Toxic chemicals lurk in everyday products

 

And we can do something about it.

 

The problem

 

• Chemicals are released on the market without being proven safe. Most of them leave the factory in products.

• Chemicals come out of these products and get inside our bodies, where they can make us sick.

• Toxic chemicals are found in children, even newborns.  

• These chemicals get inside babies and children through everyday products.

• Developing babies and children are more susceptible to the effects of toxic chemicals – pound for pound, they breathe, eat and drink more than adults.

• Product makers don’t have to tell us what’s in products. For instance, a baby product with foam may be labeled 100% polyurethane, yet contain 12% carcinogenic tris.

 

Solution:  Pass the Child Safe Products Act

• The NYS Assembly has already passed the CSPA for a third year in a row, and by a greater margin and with broader bipartisan support than last year – 111 to 25.

• Currently, there are 40 co-sponsors, over 60% of the Senate. Co-sponsors are: Boyle, Addabbo, Avella, Ball, Breslin, Carlucci, Diaz, Dillan, Espaillat, Felder, Gianaris, Gipson, Golden, Hassell-Thompson, Hoylman, Kennedy, Klein, Krueger, Lanza, Latimer, LaValle, Martins, Montgomery, O’Brien, Parker, Peralta, Perkins, Ritchie, Rivera, Robach, Sampson, Sanders, Savino, Serrano, Squadron, Stavisky, Stewart-Cousins, Tkaczyk, Valesky, and Young. 

• A broad approach is needed, because the chemical-by-chemical approach would take too long to be genuinely protective of children.

• The Child Safe Products Act identifies high priority chemicals, reveals their use in products for children, and removes them from these products after a transition period.

• The Child Safe Products Act drives the marketplace towards safer solutions and supports companies that make products for children without toxic chemicals.

• In addition to improving our children’s health it will restore consumer confidence, protect worker health and enable New York businesses to be competitive in the global marketplace.

• Several other states have similar laws, and are implementing them with help from the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse. Washington State has already developed a database for such reporting.

• Washington received reports of toxic chemicals in over 4,000 kinds of children’s products.

• A diverse cross section of society supports the bill: cancer prevention advocates, teachers, nurses, and businesses.

• Businesses, retailers, employees, consumers, and most importantly, OUR CHILDREN! All benefit.

 

Learn more at our coalition's website: