Victories
The Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health has celebrated several victories in its efforts to protect children's health.
Children's Products
HealthyStuff.org Released New Toy Data
On Dec. 2, the Ecology Center's HealthyStuff.org released the results of tests for arsenic, mercury, bromine, cadmium, lead, and other toxics in over 700 new toys. If you haven't already, tell your Michigan State Senator we need the Children's Safe Products Act. Read the press release.
Toy Owners Ask MI Senate to Pass Children's Safe Products Act
More than twenty of Michigan's independent toy retailers and manufacturers joined thousands of parents and a coalition of some of the state's leading medical, health, health-affected and environmental organizations to call for immediate passage of the Children's Safe Products Act (4763-69). These bills - which ensure that parents and all consumers have the right-to-know whether the most toxic chemicals are in children's products - have been awaiting action in Senator Tom George's Health Policy Committee since passing the Michigan House in May. Read the original November 2009 press release. See the current list of signers.
Michigan House Passes Children's Safe Products Act
In May 2009, the Michigan House passed HB 4763-4769, which would require the manufacturers of children's products who use certain 'chemicals of highest concern' to report what chemicals are in the children's products they sell in Michigan. This information would be collected and distributed to the public by the Michigan Department of Community Health.
Learn more about this victory by viewing our press release:
HealthyToys.org Launches 2nd Annual Guide
In December 2008, the Ecology Center released the 2nd annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals and toys at www.HealthyStuff.org. Researchers tested over 1,500 new, popular children's toys for lead, arsenic, mercury, and other harmful chemicals.
Learn more about this victory by viewing our press release:
Incoming Legislators Want to Keep Toxics Out of Children's Products
In November 2008, voters of the State of Michigan elected at least 54 State Representatives committed to protecting kids from toxic chemicals in toys. In a strong response to the Healthy Michigan, Healthy Kids (HMHK) coalition and voters across the state, nearly 50 percent of all 2009/10 Michigan House of Representatives members officially signed the HMHK platform, a comprehensive approach to addressing toxics in children's products.
Learn more about this victory by viewing our press release:
54 Incoming State Representatives Commit to Getting Toxics Out of Toys
Congress Approves Law on Lead and Phthalates
In August 2008, President Bush signed into law the first meaningful reform of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) since it was established three decades ago. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) sets the first-ever national standards on lead in toys and bans several phthalates (plasticizers) from children’s toys and childcare articles.
Learn more about this victory by downloading our fact sheet:
Michigan Limits Lead in Children's Products
In December 2007, Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm signed legislation to limit toxic lead in children’s products. The Michigan standards protect children from high lead levels in products including toys, childcare articles, lunchboxes, and children’s jewelry. Read the press release.
HealthyToys.org Premieres in December 2007
The Ecology Center, the Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health, and partner organizations launched www.HealthyToys.org (now HealthyStuff.org) the first consumer action guide to toxic chemicals in toys.
Learn more about this victory by viewing our press release:
Ecology Center Rates Children's Car Seats
In May 2007, the Ecology Center released new research ranking toxic chemicals in child car seats. Consumers can look up which car seats rank the best and worst in terms of toxic chemical content at www.HealthyStuff.org. Anyone looking to buy a new car seat, or wondering if their child's current car seat is safe, can visit this website and search by model, or comparison shop between different models.
Learn more about this victory by viewing our press release:
First-Ever Ranking of Toxic Chemicals in Child Car Seats Released Today at HealthyStuff.org
View our Children's Products campaign page
Deca-BDE
Michigan House Overwhelmingly Passes Ban on Toxic Flame Retardant
On Jan. 27, 2010, following the recommendations of the state’s leading medical, health, and environmental organizations – as well as fire fighters – the Michigan House nearly unanimously passed HB 4699 (94-6), which would phase-out the toxic flame retardant deca-BDE. This long awaited bi-partisan vote follows on the heels of a voluntary agreement to end the manufacture, import, and sale of the chemical between three major manufacturers of deca-BDE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Read the full press release.
EPA Limits Toxic Flame Retardant Deca-BDE
In December 2009, the U.S. EPA announced that three major industrial producers of deca-BDE agreed to end the manufacture, importation, and sale of deca-BDE in the United States. However, the import and sale of consumer products containing deca-BDE was not a part of the voluntary agreement and Michigan's HB 4699 is still needed. Read the full press release.
State Panel Calls for Legislative Ban on Deca-BDE
In August 2008, the Michigan Interdepartmental Toxics Steering Group released a long-awaited report in which it recommended a legislative ban on the flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ether (deca-BDE, BDE-209, or deca). Deca-BDE, the last commercially used polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), has come into question due to its toxicity and its prevalence in humans and the environment.
Learn more about this victory by viewing our press release:
View our Flame Retardants campaign page
Green Chemistry
Ecology Center Receives Green Chemistry Award from Governor
Governor Granholm honored the Ecology Center with an award for the work it has done in concert with the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health to promote Green Chemistry in the state. Seven award winners were recognized in a ceremony on September 24th, 2009 and again at the landmark Michigan Green Chemistry Conference on September 25th, 2009. Click here to read the DEQ press release.
