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Hartford, Dec. 1 – Dangerous or toxic toys can still be found on America’s store shelves, according to the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group’s 29th annual Trouble in Toyland report. The survey of hazardous toys found that, despite recent progress, consumers must still be wary when shopping this holiday season.

The report reveals the results of laboratory testing on toys for toxic chemicals, including lead, chromium and phthalates, all of which can have serious, adverse health impacts on a child’s development. The survey also found examples of small toys that pose a choking hazard, extremely loud toys that threaten children’s hearing, and powerful toy magnets that can cause serious injury if swallowed.

“We should be able to trust that the toys we buy are safe. However, until that’s the case, parents need to watch out for common hazards when shopping for toys,” said Sean Doyle, ConnPIRG Campaign Organizer.

For 29 years, the ConnPIRG Trouble in Toyland report has offered safety guidelines for purchasing toys for small children, and provided examples of toys currently on store shelves that pose potential safety hazards.

“Choking hazards, toxic components and ear-piercing sounds in toys for sale across the country can turn a joyous holiday into a parent’s worst nightmare,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal. “I will continue to stand with ConnPIRG and consumer advocates in efforts to ensure that federal regulators do all they can to ensure the safety of children’s toys, particularly with regard to eliminating exposure to phthalates and toxic metals, which can lead to long-term developmental and health effects.”

Key findings from the report include:

• Toys with high levels of toxic substances are still on store shelves. We found toys containing phthalates well over legal limits, as well as toys with lead or chromium content above limits. For example, a badge playset and a toy tambourine.
• Despite a ban on small parts in toys for children under the age of three, we found toys available in stores that still pose choking hazards. For example, we found a foam block set marketed for small children with pieces that are clearly too small yet the set is not labeled.
• We also found numerous toys that are potentially harmful to children’s ears and hearing. For example, small cell shaped toys like the Leap From Chat and Count Smart Phone, labeled for kids as young as 18 months.
• We continued to find small, powerful magnets that pose a dangerous threat to children if swallowed.

Over the past six years, stronger rules have helped get some of the most dangerous toys and children’s products off the market. Rules put in place by the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act tightened lead limits and phased out dangerous phthalates. The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s September ban on small, powerful toy magnet sets is also an important step forward. However, not all toys comply with the law, and holes in the toy safety net remain.

“Unfortunately, the federal government and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have not gone far enough to restrict toxic chemicals in toys,” said Anne Hulick, the coordinator for the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut. “It is unacceptable that chemicals linked to cancer, impaired brain and nervous system development and hormone-disruption are frequently found in toys and other children’s products.”

Dr. Steven C. Rogers, an attending physician at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center emergency department notes that “Over 250,000 children were treated in emergency departments for toy related injuries last year. The most deadly injuries are usually due to choking hazards like small toy accessories intended for older children. These injuries are preventable so as parents we need to make sure our children are safe this holiday season."

An easy way to check is something might be a choking hazard is to use a common item found in every household: “if something is small enough to fit inside a toilet paper roll, it is a choking hazard” says Dr. Scott Schoem, Division Chief, Otalaryngology.

Shopping at the right stores can also make a difference. “Parents should also avoid shopping at stores that have not adopted a publicly available corporate policy on toxics in their products, such as Walgreens,” stated Doyle. “Without such a policy, Walgreens does not play an active role in ensuring the safety of the products it sells. Instead, Walgreens leaves it up to manufacturers and suppliers to ensure the safety of products.”

“Finally, today is Cyber Monday. We also urge parents to watch for hazards when shopping for toys on the web. Our report includes unsafe toys found in dollar stores, big box stores and online.” To download our full Trouble in Toyland report, visit bit.ly/toyland2014. Parents can find our list of unsafe toys, as well as tips for safe toy shopping this holiday season, at toysafetytips.org.

The toxic flame retardants have not been shown to improve fire safety, and have been linked to serious health impacts, including cancer, neurological and reproductive diseases, hormonal disruption, obesity and other harmful conditions. Most alarming, blood samples from babies and young children in California have shown some of the highest levels of flame retardant chemicals ever detected in the general population.

In their letter, the Senators call on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to promptly adopt as the national standard, California’s flammability standard, which focuses on the leading cause of furniture fire deaths—smoking materials-- and would help eliminate the unnecessary use of flame retardant chemicals.

“The use of flame retardants in furniture is widespread, despite a growing body of evidence linking this class of chemicals to serious health impacts, including cancer, neurological and reproductive diseases, hormonal disruption, obesity, immunotoxicity, and neurodevelopmental delays. Blood samples from babies and young children, who are the most vulnerable to the toxic effects of these chemicals since their brains and bodies are still developing, have some of the highest levels of flame retardants ever detected in the general population. We believe it is critical to reduce unnecessary exposure to flame retardants. Moreover, CPSC’s own findings have shown that these chemicals, as they have been used in residential furniture, provide no meaningful fire safety benefit,” the letter states.

Blumenthal said: “These flame retardant chemicals are a menace, causing severe health impacts, particularly in young children and our emergency responders, while providing no meaningful fire protection. While some furniture stores are fortunately moving ahead with safer products on their own, many major stores still have no plans to discontinue use of these dangerous chemicals. A national flammability standard is needed immediately. We are calling on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to stop stalling and do the right to protect the safety of children, firefighters and consumers, and simply adopt California’s commonsense flammability standard as the national standard.”

“No parent should have to worry that their furniture will poison their children. No consumer should need a graduate degree in chemistry to know if a common product is safe to buy. And yet, that is exactly the situation we face today with toxic flame retardants in furniture,” said ConnPIRG State Director Evan Preston. “Immediate action by businesses and government is needed to protect the public from these toxic and unnecessary chemicals.”

