Phthalates
Phthalates are primarily used as plasticizers in flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products, such as vinyl shower curtains, flooring and medical devices. Phthalates are also used in a wide range of other products, such as fragrances and pill coatings and are found in Americans of all ages, sizes, and races. Evidence has been building in recent years that links phthalates to adverse health effects such as reproductive and developmental problems, respiratory impairment and other harmful effects on organs in humans and in laboratory animals. Read more...
Obesity: What do chemicals have to do with it?
It's no secret that the United States is battling overwhelming issues with obesity. Current statistics show that 34% of Americans are clinically obese, and 68% are overweight1, and the federal government has found that a third of American children are obese or overweight.
This is having a tremendous consequence on the nation as a whole, including an estimated economic cost of $270 billion per year in the United States, according to a report2 released this year. The costs come in need for medical care and the loss of worker productivity due to death and disability.
So, as a society, we are tackling obesity in all the expected ways. We are encouraging adults and children alike to eat less, eat better, move more, and to live healthy lifestyles. We are reevaluating school lunch programs, insisting that fast food restaurants provide healthy options, and encouraging healthy decisions at every juncture.
But what if some chemicals we were exposed to every day were making us fat? Enter obesogens. Science has recently uncovered that exposure to certain chemicals sets the stage for obesity.
Finally! Toy Makers Come Clean On Hidden Chemicals
Originally published at Washington Toxics Coalition.
Remember the Fall of 2007 when Thomas, Elmo, Dora, and over 20 million toys were pulled from toy store shelves because they contained high levels of lead? Parents and other concerned consumers were left wondering: what other harmful chemicals are hiding in toy boxes? Fortunately, thanks to new rules proposed in Washington state, we’re about to find out.
Last week, the Washington State Department of Ecology proposed new rules to require makers of children’s products to reveal whether they use chemicals harmful to children in their products. The rules are required by the Children’s Safe Products Act of 2008, a law passed by the Washington state legislature in response to the lead recalls of 2007.
New home study: Harmful chemicals in our floors, walls
We all know that children's toys should be checked for toxic chemicals, and many studies have done so, prompting removal of harmful chemicals and recalls of harmful products. Now a new study from the Ecology Center is focusing on home improvement products like flooring and wallpaper.
What chemicals are we exposing our families to in our homes?
The report found:
- 5% of all flooring samples had detectable levels of lead. Products with the highest percent of lead included vinyl sheet flooring and vinyl tile flooring.
Cancer and the Environment: The President's Cancer Panel
Last week, the President's Cancer Panel -- a panel of doctors originally appointed by President Bush -- released a damning report underlining the acute need for stronger toxics laws.
The report, which was submitted to President Obama before it was released to the public on May 6, asks the President "to use the power of your office to remove the carcinogens and other toxins from our food, water, and air that needlessly increase health care costs, cripple our nation's productivity, and devastate American lives."
In addition to recommendations such as avoiding pesticides in food and filtering water, the report also advises that Americans avoid BPA and phthalates in order to decrease cancer risk.
Safety of cosmetic products: Who is protecting us?
Our partner organization in Maine -- The Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine -- has released a report which analyzed the safety of chemicals that are found in twelve cosmetic and personal care products.
The report outlines specific findings of the products, including a nail polish claiming to be formaldehyde-free which contained formaldehyde, a body lotion containing ingredients that have been banned in some countries, and a hairspray containing cancer-linked phthalates.
Not all news was bad. Burt's Bees Foot Creme tested well, and no harmful ingredients were found. Burt's Bees is a North Carolina-based company with a commitment to truly natural products.
The Toxies names the bad actors of toxics
We are all looking forward to the Oscars this weekend, but this week Hollywood played host to another awards ceremony: The Toxies.
This tongue-in-cheek awards ceremony hosted by Citizens for a Healthy and Green Economy (CHANGE) was created to bring attention to the "bad actors" of toxics and the place that they play in our lives.
California has a Green Chemistry Initiative, a program that was announced in 2008 with a goal of creating a list of chemicals of concern and replacing them with greener, safer alternatives where possible.
Washington State mom testifies before Congress
In November, we told you about the Earliest Exposures Report -- a report which described the test results of pregnant women who were tested in Washington, Oregon and California. Despite their best efforts, the mothers-to-be tested with high levels of levels of bisphenol A , mercury, phthalates, and perfluorinated -- or “Teflon” -- chemicals in their blood.
At the time, we stated that the Earliest Exposures study underlined the need for states to pass laws protecting children and pregnant women from toxic chemicals.
One of the women tested during the study was Dr. Molly Gray, a Washington state resident who is now the mother to 7-month old Pax.
EPA Establishes a Chemicals of Concern List
Late last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an intention to create a "Chemicals of Concern" list which would give priority to some chemicals which are of particular danger to Americans.
Immediately, phthalates and PBDE chemicals are being added to the concern list -- phthalates are used in flexible plastics like soft toys for children, household products and medical equipment. The EPA targeted these chemicals because they raise “serious health or environmental concerns.”
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced the news stating,
Healthy Holidays with Safer States
As we wrap up this year, Safer States wishes you and your families a very happy and healthy holiday.
As you are celebrating with your families, please remember to keep them happy by following a few simple tips for gift buying and setting your dinner table this holiday.
1. Use the Healthy Stuff website to check for toxic chemical levels in the toys that you buy. The folks at healthy stuff have researched over 5,000 children’s products to see if they are contaminated with potentially harmful chemicals.
2. Choose fresh, local and organic foods for your Christmas dinner. Avoid as many pesticides as possible in your Christmas dinner by choosing organic foods. Pesticides often contain neurotoxins which, in high concentrations have been known to affect nervous system development, cognition and behavior.
Pregnant moms are exposed to toxic chemicals
The Washington Toxics Coalition yesterday released a study which is being called the first of its kind. The project tested nine pregnant women from Washington, Oregon and California for levels of toxic chemicals in their bodies, and thus being exposed to their fetuses. This study was completed in collaboration with Commonweal Biomonitoring Resource Center and the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition.