Green Chemistry Legislation
In May 2009, the Michigan House of Representatives voted 100-9 to pass legislation to promote green chemistry that provides economic incentives for companies that produce chemicals or materials in a manner that reduces or eliminates harmful contaminants.
To view the legislation (HB 4817, 4818, 4819), please visit:
Gov. Granholm Signs First-in-Nation Green Chemistry Executive Directive
In October 2006, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed the nation's first Green Chemistry Executive Directive. The Directive elevated Michigan as a leader among states working to advance cutting edge efforts in the design of safer, cleaner chemicals and materials that are "benign by design."
The Executive Directive is non-regulatory and requires the state to set up a program to advance research and implementation of green chemistry in Michigan. The Directive has garnered widespread support from green chemists and environmental and public health activists.
Learn more about this victory by viewing our press release:
Public Health and Environmental Leaders Applaud Governor's Green Chemistry Directive
View our Green Chemistry campaign page
Lindane
Michigan House Votes Overwhelmingly to Restrict Lindane
In March 2009, the Michigan House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HB 4402, a bill that would restrict the pharmaceutical pesticide lindane, a hazardous treatment for head lice and scabies. The House passed a similar bill (72-35) in May 2008, only two months after the SLAPP suit filed against the Ecology Center by Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals was dropped.
Learn more about these victories by viewing our press releases:
Michigan House Votes 88-20 to Restrict Pharmaceutical Pesticide Lindane, March 2009
House Overwhelmingly Passes Restrictions on Dangerous Pesticide Lindane, May 2008
Drug Company Drops SLAPP Suit Against Ecology Center, March 2008
View our Lindane campaign page
Mercury
Michigan House Votes to Ban Most Remaining Products with Mercury
In April 2009, the Michigan House passed HB 4277-4281, legislation that would prevent the sale of certain mercury-containing products, prevent the use of landfills and incinerators in the disposal of mercury-containing products, require labels on mercury-containing products, and require retailers and distributors of products containing mercury to provide a safety data sheet about the product.
To view the bills, please visit:
Gov. Granholm Signs Bill to Avoid Mercury Products in State Purchasing
In July 2008, Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm signed legislation (PA 193) calling for all state agencies to, whenever possible, avoid purchasing products containing mercury or mercury compounds if alternatives are available.
Learn more about this victory and other victories on mercury by visiting:
View our Mercury campaign page
Environmental Justice Executive Directive
Gov. Granholm Signs Environmental Justice Executive Directive
In November 2007, an executive directive was signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm, which explicitly recognizes that “state government has an obligation to advance policies that foster environmental justice, social well-being, and economic progress,” and charges the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to “develop and implement a state environmental justice plan to promote environmental justice in Michigan.”
Learn more about this victory by viewing the Ecology Center's newsletter article:
Governor Takes ‘Critical Step’ Toward Environmental Justice
Research
Network Partners, Staff, and Interns Contribute to Peer-Reviewed Medical Journal
In its January/February 2010 issue, the Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine published a survey of Michigan pediatricians documenting their knowledge of environmental issues and the extent to which they are aware of potential environmental influences on their patients' health and related treatment resources. The pediatricians generally felt confident in dealing with lead and second-hand smoke, but felt less confident in identifying and managing pesticide, mercury, mold, polychlorinated biphenyl, and air pollution exposures. The pediatricians expressed interest in additional training on pediatric environmental health issues. Researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health developed and analyzed the survey. Read the full article here.
National Report Reveals Toxics in Doctors & Nurses
Michigan State Rep. Jimmy Womack, MD and prominent pediatrician William
Weil were among 20 healthcare professionals biomonitored for an array
of toxic chemicals. PBDEs, BPA, phthalates, mercury, and perflourinated
compounds were found in all participants. Read the full October 2009 report. Read
the press
release.
HealthyStuff.org launched in September 2009
The Ecology Center launched a comprehensive website to present results
of new tests for toxics in selected pet products, car interiors, children's
car seats, children's backpacks and lunch boxes, and women's purses.
The site also incorporates all previous test data on cars, car seats,
and toys. See the new ratings, tell us what to test next, and take
action at: www.HealthyStuff.org!
And read the press release about the site here.
Organizational Members: American Academy of Pediatrics (Michigan Chapter) • Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) • Association for Children's Mental Health • Autism Society of Michigan • Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination • Clean Water Fund • Clinton County Family Resource Center • Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice • East Michigan Environmental Action Council • Ecology Center • Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan • Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of Michigan • LocalMotionGreen • Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners • Michigan Coalition for Children and Families • Michigan Environmental Council • Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund • Michigan Nurses Association • Science and Environmental Health Network • Sierra Club Michigan Chapter • Voices for Earth Justice
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About MNCEH • Join • Campaigns • Take Action • Resources • Calendar • Links • Contact • Back to home