"Clean Water Action is proud to stand with Senator Blumenthal and the Hartford Firefighters to raise awareness on the toxic nature of flame retardants and to push for policies that reduce exposure. Firefighters are at high risk of cancers due to exposure to these chemicals as are developing babies and young children. These chemicals do not protect people from fire and pose a serious health threat to people and the environment,” said Anne Hulick, Director of Connecticut Clean Water Action and Coordinator for the Coalition for Safe and Healthy Connecticut.

(Hartford, CT) -- A study released today by the Ecology Center’s HealthyStuff.org project has found elevated levels of toxic chemicals in popular Halloween costumes, accessories and party supplies. The nonprofit Ecology Center tested 105 types of Halloween gear for substances linked to asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, reproductive problems, liver toxicity and cancer. The products were purchased from top national retailers including CVS, Kroger, Party City, Target, Walmart, and Walgreens. “This is just another example of why we press for disclosure of toxic chemicals in products. Parents and all consumers want to know if the products purchased for children contain harmful chemicals and deserve the option of choosing products that are toxic-free” stated Anne Hulick, RN, MS, JD and Coordinator of the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut.

“We found that seasonal products, like thousands of other products we have tested, are full of dangerous chemicals,” said Jeff Gearhart, HealthyStuff.org research director. “Poorly regulated toxic chemicals consistently show up in seasonal products. Hazardous chemicals in consumer products pose unnecessary and avoidable health hazards to children, consumers, communities, workers and our environment.”

Hacah Boros, RN, MSN stated “As a mother of two young children and a nurse, I find it unacceptable that retailers continue to sell products that could be dangerous to the long term health of children. With cancer and other childhood diseases on the rise, I believe that manufacturers and retailers of such products should be listening to the research and to the cries of parents asking for change and safer alternatives. It is unfair that safer alternatives are so hard to find and so expensive; automatically excluding those parents who don’t know or can’t afford them! It’s scary to think of what health effect a simple Halloween costume could be having on our children.”

HealthyStuff.org tested Halloween products for chemicals based on their toxicity or tendency to build up in people and the environment. These chemicals include lead, bromine (brominated flame retardants), chlorine (vinyl/PVC plastic), phthalates, arsenic, and tin (organotins).

Some products contained multiple chemical hazards, including a Toddler Batman Costume whose belt contained 29% regulated phthalates, 340ppm tin, and lead in the lining of the mask at 120 ppm. Overall, 39% of the products contained tin at levels suggesting organotin stabilizers, which are endocrine disruptors and can damage the developing brain and immune system.

Exposure to toxic chemicals is cumulative and comes from many sources, including diet, air, dust and direct contact with products. Moreover, chemicals being released from products throughout their life cycle are increasingly being recognized as important sources of exposure. In conjunction with the release, advocates with the Mind the Store campaign launched a new national online petition to major retailers calling on them to eliminate these hazardous chemicals in consumer products such as Halloween costumes and accessories.

“Our nation’s biggest retailers have a responsibility to their customers to sell safe products, especially when it comes to our children,” said Mike Schade, Mind the Store Campaign Director for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families. “Their considerable market share gives them the power and the responsibility to demand safer chemicals and products from their suppliers. This new testing underscores the need for big retailers to ensure products on their shelves, such as Halloween costumes, don’t contain chemical hazards."

The Mind the Store Campaign, coordinated by Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, is challenging the nation’s top ten US retailers to get tough on toxic chemicals. Chemicals highlighted in the new HealthyStuff.org Halloween study are on the Hazardous 100+ list of dangerous chemicals, which advocates have been calling for retailers to disclose, eliminate, and safely substitute. Over the past year, both Walmart and Target have made strides in launching new initiatives to disclose and limit the use of certain toxic chemicals.

The results of this study are available on the easy-to-use consumer website – www.HealthyStuff.org and build on recent HealthyStuff studies on back-to-school products, summer seasonal & beach products and university-themed products. The majority of these seasonal or specialty products routinely contain one or more toxic chemicals. Due to the fact that many consumer products are largely unregulated, the items tested sometimes have levels of toxic chemicals that exceed the regulated levels set for children’s products and toys.

In addition to finding many products with chemical hazards, HealthyStuff.org test data shows that many Halloween products do not contain dangerous substances, proving that safer products can be made. For example, the results show shifts in some products away from hazardous phthalate plasticizers too less hazardous non-phthalate plasticizers. The represents a market shift in the face of growing consumer and regulatory pressure.

Highlights of Findings from HealthyStuff.org’s Halloween Product Study:

• Thirty-three of the 105 tested Halloween products contained polyvinyl chloride (vinyl or PVC) components.
• Seventeen of the vinyl products were tested for phthalate plasticizers. Of these, two items contained phthalates that were recently banned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in children’s products. One product was a Disney Wall Art (vinyl wall stickers) set which contained 16% regulated phthalates. Another product was a Toddler Batman Muscle Costume purchased at Walmart. In the costume’s yellow belt, HealthyStuff.org measured 29% regulated phthalates (290,000 ppm) and 340 ppm tin. Lead was detected in the mask inner lining at 120 ppm. Overall, five percent of all products were measured to have lead exceeding 100 ppm.
• The study also documented an ongoing shift away from phthalate plasticizers in flexible vinyl products. Tests showed that fifteen of the vinyl items tested were plasticized with the less toxic chemical DOTP.
• Ten percent of the products contained levels of bromine consistent with brominated flame retardants. Two Disney-themed Trick-or-Treat bags purchased at Kroger, for example, contained 28,000 ppm and 6,000 ppm bromine, respectively. Halloween light sets purchased at Walgreen’s and CVS contained similarly high amounts of bromine.
• Many of the products with brominated flame retardants also contained high levels of antimony, suggesting an antimony-based flame retardant was used in addition to the brominated chemicals.
• Thirty-nine percent of the products, ranging from dress-up shoes to a skeleton “light stick,” contained tin at levels suggesting organotin stabilizers. Vinyl products were twice as likely to contain tin as non-vinyl materials. Some forms of organotins are endocrine disruptors; other forms can impact the developing brain and damage the immune system.

