Children's Products

21 of the State's Leading Independent Toy Retailers Support the Children's Safe Products Act in an Open Letter to Senator Tom George.

ACTION ALERT

Ask your State Senator to support the

Michigan "Children's Safe Products Act!"

TAKE ACTION TODAY!

WHAT'S THE MICHIGAN "CHILDREN'S SAFE PRODUCTS ACT?"

Exposure to even small amounts of a toxic chemical can impact a child's ability to reach his or her full potential. The Children's Safe Products Act would help protect children and by informing parents and other consumers about chemicals of highest concern in toys and other children's products. Check out our Fact Sheet and FAQs (pdf)

CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS - WHAT'S THE ISSUE?

Michigan's Children at Risk

Our Federal Chemical Protection System is Broken

Other States and Countries are Leading the Way

Michigan's Children's Safe Products Act (HB 4763-4769)

Children's Toys and Products

Toxicity of Chemicals

Toxic Chemical Exposure and Your Health

Toxic Chemical Exposure and Your Children's Health

Resources and Product Recall Information

MICHIGAN'S CHILDREN AT RISK

CHEMICAL EXPOSURE IS WIDESPREAD

Toxic chemicals are present in Great Lakes fish and the environment, and in house dust, homes, our own bodies, and breast milk, as well as in toys and other consumer products.

Children are more vulnerable to health effects from toxic chemicals since their systems are still developing and because, pound for pound, they eat, drink, and breathe about two and a half times more than adults. They also place objects and their hands directly into their mouths, assuring they ingest more contaminants.

CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN TOXIC CHEMICALS

Arsenic exposure is associated with lower IQ scores in school-aged children. Prenatal and early childhood exposures to arsenic can also increase the risk of lung cancer and respiratory disease later in life.

Lead exposure can result in IQ deficits, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, stunted or slowed growth, and impaired hearing. At increasingly high levels of exposure, a child may suffer kidney damage, become mentally retarded, or fall into a coma.

Mercury exposure is toxic to the nervous system and can have deterimental effects on the kidneys.

Bisphenol-A is the main ingredient in hard polycarbonate plastics found in some baby bottles, drinking water bottles, and food containers, and one of the "top 50 production-volume chemicals in the U.S." In experiments with female mice, bisphenol-A has been found to induce the genetic defect that causes Down's syndrome at levels comparable to those found in women tested to date.

In general, the increased presence of toxic chemicals has been linked with increased incidence rates of a wide range of children's health and developmental issues, including asthma.

There is no reason for "toxic toys." The same products can and often are made without potentially harmful chemicals.

Back to top

OUR FEDERAL CHEMICAL PROTECTION SYSTEM IS BROKEN

Over three decades ago, Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to authorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control chemicals that pose an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment. Currently, there are at least 80,000 chemical compounds registered for commercial use in the United States; 62,000 chemicals were grandfathered under TSCA without mandatory testing. About 2,000 new compounds that may pose hazards to human health are introduced into commercial use each year. Traditional toxicologic methods cannot characterize and define the toxicity of such a large number of compounds in a cost-efficient and timely manner. Under TSCA, the EPA has required testing on fewer than 200 chemicals and restricted only 5 chemicals in commerce.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, has found that TSCA is inadequate.

In August 2008, former President Bush signed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which enables the first federal restrictions on toxics in children's products and addresses only two chemicals, lead and phthalates. Please see our fact sheet, "Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008."

Back to top

OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES ARE LEADING THE WAY

Washington, Maine, California, and Minnesota have laws stronger than the proposed Michigan Children's Safe Products Act. Many other states are poised to take strong action, as well.

The Euopean Union adopted Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), which vastly increases the amount of information available to determine the safety of chemical products.

Back to top

MICHIGAN'S CHILDREN'S SAFE PRODUCTS ACT (HB 4763-4769)

TAKES A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH

Requires the state by 2011 to create and regularly update a comprehensive list of chemicals of concern known to cause cancer, reproductive or developmental harm, neurotoxicity, hormone disruption, or which are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic, based on published government lists and other existing sources of data.

From this initial list, authoritative sources will select by 2012 and regularly update "chemicals of highest concern" based on their use in children's products; presence in children, household dust, human breast milk, or cord blood; or other specific relevance to the health of Michigan's children.

ENSURES A PARENT'S RIGHT TO KNOW AND TRANSPARENCY

Large manufacturers of children's products that contain "chemicals of highest concern" above a threshold level must publicly identify what products contain what chemicals and in what concentrations. The Michigan Department of Community Health must make this information easily accessible.

Manufacturers must publicly report whether Screening Information Data Sets or equivalent information exist for all chemicals in their children's products sold in Michigan.

There are no requirements for retailers, small manufacturers, or industrial users.

ENCOURAGES GREEN JOBS

Authorizes Michigan to participate in an interstate clearinghouse to share information and promote safer alternatives.

Companion legislation incentivizes creating safer alternatives in Michigan through Green Chemistry.

Back to top

For more information on the lack of government regulation of toxics, please see the following reports:

"Chemical Regulation: Options Exist to Improve EPA's Ability to Assess Health Risks and Manage Its Chemical Review Program," U.S. General Accountability Office, June 13, 2005. http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-05-458

"Green Chemistry in California: A Framework for Leadership in Chemicals Policy and Innovation," California Policy Research Center, 2006.
http://coeh.berkeley.edu/news/06_wilson_policy.htm

For more information on the impacts of toxic chemicals on children's health, please see:

Collected resources on children's environmental health can be found here.

