8/3/2019 Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families PRESS RELEASE Toxics in Toys

1/2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 13, 2011Contacts:

Blair FitzGibbon (202) 503-6141CJ Frogozo (310) 570-2622

Poison in Paint, Toxics in Toys

Shoppers Warned that Hormone-Havoc Chemicals Lurk in ProductsState Law Triggers Chemical Reporting, While Congress Lags Behind

Portland, MaineA report released today identifies for the first time more than 650brand name products that contain two hormone-disrupting toxic chemicals. Based on

new industry data, the report names plastic toys, such as PLAYMOBIL play figures and

Chicco baby rattles, which contain BPA (or bisphenol A), the same toxic chemicalalready banned in plastic baby bottles and sippy cups. The report revealed another toxic

ingredient, known as NPEs, in nearly 300 household paints, as well as several cleaners,

wood finishes and home maintenance products.The report, Poison in Paint, Toxics in Toys, summarizes the first chemical use reports

submitted by product manufacturers under a new state chemical safety law passed in

Maine. Similar state laws go into effect in Washington and California next year and arepending in other states, as Congress lags behind in reforming the outdated federal Toxic

Substances Control Act of 1976.

In the absence of federal leadership, state policies are the best way to identify and

restrict toxic chemicals in products, said Mike Belliveau, lead report author andexecutive director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center based in Portland,

Maine. Until Congress acts, we can expect more states and businesses to respond toconsumer demand for toxic-free products.As a new mom, Im relieved to finally get some information I can use as a consumer to

protect the health of my baby, said Hannah Pingree, the former Speaker of the Maine

House of Representatives who sponsored the 2008 Maine law known as the Kid Safe

Products Act. But why are these chemicals still used in everyday products, and what

else are they keeping us in the dark about? she asked. Congress has to fix our brokenfederal chemical safety system. Passing the Safe Chemicals Act is the only way to

protect the health of all American families.Armed with this new chemical use information, government can make better decisions torestrict toxic chemicals and industry leaders can switch to safer substitutes, just like the

infant formula makers who recently ended their use of BPA in metal cans. Twenty-five

manufacturers reported on priority chemical use in consumer products to the MaineDepartment of Environmental Protection. For a full searchable listing of every brand

name product reported to contain BPA or NPEs, visitwww.HealthyStuff.org.

http://www.healthystuff.org/http://www.healthystuff.org/http://www.healthystuff.org/http://www.healthystuff.org/

8/3/2019 Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families PRESS RELEASE Toxics in Toys

2/2

Studies have shown that BPA and NPEs (nonylphenol ethoxylates) mimic the sexhormone estrogen. BPA harms brain development, behavior and the prostate gland,

among many other adverse health effects. NPEs are highly toxic to aquatic life, degrade

into a long-lived chemical that builds up in the food chain, and may harm reproduction

and development in humans. Aggregate exposure to BPA and NPEs from all sourcesthreatens the health of children, workers and the environment.More and more states are enacting laws to protect the health of American families fromtoxic chemicals in response to the failure of the obsolete federal chemical safety system

to protect public health and the environment. In the last decade, 18 states have passed

more than 70 laws to ban chemicals in products or create new chemical managementprograms at the state level. Under Maines Kid Safe Products Act, manufacturers mustdisclose their use of priority chemicals of high concern in consumer products. The state

may then require companies to search for safer substitutes. Priority chemicals in products

may be phased out if children are exposed and safer alternatives are available, effective

and affordable.

S. 847, The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011, sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-New Jersey), proposes a common sense, science-based overhaul of the 35 year-old Toxic

Substances Control Act (TSCA), which has never been updated. The Safe Chemicals Act

requires chemical manufacturers to provide health information and demonstrate the safetyof all chemicals, while requiring immediate action to restrict uses of the worst chemicals

based on the best science.###

The Environmental Health Strategy Center works in Maine and nationally as a public

health organization that promotes human health and safer chemicals in a sustainable

economy. (www.preventharm.org)The State Alliance for Federal Reform (SAFER) of chemical policy, or SAFER States, is

a coalition of state-based organizations championing solutions to protect public healthand communities from toxic chemicals. (www.saferstates.org)The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition represents more than 11 millionindividuals and includes parents,health professionals, advocates for people with learning

and developmental disabilities, reproductive health advocates, environmentalists and

businesses from across the nation.(www.saferchemicals.org)

http://www.preventharm.org/http://www.preventharm.org/http://www.preventharm.org/http://www.saferstates.org/http://www.saferstates.org/http://www.saferstates.org/http://www.saferchemicals.org/http://www.saferchemicals.org/http://www.saferchemicals.org/http://www.saferchemicals.org/http://www.saferstates.org/http://www.preventharm.org/