To analyze the Halloween products, researchers used a High Definition X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, Infrared Spectroscopy and laboratory testing. XRF is an accurate device that has been used by the Environmental Protection Agency to screen packaging, the Food & Drug Administration to screen food, and many State and County Health Departments to screen for residential lead paint. Additional samples were analyzed by laboratories using EPA test methods.

Complete product sample data, photos of products tested, and more information about what consumers can do is available now at www.HealthyStuff.org.

Non-Toxic Halloween Tips

1. Contact your favorite retailer and ask them to sell non-toxic supplies.
2. Avoid vinyl products: select cloth and natural materials for costumes and decorations.
3. Make up and masks: Use paint and pencils made from clay or other natural ingredients, our make you own.
4. Trick or Treating: use old pillow or reusable shopping bags
5. Pumpkins: Roast and eat the seeds and compost the pumpkin when your done.
6. Decorations: Avoid plastics and instead use paper, cardboard, leaves or other natural and recyclable materials for your decorations

More detailed tips available at HealthyStuff.org.

“Toxic flame retardants are hitchhiking on our clothes and literally coming out in the wash,” said Erika Schreder, the study’s lead author and science director with the Washington Toxics Coalition. “This study demonstrates for the first time a key way that toxic flame retardants found in our homes are transported to outdoor environments.”

Researchers have known for years that chemical flame retardants escape from couches and other products and collect in house dust. Flame-retardants have also been previously detected in surface water, sediment, fish, bird eggs, and other wildlife. The new study has now identified the link between the indoor chemicals and the outdoor pollution: home laundry wash water.

Mark J. La Guardia, co-author and senior environmental research scientist at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, said “Our analysis suggests that from the home laundry wastewater is the primary source of flame retardants to treatment plants, and some of them are going right through the plant to the river.”

Scientists tested dust and home laundry rinse water from 20 Longview and Vancouver, WA homes for 22 chemical flame-retardants. Samples were also taken from two wastewater treatment plants, both of influent and effluent, and analyzed for the same group of flame-retardants. These treatment plants discharge to the Columbia River.

Scientists found high levels of flame-retardants in the dust, laundry water and water treatment plant influent and effluent. This shows flame retardant-contaminated dust is attaching to clothing and washing out in the laundry, making its way to rivers and Puget Sound through wastewater treatment plants. The study found some of these chemicals are not removed during treatment, and are then discharged directly to waterways – hundreds of pounds per year from a single treatment plant.

The study’s findings include:

• 21 flame-retardants were detected in household dust, 16 of those in 95% or more of homes sampled. These included PBDEs as well as a number of chemicals that have come into greater use as replacements for the phased-out PBDEs.
• 18 flame-retardants were detected in laundry water.
• Chlorinated organophosphate (Tris) flame-retardants, used in furniture foam and home insulation, were discharged in the highest concentrations of any flame retardant from wastewater treatment facilities to the Columbia River. The Tris flame-retardants detected include TCPP, TDCPP, and TCEP.
• Based on levels measured in treatment plant effluent, the study estimates a yearly discharge of 174 kilograms, or 384 pounds, of the three Tris flame retardants to the Columbia River—from just one treatment plant. That is the equivalent of the flame retardant used to treat 1088 couches.
• Laundry wastewater is a significant source of chlorinated Tris flame-retardants to waterways, wildlife and fish. Tris flame-retardants are not removed or broken down during the treatment process, but instead are discharged into waterways.
• The study estimates that between one and four percent of the annual production of Tris flame-retardants is not staying in consumer products but is leaching out and polluting waterways—a total of more than one million pounds ending up in waterways nationally each year.
• Chlorinated organophosphate (Tris) flame retardants make up on average 72% of flame retardants found in house dust and 92% of flame retardants found in laundry wastewater. Some flame-retardants in this group are considered known human carcinogens. There is also evidence of harm to reproduction and the nervous system.

Flame-retardants, including chlorinated organophosphates (Tris) as well as the now-banned PBDEs, have been detected in surface water, sediment, fish, bird eggs, and other wildlife. PBDEs have been found in animals relying on the Columbia: ospreys, largescale suckers, and salmon. Laboratory and field studies have linked exposure of fish to PBDEs, the most well-studied flame retardants, to hormone disruption, inhibited spawning, and weakened immune response. In a study of 19 U.S. drinking water systems, two of these compounds, TCPP and TCEP, were found in drinking water at the highest median level of all 51 compounds tested.

"If toxic flame retardants are polluting waters in Washington State, they are likely doing the same right here in Connecticut and that is really disturbing. This study is another reason why we’ll continue to work to reduce exposure to these harmful chemicals,” said Anne Hulick, RN, MS, JD, Coordinator of the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy CT. "Toxic flame retardant pollution is preventable pollution. In the absence of meaningful federal action, state legislators need to ban these chemicals and ensure they aren't replaced by equally harmful chemicals," said Sarah Doll, national director with SAFER.

Safer States (The State Alliance for Federal Reform (SAFER) of Chemical Policy) is a coalition of state-based organizations championing solutions to protect public health and communities from toxic chemicals. www.saferstates.org, www.facebook.com/saferstates or @SaferStates

Check out our video of store visits in April and join us today in urging Walgreens to “Mind the Store!”

