The fact that you can buy a product off
the shelf does not mean that any government agency has ever approved
its chemical ingredients for safety.
In fact, despite the known use of more than 60,000 chemicals, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has only restricted 5 dangerous
chemicals under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976
(TSCA). EPA has ordered health and safety testing for 200 chemicals
in the 33 years since TSCA became law. Most remain untested.
HealthyStuff.org proves the wisdom of the Maine Legislature and
Governor John Baldacci when they passed Maine's kid-safe products act
in 2008, sponsored by Rep. Hannah Pingree. In July 2009, the Maine
Department of Environmental Protection took the first step to
implement Maine's new chemical policy by formally identifying more
than 1,700 "Chemicals of High Concern" based on known health hazards.
Now Maine should move rapidly to replace the use of dangerous
chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) with safer alternatives. BPA is
widely used in baby food jars and infant formula cans even though more
then 200 studies points to hormone disrupting effects that predispose
baby animals to prostate cancer and breast cancer later in life.
And Congress, with leadership from Maine's delegation, needs to take
up and pass chemical safety reform by overhauling TSCA. We all
deserve healthy stuff for a change. | | | |
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