Health, Taken Seriously

A friend of a friend is a children’s health advocate in Maine and wrote this great article on toxins in children’s products. She was instrumental in helping a bill get passed that forces manufacturers to disclose whether or not their products contain ingredients like BPA or phthalates, and to try to replace them with safer alternatives.

A few highlights:

• Manufacturers overseas often make two versions of the same toy. The safer version goes to Europe, where standards are higher. The cheaper version comes here, because our government allows toxic chemicals in the products we purchase for our kids.
• Phthalates have been banned in children’s products in Europe and California because they’re so toxic.
• Most products with synthetic fragrance contain phthalates, which give the scent its staying power.
• The chemical industry says the levels are too small to do damage. Frankly, I find the low-dose argument silly, because even the EPA admits its standards for safe-exposure levels are based on outdated research. Plus, would you expose the person you love most in this world to a low level of poison? A low dose of cancer?

Filed under: BPA, Chemicals, Children, Phthalates on June 20th, 2008