Want to help? Here’s what you can do:

1) Send an email to the CEO and simply urge him to take a leadership role in shifting to safer alternatives. You can reach him here:

Gregory Wasson
Walgreens
Phone: 800-925-4733
Email: gregory.wasson@walgreens.com

2) Stop by a local Walgreens today. Ask to speak to the manager and tell them you are concerned about toxic chemicals in products and ask them to use their position to urge their CEO and corporate sustainability director to shift to safer alternatives.

Let's tell Walgreens that its customers deserve access to safe products!

HARTFORD – Advocates gathered at the State Capitol to urge leaders in both the Senate and House to follow Vermont’s example and act on Senate Bill 126 AAC Children’s Exposure to Chemicals, which would authorize the Department of Public Health to begin compiling a list of chemicals that are found to pose health and/or developmental hazards in children. On Wednesday, April 30th, the Vermont House approved a bill that is very similar to SB 126 yet according to Coalition for a Safe and Healthy CT Coordinator, Anne Hulick RN, MSN, JD, it goes one step further than Connecticut’s proposal as it requires manufactures to disclose these chemicals in their products.

“The time to act is now,” said Hulick, who added, “This issue is really simple – our kids are being exposed to chemicals that are negatively impacting their health. Period. SB 126 tells Connecticut children that their health is important to us, and that corporate profits do not hold a higher priority than their well-being.”

“We’ve been waiting for more than 30 years for federal reforms to TSCA – our opponents continue to derail these efforts but then convince state lawmakers that these laws should be passed at the federal level,” added Hulick. “In the meantime, childhood cancers have increased, early puberty is becoming more common in girls, and learning and developmental disabilities affect one in six children in the United States. What are we waiting for?”

Senate Bill 126 is currently on the Senate Calendar.

Hulick said that advocates from all over the state have been calling their lawmakers to urge them to support the bill.

"We’ll continue to fight for this legislation and others like it because our kids deserve to grow, learn and play in an environment that is free from dangerous chemicals,” said Hulick. “For as long as babies and children are sleeping on mattresses treated with flame-retardants, wearing clothing treated with formaldehyde, and playing with toys made with BPA – we’ll continue to speak up for them - we won’t go away until this issue does.”

Click here for Jim Calhoun's letter supporting SB 126.

The legislative proposal, SB 126 AAC CHILDREN’S EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS, would authorize the state Department of Public Health to monitor chemicals of concern to children and submit their findings to lawmakers in the form of a report every two years. Under the legislation, the report may also include recommendations on how to reduce exposure to the most egregious of these chemicals.

“Childhood brain cancer and leukemia has risen 20% since the 1970s, adult cancers of the breast, prostate, thyroid and kidney are on the rise, and autism spectrum disorder has seen a ten-fold increase in just over 15 years – research has shown a link between all of these and toxic chemical exposure,” said Anne Hulick RN, MSN, JD, Coordinator for the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut. “We need to start protecting our children now and this legislation is a common-sense step in the right direction.”

"It is evident that there is a link between toxic chemicals and childhood cancer as well as developmental delays," said Rep. Urban. "It is imperative that we protect our children from the terrible effects of exposure. By promoting green chemistry in Connecticut we can have a win-win situation. We can protect our children and build an environmentally sound industry. Kudos to the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy CT for their dedicated work for our children."

Joining the Coalition in support of the legislation was Jim Calhoun, former Men’s Head Basketball Coach for the University of Connecticut, who said that what has made this nation so great throughout its history – innovation and the drive to succeed – has unfortunately had some unforeseen consequences. “It has become increasingly clear that children today are being exposed to more chemicals than previous generations, and science indicates that these chemicals are likely negatively impacting their health and development,” stated Calhoun. “Our kids need protective legislation like Senate Bill 126, but they also need this nation’s companies to use that same innovation and enterprise to develop chemicals that are safe for kids.”

The Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut is made up of more than 50 member organizations representing health professionals, parents, nurses, workers, businesses, environmentalists, occupational safety advocates, people of faith and individuals whose health has been impacted by toxic chemicals.

Senate Democrats – 860-240-8600 or Toll-free 800-842-1420

Senate Republicans – 860-240-8800 or Toll-free 800-842-1421

In most cases you’ll leave a message with your lawmaker(s) aides. Just give them your name and address and then tell them you are urging them to support SB 126:

“My name is _________________ and my address is ________________________. I want Sen___________________ to know that as a public health professional I am strongly in favor of SB 126 so that Connecticut can begin protecting children from chemicals linked to serious health risks.”

If you have any questions about the bills or their status, please contact Noele Kidney at Noele.kidney@cpha.info.

PLEASE CALL TODAY! WE ARE HOPING THAT IF WE GENERATE ENOUGH PHONE CALLS, THE BILL WILL BE CALLED THIS WEEK.

These important bills need to get out of the Public Health Committee by Thursday and you can help make that happen if your lawmaker is on the committee - see below:

Click a legislators name to send them an email.

