Chemicals & our Health - 80,000 Chemicals on the Market with No Safety Testing
Transcript of Chemicals & our Health - 80,000 Chemicals on the Market with No Safety Testing
For more information contact: Fawn Pattison, Toxic Free NC [email protected] Toxic Free NC is a non-‐profit organization dedicated to protecting children’s health, a clean environment, and a vibrant economy. www.ToxicFreeNC.org
Chemicals and our health 80,000+ chemicals are on the market with virtually no safety testing.
The federal government has utterly failed on toxics. Why North Carolina needs to take action now
What’s the Problem? Harmful chemicals continue to be found in everyday products, even though safer alternatives are available. Toxic chemicals known to be used in everyday products include: • BPA food packaging such as baby food jar lids and can linings. • Phthalates in toys, scented lotions, shampoos and other personal care products. • Flame retardants in nursery furniture, nursing pillows and carseats. There is no comprehensive system in place to assure that highly hazardous chemicals are not being used in the products we use every day. That means many toxic chemicals are ending up in a place they shouldn’t: our bodies.
Several other states are taking action where the federal government has failed. North Carolina can gain access to key data on toxics in everyday products – as well as alternatives – by joining
the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse.
Children are most at risk. Their bodies are developing at an amazing rate. Pound for pound, they drink more water, breathe more air, and ingest more food than adults do. That means they’re also exposed to much higher concentrations of the chemical pollution all around us.1 Cancer is on a slow and steady increase in American children, rising 22% between 1975 and 2004.2 Autism now affects 1 in 88 American children, and 1 in 54 boys.3 Exposure to toxic chemicals is an important factor in these devastating diseases.
Citations for this fact sheet on page 4
What Kinds of Chemicals?
Phthalates are used as softeners in PVC plastic, and as fragrance-‐binders in cosmetics like baby shampoo. Exposure is linked to:7 Reproductive Health Problems Respiratory problems Cancer
TRIS flame retardants are used in textiles including furniture, and foam products like nursing pillows and the padding in carseats. Extensive testing has shown them to be ineffective in stopping
house fires. Exposure to TRIS flame retardants has been linked to:
Cancer 5 Harm to the Developing Brain 6
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a hormone-‐disrupting chemical found in polycarbonate plastic. BPA is widely used in food packaging, including baby food and formula. Exposure to BPA is associated with increased risk for many health problems,4 including: Infertility Heart disease Obesity Cancer
Talking points for your call:
• I live in your legislative district.
• I am concerned that the legislature did not act on the NC Toxic Free Kids Act of 2013.
• The toxic chemicals in everyday products, like flame retardants and BPA, are linked to health problems including cancer, hormone-‐disruption and harm to the developing brain.
• If you have a personal story or concern to share, please mention it!
• Chemicals should be proven safe before ending up in our homes and children’s
products.
• Please let us know your plans for advancing toxics reform in the 2014 NC legislative session, and how we can support your efforts.
For sponsors/cosponsors only:
• Thank you for your leadership on this critical issue. -‐ Your name and city of residence
What you can do: Call your legislators! Personal calls make a huge difference.
NC Legislature: 919-‐733-‐4111
Don’t know your state House & Senate members?
Look them up at www.NCleg.net
Citations for this fact sheet on page 4
References for the Chemicals & our Health Fact Sheet: 1 Ruth Etzel and Sophie J Balk, eds. 2012. Pediatric Environmental Health. 3rd Edition. American Academy of Pediatrics.
2 National Cancer Institute, 2008. Fact Sheet on Childhood Cancers. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-‐Types/childhood
3 Jon Baio, 2012. “Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 14 Sites, United States, 2008.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). March 30, 2012 / 61(SS03);1-‐19 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6103a1.htm?s_cid=ss6103a1_w
4 vom Saal et al. 2007. “Chapel Hill bisphenol A expert panel consensus statement: Integration of mechanisms, effects in animals and potential to impact human health at current levels of exposure.” Reprod Toxicol. 2007 Aug–Sep; 24(2): 131–138.
5 California Environmental Protection Agency. 2011. Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity. OEHHA. [Accessed Oct 1, 2011]. http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65_list/files/P65single072911.pdf
6 Divshaw LV, Powers CM, Ryde IT, Roberts SC, Seidler FJ, Slotkin TA, Stapleton HM. 2011. “Is the PentaBDE Replacement, tris (1,3-‐dichloro-‐2-‐propyl) phosphate (TDCPP), a developmental neurotoxicant? Studies in PC12 cells.” Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology.
7 Hauser and Calafat. 2005. “Phthalates and Human Health.” Occup Environ Med 2005;62:806-‐818