Healthy Communities News

BOSTON—As last minute shoppers crowd into malls and stores across the state, a coalition of health, environmental and scientific groups called on Governor Romney to mandate safer ingredients in consumer products. Some popular holiday gifts like children's toys made from PVC plastic, fragrance sets and cosmetics can contain toxic chemicals such as lead, cadmium, phthalates, formaldehyde, and others that are linked to cancer, birth defects, liver and kidney damage, reproductive abnormalities and learning disabilities.

"The holidays may be a little healthier in Europe this year, where countries are taking steps to protect residents from these toxic chemicals," said Geoff Wilkinson, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association. "Our Department of Public Health has the authority to do that here. We're asking Governor Romney and the Department to take toxic chemicals out of everyday products."

New European Union legislation will ban three phthalates classified as toxic to reproduction that are common ingredients in PVC plastics from all toys and child care articles. In addition, the newly amended EU Cosmetics Directive has called for the removal of over 1,000 chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive disorders from use in a wide range of cosmetics and personal care products. Independent lab tests have shown that many of these chemicals can escape from these products in normal use, and many have been detected in human blood and tissue samples, as well as indoor air and household dust samples from Massachusetts homes.

"As a new mother, I'm particularly concerned about the safety of products my daughter plays with and that my family uses on our bodies daily," said Sarah Isenberg, Belmont resident and Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition board member who was diagnosed with breast cancer at an early age. "I'm outraged that chemicals that are restricted in Europe can be found in products that are on the shelves of any corner store in Massachusetts. Since safer alternatives are available, why hasn't our government already taken action to require that only poison-free products be sold in Massachusetts?"

A national study released in 2003 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that analyzed the body fluids of over 10,000 U.S. residents confirmed that average Americans are carrying multiple toxic chemicals in their bodies. Levels of phthalates found in PVC plastic products were higher in children tested, while the levels of phthalates found in cosmetics were higher in adults.

"Children can be uniquely sensitive to health and developmental damage from exposure to small amounts of the chemicals found in some of these products," said Joel Tickner, ScD, Professor of Environmental Health at University of Massachusetts Lowell. "Although each individual product may result in only a small exposure to the toxic chemicals contained in them, we are all exposed to a variety of these substances from common household products on a daily basis. Shifting to safer alternatives will reduce our exposure to these chemicals and better protect our health."

"We, as a society, have a duty to protect our children from harm. It is not unreasonable to ask that our children's toys be free from toxic chemicals," said Senator Steven A. Tolman (D-Brighton). "In an effort to combat the increasing prevalence of toxic chemicals in our society, I have re-filed a bill to promote the use of safer alternatives to toxic chemicals in certain products. I believe that it is critical that we promptly address this important environmental and public health issue. I would also urge the Governor to do his part to protect Massachusetts families from these common, everyday hazards."

"I have cosponsored legislation to ensure that there are protective measures in place around products commonly-used by both adults and children," said Representative Anne Paulsen (D-Belmont). "If we could expedite this through action taken by the Governor, I hope it can happen."

"We've got to follow the old adage: 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' where toxics are concerned," said Janet S. Domenitz, Executive Director of MASSPIRG. 'The Governor can give the Commonwealth a gift that will improve our health and environment by issuing an Executive Order to start phasing out these toxins," she concluded.

In addition to calling on Governor Romney to take action, the coalition has also joined a national campaign to press cosmetic manufacturers to make safe products available to U.S. consumers. The campaign website, http://www.safecosmetics.org, also hosts a product database where consumers can get more information on the personal care products used by their families.