S06 - Gerratana, Terry B. (D) Co-Chair

049 - Johnson, Susan M. (D) Co-Chair

S14 - Slossberg, Gayle S. (D) Vice Chair

036 - Miller, Philip J. (D) Vice Chair

S31 - Welch, Jason C. (R) Ranking Member

031 - Srinivasan, Prasad (R) Ranking Member

058 - Alexander, David (D) Member

109 - Arconti, David (D) Member

078 - Betts, Whit (R) Member

065 - Cook, Michelle L. (D) Member

105 - Conroy, Theresa W. (D) Member

057 - Davis, Christopher (R) Member

021 - Demicco, Mike (D) Member

S10 - Holder-Winfield, Gary A. (D) Member

112 - Hovey, DebraLee (R) Member

S32 - Kane, Robert J. (R) Member

114 - Klarides, Themis (R) Member

119 - Maroney, James (D) Member

S22 - Musto, Anthony J. (D) Member

113 - Perillo, Jason (R) Member

046 - Riley, Emmett D. (D) Member

139 - Ryan, Kevin (D) Member

060 - Sayers, Peggy (D) Member

107 - Scribner, David A.(R) Member

026 - Tercyak, Peter A. (D) Member

098 - Widlitz, Patricia M. (D) Member

034 - Ziobron, Melissa H. (R) Member

081 - Zoni, David (D) Member

This is very important. If SB 316 and HB 5330 don’t get a vote by Thursday they will die for this year! Please pick up the phone and call! (scroll down for a sample script)

Thank you,

The CPHA Advocacy Committee

Please pick up the phone and call your legislator! It only takes a minute to call your Representative and your Senator. (You’ll leave a message or get their aide).

• DPH submitted testimony in support of the bills and maintains that they can implement without additional resources – NO FISCAL NOTE.
• Both bills have been approved by their originating committees and now await action in both the Senate and House Chambers.

It is vital that we let our lawmakers know that this is an important public health issue that protects children’s health!

Senate Democrats – 860-240-8600 or Toll-free 800-842-1420
Senate Republicans – 860-240-8800 or Toll-free 800-842-1421
House Democrats – 860-240-8500 or Toll-free 800-842-8267
House Republicans – 860-240-8700 or Toll-free 800-842-1423

In most cases you’ll leave a message with your lawmaker(s) aides. Just give them your name and address and then tell them you are urging them to support SB 126 and HB 5354:

“My name is _________________ and my address is ________________________. I want Sen/Rep.___________________ to know that as a public health professional I am strongly in favor of SB 126 and HB 5354 so that Connecticut can begin protecting children from chemicals linked to serious health risks.”

If you have any questions about the bills or their status, please contact Noele Kidney at Noele.kidney@cpha.info.

HARTFORD – Members of the Legislature’s Children’s Committee today approved a group of four bills designed to protect Connecticut children from the harmful effects of toxic chemicals exposure. All four bills now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“As we gain information on the negative impacts of toxic chemicals on our growing children, it is imperative that we protect them,” said Representative Diana Urban (D-Stonington), House Chair of the Children’s Committee. “These bills send a message that children's health is of prime importance in Connecticut and we are committed to the well-being of every child.”

The first and most comprehensive bill, House Bill 5354 – AN ACT CONCERNING CHEMICALS OF HIGH CONCERN TO CHILDREN, authorizes the CT Department of Public Health to monitor chemicals that have been shown to be toxic to children’s health and development and provide a report on these findings to lawmakers every two years. The report may include suggestions on how lawmakers can take steps to reduce exposure to the most egregious chemicals. The bill was approved by committee members by a vote of 10 to 2.

“We’ve certainly got a long way to go before these bills become law, but this is a huge step,” said Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut Coordinator Anne Hulick RN, MSN, JD. “The Children’s Committee once again has proven that it’s on the side of our youngest citizens who happen to also be the most vulnerable.”

Hulick added that recent efforts to address this issue on the federal level have been stalled due in a large part because of the strong lobbying by the chemical industry. “With attempts to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act unlikely to happen anytime soon, the responsibility to protect children falls on individual states. Connecticut lawmakers have shown leadership on these issues by passing laws to protect its citizens from BPA in baby bottles and cash register receipts. With cancer diagnoses on the rise and numerous other health and developmental problems increasing – the time to act is now. We can’t sit back and wait, as chemical and toy industry representatives and lobbyists have urged, because our children are paying the price.”

Also approved by committee members during the meeting were House Bill 5305 – AN ACT CONCERNING CADMIUM LEVELS IN CHILDREN’S JEWELRY, House Bill 5035 – AN ACT CONCERNING FIRE RETARDANTS IN CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS, and Senate Bill 46 – AN ACT CONCERNING PESTICIDES ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.

The Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut is made up of more than 50 organizations representing health professionals, workers, nurses, businesses, environmentalists, occupational safety advocates, people of faith, and individuals whose health has been impacted by toxic chemicals.

“This vote is a step in the right direction and it affirms that most of the committee members acknowledge that Connecticut’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens need protective legislation from the thousands of chemicals in commerce today,” said Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut Coordinator Anne Hulick, RN, MSN, JD. “We’ve got a long way to go before this becomes a law, but I couldn’t be more proud of our supporters on the Public Health Committee and their commitment to protecting public health.”

The Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut is made up of more than 50 organizations representing health professionals, workers, nurses, businesses, environmentalists, occupational safety advocates, people of faith, and individuals whose health has been impacted by toxic chemicals.

The bills, HB 5354 – AAC CHEMICALS OF HIGH CONCERN TO CHILDREN, HB 5035 – AAC TOXIC FIRE RETARDANTS IN CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS and HB 5305 – AAC CADMIUM LEVELS IN CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS were all raised in the General Assembly’s Children’s Committee, of which Urban is House Chair, and were slated for a public hearing at noon the same day in Room 2B of the LOB. Urban said that she expects a lot of testimony in support of the legislation as the issue has become more known among consumers – even major retailers like Wal-Mart and Target are developing policies to protect consumers from toxic chemicals in the products on their shelves.