Back to top

CHILDREN'S TOYS AND PRODUCTS

American Academy of Pediatrics Toy Safety Resources
Pediatricians outline ways you can make your children's toy bin safer. It includes links on toy recalls, health effects from lead exposure, and protecting your child from lead.
www.aap.org/new/toyrecall.htm

Cars
HealthyStuff.org’s Consumer Action Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Cars.
www.healthystuff.org/departments/cars/

Childproofing our Communities Campaign
Read about ways to make homes and schools environmentally safer for children.
www.childproofing.org

Children’s Car Seats, Toys, and other Children’s Products
HealthyStuff.org’s Consumer Action Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Products.
www.healthystuff.org/departments/childrens-products/
www.healthystuff.org/departments/toys

Toxic Baby Bottles
This research study by Environment California addresses a toxic chemical, Bisphenol-A, that is being found in popular brands of baby-bottles (pdf format).
www.environmentcalifornia.org/uploads/Ve/AQ/VeAQsr6MMu4xA3-2ibnr_g/
Toxic-Baby-Bottles.pdf

U.S. PIRG's Trouble in Toyland Report
24th annual Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) survey of toy safety. Also includes a shopping guide.
www.uspirg.org/issues/toy-safety

Washington Toxics Coalition
Easy tips and information on choosing safer products and creating healthy environments for children.
www.watoxics.org/healthy-families/safe-start-for-kids-1/

Back to top

TOXICITY OF CHEMICALS

Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow
This website contains fact sheets on a number of the most toxic chemicals.
www.healthytomorrow.org/

Public Health Statements - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
This website provides more thorough, but still accessible, information on known and suspected health effects of many chemicals.
www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phshome.html

Tox FAQs - U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
This website provides a brief summary of known and suspected health effects of many chemicals.
www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html

Toxnet - National Institutes of Health, Toxicology Data Network
Use this search engine to look up study findings on toxic chemicals.
toxnet.nlm.nih.gov

Back to top

TOXIC CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AND YOUR HEALTH

CHE: Autism: Do Environmental Factors Play a Role in Causation?
By Ted Schettler MD, MPH - An analysis of autism and the factors that cause it. Schettler analyzes the possibilites of environmental agents causing autism.
www.healthandenvironment.org/autism/peer_reviewed

CHE Toxicant and Disease Database
An impressive, searchable database that summarizes links between chemical contaminants and approximately 180 human diseases or conditions.
www.database.healthandenvironment.org

CHE Portal to Science
Find environmental health resources based on different subsets including health issue, environmental/toxic issue, and target audience.
www.healthandenvironment.org/cgi-bin/portal.cgi?medium=database

Cornell University's Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors
This site has a number of fact sheets on the link between breast cancer and environmental risk factors.
envirocancer.cornell.edu/factsheet/Factsheetalpha.cfm

Environmental and Occupational Causes of Cancer
A scientific report on the links between environmental toxicants and cancer.
www.healthandenvironment.org

Back to top

TOXIC CHEMICAL EXPOSURE AND YOUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH

Center for Children's Health and the Environment at Mount Sinai
Information on how health problems like ADD, autism, asthma and Parkinson's are being linked to environmental toxicants.
www.childenvironment.org

Children's Environmental Health Network
A national multi-disciplinary organization whose mission is to protect the fetus and the child from environmental health hazards and promote a healthy environment.
www.cehn.org

Institute for Children's Environmental Health
ICEH's primary mission is to foster collaborative initiatives to reduce and ultimately eliminate environmental exposures that can undermine the health of current and future generations.
www.iceh.org

Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health
Information on how toxic chemical exposure can affect developing infants and children, as well as related campaigns in Michigan.
www.mnceh.org/resources.out.php

Natural Resources Defense Council
Read about toxic chemicals and children's health conditions such as asthma.
www.nrdc.org/health/default.asp

Back to top

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TOXICS IN CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS AND PRODUCT RECALLS:

Federal Agency Resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Lead in Toy Jewelry: Questions and Answers
CDC Lead-Specific Recall List of toys recalled specifically for lead-content, compiled by CDC's National Center for Environmental Health.

US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):
Consumer Product Recalls: Lead Hazards

Children's Products Recalls (for all reasons)

Children's Toys Recalls (for all reasons)

All Products "Recalls and Product Safety News"

Lead-Based CPSC Product Recalls: A list maintained by the Oregon State "Lead Poisoning Prevention Program." Includes product images and additional information.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
U.S. EPA Lead fact sheet - for basic information on lead exposure.

U.S. EPA National Lead Information Center

U.S. EPA on Lead in Toy Jewelry

State Resources:

Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH)

Questions and Answers on Lead in Children's Toys and Jewelry, from the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Nonprofit Resources:

Center for Environmental Health (CEH):
This site provides the latest news and background information on Lead in Children's Lunchboxes.

CEH also provides a list of companies that have agreed to phase out Lead in Children's Jewelry.

Center for Health, Environmental and Justice:
In response to the toxic lifecycle of PVC, a growing list of companies have committed to phase out PVC and switch to safe and healthy products. Companies that have developed PVC phase-out policies are listed here: Company PVC Policies.

An Interview with Lynn Goldman, MD, MPH:
Dr. Goldman is a pediatrician and professor in Environmental Health Sciences at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. An interview was conducted regarding the potential risk to children from lead exposure.

Information on Testing Products for Toxic Chemicals

Ecology Center
Ecology Center has put together fact sheets on the X-Ray Fluorescence analyzer (XRF) and on the primary chemicals of concern that the XRF can detect. The XRF measure the elemental composition of materials.

HealthyStuff.org - Chemicals of Concern

XRF Fact Sheet (pdf)

PRO-LAB® Lead Testing Products
Pro-Lab's Professional lead test kit for all surfaces contains six instant test strips.

Back to top