Urban and Hulick said that the first and most encompassing of the bills, HB 5354, would authorize the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH) to study chemicals of high concern to children and report back to the Legislature every 2 years with recommendations to protect children from toxic chemical exposure. Both stressed that DPH supports the legislation and has indicated that this legislation would have no additional fiscal impact on their budget. HB 5035 bans the use of TDCPP, TDCP, TCEP or TCPP in children’s products including clothing, toys, nursing pillows, crib mattresses and car seats. HB 5305 was raised to address industry concerns over meeting the enactment deadline of July 2014 on legislation that passed in 2010 that lowered the allowable level of cadmium in children’s jewelry to .0075%. This bill pushes the enactment date to 2016.

Urban stressed that these bills are necessary when our state’s youngest citizens are being exposed to dangerous chemcals associated with serious illness everyday.

"It is incredibly important to protect our children from the many negative impacts of toxic chemicals," said Rep. Urban. "We know that there are 70,000 chemicals that have never been tested. What happened in West Virginia where the chemicals released were never tested an ended up in the water supply, should concern all parents. Children are especially susceptible to the illnesses, developmental delays, and cancers associated with exposure to toxic chemicals. Connecticut has been a leader in tackling these issues and our current bills will continue that trend."

Anne Hulick, RN, MSN, JD applauded the efforts of the Children’s Committee to protect children from toxic chemical exposure. “As always, I am thankful to the Children’s Committee and specifically to Rep. Urban for her leadership on this issue. Toxic chemical exposure is a serious public health issue and young children are the most vulnerable. Rep. Urban and our growing list of legislative champions understand that we need to do something now to protect our future generations from the harmful effects of the many thousands of chemicals in commerce today,” said Hulick.

Hulick added that there has been a 20% rise in children’s brain cancer and leukemia, a dramatic rise in learning and behavioral disorders and early puberty. “Reducing exposure is the very least we can do to try to protect children’s health.”

Please contact both of your state lawmakers ASAP and urge them to support both bills to protect children's health.

House Democrats - 1-800-842-1902

House Republicans - 1-800-842-1423

Senate Democrats - 1-800-842-1420

Senate Republicans - 1-800-842-1421

As you could easily guess, the chemical and toy industry lobby are against these bills - and their lobbyists are already out in full force trying to derail it. We need to let lawmakers know that this bill has strong support from the public health community. I assure you that this bill does nothing more than authorize DPH to keep an eye on the most egregious of these chemicals that are used in children's products. DPH will not have the authority to regulate them, and they will only provide lawmakers with a report every 2 years based on the latest research. The decision to do anything based on DPH's report will be in lawmakers' hands at that time.

FYI - The Children's Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 5036 on Thursday, March 6th at 12noon in Room 2B. A press event on the issue will be held at 10:00 a.m. in Room 1A.

Thank you in advance for your help,

The Connecticut Public Health Association Advocacy Committee

HARTFORD –Yesterday, during its first meeting of the Legislative Session, the General Assembly’s Children’s Committee raised legislation "An Act Concerning Children's Products and Chemicals of High Concern” that would authorize the state’s Department of Public Health to study chemicals of high concern to children and report back to the Legislature every 2 years with recommendations to protect children from toxic chemical exposure. DPH has indicated that this legislation would have no additional fiscal impact on their budget.

The Committee’s House Chair and bill champion, State Representative Diana Urban (D-Stonington), said that this legislation is needed when our state’s youngest citizens are being exposed to dangerous chemicals associated with serious illness everyday. She pointed to a report released yesterday by Washington Toxics (made possible by Washington State’s 2008 Children’s Safe Products Act), where it was found that companies manufacturing children’s products disclosed using hazardous chemicals that are hormone disruptors, linked with cancer and associated with many reproductive and developmental problem in their children’s products. http://watoxics.org/publications/whatsonyourlist_report_final.pdf

"It is imperative that we protect our children from exposure to toxic chemicals," Representative Urban said. "It is a fact that they are contained in many children's products and there is no way for parents to obtain information on the negative effects of these chemicals. This legislation will start the process of creating a framework to evaluate them and inform parents and the public."

Anne Hulick, RN, MSN, JD, Coordinator for the CT Campaign for Toxic-Free Kids, applauded the efforts of the Children’s Committee to protect children from toxic chemical exposure. "I am thankful to the Children’s Committee and for Rep. Urban’s leadership on this issue. They recognize that toxic chemical exposure is a serious public health issue and that young children are the most vulnerable, and more importantly susceptible, to the harmful effects of the thousands of chemicals being used in commerce today,” said Hulick. "Cancer is now the 2nd leading cause of death in people under the age of 20 – reducing children’s exposure to known dangerous chemicals just might change that.”

Washington’s law is the first of its kind in the United States and has been lauded for shedding light on the use of harmful chemicals in children’s products. For the first time under the 2008 law, medium-sized manufacturers with gross sales of $100 million or more were required to disclose whether they were using any of the 66 "Chemical of High Concern to Children” in children’s products.

The chemicals being reported are linked to cancer, hormone disruption and atypical reproductive development, like early puberty. Among the chemicals reported are: formaldehyde, bisphenol A (BPA), parabens, phthalates, heavy metals, flame-retardants and industrial solvents.

Hulick pointed out that among the Washington State’s total 4, 605 reports of toxic chemicals in children’s products are reports of cancer-causing formaldehyde in children’s tableware and harmful flame-retardants in car seats and toys. "Chemicals of High Concern to Children” used in children’s toys, clothing, safety products and bedding were reported by manufacturers between March and September 2013.

"Thanks to the Washington report, we now know unequivocally that toxic chemicals are used in the manufacturing of products consumers are buying for their children,” said Hulick. "These are children’s products that are sold in many major national retailers. Sadly, parents would have a difficult time avoiding exposing their children to toxic chemicals simply by adjusting their shopping lists.”

Researchers at WTC were particularly surprised by new reports of manufacturers adding toxic flame retardants to baby car seats, booster seats, plastic jewelry and toys, even as health experts warn against serious health problems. Perhaps most egregious was a report by Harmony Juvenile Products, who reported using a chemical known as decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209 or deca), banned from furniture under a 2007 law in Washington state, in baby car and booster seats.

Connecticut lawmakers will return early next month to the Capitol to address and debate issues that are important to our state.

One issue that I urge legislators to take on this year is protecting kids from the many chemicals used in commerce today.

With more than 80,000 chemicals having been introduced into commerce during the past 30 years and only a small percentage of them having been tested for safety on humans — let alone children — this problem is big and getting bigger everyday.

Recent studies have shown that chemicals such as BPA, phthalates, and flame-retardants are dangerous to humans.

Thankfully, some manufacturers and stores are actually listening. In the past year both Target and Wal-Mart announced that they have developed chemical policies in order to protect their consumers.

That’s a good start, but there are still far too many manufacturers that continue to use them in products marketed for children, far too many stores that continue to put these items on their shelves, and far too many consumers who buy these items because they have no idea they are harmful to their children’s health.

As consumers and parents, we shouldn’t need to have a Ph.D. in chemistry in order to shop for safe products for our families. As a mom, I’d appreciate knowing that an item on a store shelf marketed for children’s use is safe for my kids.

Connecticut needs legislation that protects children from chemicals known to be dangerous to their health. I urge all legislators to focus on children’s health, and pass a law to keep our kids "toxic-free.”

Noele Kidney

Ellington

The writer is project coordinator for the Connecticut Public Health Association and works with the CT Campaign for Toxic-Free Kids.

The mission of CPHA is to represent and unite the diverse expertise of Connecticut's public health professionals, to ameliorate the most pressing public health issue in the state, and to promote healthy and safe living for the people of Connecticut.

Be a part of CPHA's mission.  Become a CPHA legislative intern.

Legislative interns will:

• Participate in the legislative process in Connecticut;
• Track bill activity;
• Research and draft materials needed for CPHA to effectively advocate for its legislative priorities--health equity, environmental health, and public health infrastructure.

The internship requires strong writing skills, travel to the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, a flexible schedule and the ability to take initiative. Previous coursework in Environmental Health and Social and Behavioral Health is recommended. Intended for graduate students in Public Health, Law, Policy, Social Work, Nursing and related fields.

If you are interested, please submit a cover letter and resume to Colleen O'Connor, Chair, CPHA Legislative Advocacy Committee at colleen.oconnor@cpha.info.

CONNECTICUT – Independent testing commissioned by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) and Connecticut CleanWater Action has found harmful flame-retardant chemicals in children’s chairs, couches and other kids’ furniture purchased from Walmart, Target, Kmart, Toys "R” Us/Babies "R” Us, BuyBuy Baby and other major retailers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The results were released today.

In July and August, CEH, CT CleanWater Action and other partner groups purchased 42 items of children’s furniture from 13 states and Canada. Items were purchased from major retailers and sent to Duke University researcher Heather Stapleton for laboratory analysis. Dr. Stapleton is one of the country’s foremost researchers on testing for flame-retardant chemicals in consumer products. Her previous studies on flame-retardants in furniture, baby products and other consumer goods have been published in leading peer-reviewed journals and featured in major national news reports.

Anne Hulick RN, MSN, JD, Coordinator for the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy CT said that many items found with flame-retardants are designed with colorful children’s characters including Disney Princesses, Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer, Marvel Comics Spiderman and others. Fire safety scientists say that flame-retardant chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, hormone disruption, infertility and other serious health problems, provide little fire safety benefits in furniture.

"Sadly, the results don’t surprise me,” added Hulick. "But I imagine that they’d surprise the millions of consumers currently gearing up to shop for the upcoming holidays. These chemicals already known to pose health problems in humans – specifically children – have no place in children’s products, especially now that many fire safety experts have said fire-retardants aren’t as effective as the chemical industry claims. These results just reinforce how important it is that CT lawmakers pass legislation to protect children from these harmful chemicals.”

Rep. Diana Urban (D-North Stonington), House Chair of the General Assembly’s Children’s Committee and a long-time proponent of protective laws for children added, "Yet again we find that children's products contain chemicals that cause harm to our children. In this case a Disney Princess chair purchased in CT was found to be loaded with flame-retardants known to be hormone disrupters. At the very least, these products need to be evaluated for toxicity & labeled so that consumers can have information about the adverse effects of exposure. This is critically important as it is more than likely little ones will not only sit on the chair but also taste it!”

Dr. Stapleton’s analysis found four flame retardant chemicals (including two chemicals that are mixtures of various flame-retardants) in 38 of 42 products tested. Two products contained more than one chemical.

The chemicals found were:

• Firemaster 550 (found in 22 items): a mixture of four chemicals, studies have linked exposure to Firemaster 550 with obesity and disruption of the bodies’ natural hormone functioning. Hormone altering effects are especially troubling in children’s products, since children’s developing bodies are especially vulnerable to hormonal changes.
• TCPP (Tris, 15 items): animal studies have linked exposure to TCPP to genetic damage and changes in the length of the menstrual cycle.
• TDCPP (chlorinated Tris, 2 items) is identified as a chemical known to cause cancer by the state of California and the National Research Council. Studies have also linked exposures to genetic damage, effects on fertility and natural hormones, and damage to developing embryos. Health concerns forced companies to remove TDCPP from children’s pajamas in the 1970’s yet it is still widely used today in furniture and other products.
• Butylated Triphenyl Phosphate (1 item): According to the EPA, health concerns associated with exposures to Butylated Triphenyl Phosphate, a mixture of four chemicals, include decreased fertility and abnormal menstrual cycles.

According to Hulick, children are more vulnerable to toxic flame retardant chemicals than adults because of their behaviors and physical needs. Children put their hands in their mouths often, and touch whatever is near them. Young children crawl and play where dust containing high levels of flame-retardants settles in homes, daycares and schools. A (2011) study from UC Berkeley’s Center for Environmental Research found that children carry on average three times higher levels of flame retardants in their bodies than the levels found in their mothers. Other recent studies show that children of color and children from low-income communities have higher levels of flame retardant chemicals in their bodies than levels found in white children.

"As a mom it’s scary to know that there are toxic chemicals in products I might buy at the store for my daughter,” said Michelle Noehren of Glastonbury, an active member of the Coalition whose daughter is two years old. "Parents want to protect their children from harm but when toxins like flame retardants are unregulated and running rampant in common kids products, you feel powerless. More needs to be done to protect the health and development of our babies and children. Parents want to feel confident that the products we purchase are safe for our kids."

This year, California proposed a new flammability rule, TB 117-2013. The new rule is slated to go into effect on January 1, 2014. Companies may use the new standard to comply with the new rule immediately, but will have until January 1, 2015 before they are required to comply. The Business and Institutional Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) has stated, "…we believe the risks associated with the use of these [flame retardant] chemicals is greater than the hazard associated with the fire risk from furniture without fire retardants… Many furniture purchasers are looking for safer, more environmentally friendly products that do not contain chemicals of concern, including fire retardants.”

The Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut currently has more than 50 member partner groups working to protect kids from toxic chemicals in children’s products. CSHC is the group that fought for (and won) Connecticut’s BPA bans.

To view the plan: http://www.healthreform.ct.gov/ohri/site/default.asp

Please submit your comments by e-mail to sim@ct.gov.

HARTFORD – Flanked by children in their Halloween costumes, members of the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut (CSHC) and State Representative Diana Urban (D-North Stonington) today held a press event at the Legislative Office Building calling for support for legislation to protect children from toxins in products. "Halloween is scary enough,” said Anne Hulick, RN, MSN, JD, Coordinator for CSHC, a growing partnership of citizens and organizations working for safer alternatives to toxic chemicals in consumer products. "Hundreds of chemicals are introduced into commerce each year with no assurances that they are safe for humans, let alone children.”

"There are many chemicals that enhance our lives but there are some that are harmful to our kids," Representative Urban said. "I find it appalling that some of these could be found in Halloween products. It is our job to protect children, so why would we would be willing to expose them to toxic chemicals? It is time to get to the bottom of this. I am glad that the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut is addressing this often-overlooked issue."

Hulick added that there is a growing momentum across the nation to protect consumers from toxic chemicals. Major retailers such as WalMart and Target are taking action to encourage safer products on their shelves, and within the last year both Johnson & Johnson and Proctor & Gamble both announced they would stop using chemicals in their products that have been linked to health risk.

"Unfortunately, even with announcements such as these there is still an enormous gap of protection for our children,” said Hulick."It is vital that lawmakers will take on this issue and enact a commonsense bill that protects Connecticut kids from exposure to chemicals that have been linked to numerous reproductive disorders, cancers and other serious health problems.”

Immediately after the event, children wearing costumes were joined by their parents/caregivers walk to the Governor’s office to hand over letters urging support for the initiative.

Currently the more than 50+ member groups partnered with the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut, the group that fought for and won the state’s BPA bans, include medical and public health professional organizations, environmental, religious and parent groups, worker and educator organizations.

HARTFORD – In response to global retailer Walmart’s announcement yesterday that they will be requiring companies to reduce and/or eliminate chemicals in personal care products, cosmetics and cleaning products sold in its stores beginning in January 2016, Coalition for a Safe and Healthy CT Coordinator Anne Hulick praised the company and added, "The writing is on the wall that consumers want safe products for their families – I applaud Walmart and its management team for taking this action and look forward to working with CT lawmakers next session to pass a bill that continues this progress and protects children from the many health risks associated with the most egregious of the chemicals used in manufacturing.”

As a major retailer, I am hopeful that others will follow,” said Hulick. "The national movement to protect people from chemicals known to cause harm is gaining more and more momentum.”

Just recently, Proctor and Gamble announced that it was going to eliminate phthalates and triclosan from its personal care products by 2014. Last year, Johnson and Johnson announced that it would phase out phthalates, triclosan, formaldehydes and parabens from the personal care products that it produces.

Hulick said that she’s looking optimistically toward the 2014 Legislative Session to continue to work with lawmakers and the Department of Public Health (DPH) on legislation that aims to reduce their exposure to chemicals linked with many serious illnesses by authorizing DPH to begin reviewing chemicals of "high concern” to children and to make recommendations every two years to the Legislature on how to reduce exposure to the most egregious of these chemicals.

According to Hulick, state action is necessitated by the ineffectiveness of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that was enacted in 1976. Since then, more than 80,000 chemicals that have been introduced into commerce and only a fraction of those have been safety tested. Bisphenol A (BPA) and certain flame-retardants have been linked with many serious illnesses.

"We can’t just sit around and wait for federal action or keep our fingers crossed that more retailers will follow Walmart’s lead,” said Hulick. "We have a responsibility to our children and their future health to take action now. Major retailers like Wal-Mart and companies such as P&G and J&J don’t taking steps such as these on a whim – they’ve heard from consumers and know that there is a wave of support for safer products on the shelves and this is a good, strategic business move. I hope that announcements such as these give lawmakers the added confidence that taking action will lead to only good things for CT.”