Health and Environmental Advocates Protest at Disney Shareholder Meeting in Phoenix

Toxic Chemicals Harmful to Children in Disney Lunchboxes and Backpacks

Phoenix Groups Call to Phase out Toxic Chemicals in Disney Children’s Products

(Phoenix, AZ) Concerned parents and environmental health advocates held a protest today outside of the Walt Disney Company Annual Shareholders Meeting in Phoenix, AZ, to call on the company to phase out toxic phthalates and vinyl plastic in children’s products such as school supplies.

Phthalates are chemicals used to soften vinyl plastic products such as school supplies.  The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified phthalates as chemicals of concern and states, “EPA is concerned about phthalates because of their toxicity and the evidence of pervasive human and environmental exposure to these chemicals… Phthalate exposures are a potential concern for children’s health… children have the highest exposures to phthalates of all groups monitored.”

“Why does Disney sell lunchboxes and backpacks that contain toxic chemicals that have been banned in toys?” said Steve Brittle, President of Don’t Waste Arizona, a statewide environmental health organization. “We would like Disney to do what’s right and safeguard our children’s health by eliminating these unnecessary harmful chemicals and plastic.”

With Disney’s shareholders, Senior Executives and Board of Directors in Phoenix, AZ for the company’s annual shareholder meeting, environmental and health groups demonstrated outside holding signs and passing out leaflets to Disney shareholders and executives.  Today’s action follows a recent report published by the Center for Health, Environment & Justice that identified phthalates up to 59 times the safety level in Disney products.   Disney lunchboxes, backpacks, and raingear were found to contain high levels of phthalates, which may leach out of the products.  The levels of phthalates found in Disney school supplies would be illegal if these products were toys.

“As a parent, I always thought Disney products were safe for my family,” said Stormy Rose of the Sierra Club – Palo Verde Group. “These toxic phthalates linked to asthma and birth defects have no place in our children’s school supplies.”

Over 65,000 concerned parents across the country have signed petitions to Disney on Change.org and MomsRising.org, calling on the company to phase out these harmful chemicals.

“Like millions of kids out there, my three boys eat out of lunch boxes,” said Lori Alper, a mother of three school-aged boys from Massachusetts, who launched the online petition to Disney. “But what most parents don’t realize is that lunch boxes made by Disney may be toxic to growing kids with developing immune systems. That’s why I started a campaign on Change.org asking Disney to make sure its lunch boxes are safe for my boys and other children.  Over 65,000 people have come together by signing the petition demanding that Disney make a change.”

“Many leading businesses such as Google, Apple, IKEA and Nike have already committed to eliminating these harmful chemicals, “ said Mike Schade from the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ), author of the report, Hidden Hazards: Toxic Chemicals Inside Children’s Vinyl Back-to-School Supplies. “Even some Disney suppliers have eliminated these chemicals.  If they can do it, we know Disney can too!  As the world’s largest licensor of consumer products, Disney has a responsibility to sell products that are safe and healthy for our young ones.”

“Disney’s promotion and sale of PVC laden products is not only a children’s health issue. The manufacture and disposal of these products is concentrated, both internationally and domestically, in low-income and communities of color, and it poisons the air and water, the communities and the workers involved,” said James Jordan, National Co-Coordinator, the Alliance for Global Justice.”

“Parents should have the confidence that the products they purchase from Disney will do no harm to their children,” said Judy Braiman, of the Empire State Consumer Project, co-publisher of the report Hidden Hazards: Toxic Chemicals Inside Children’s Vinyl Back-to-School Supplies.

Over 90% of all phthalates are used to soften vinyl plastic. Phthalates are hazardous at low levels of exposure, disrupt hormones in our bodies, and have been linked to birth defects, infertility, early puberty, asthma, ADHD, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. According to testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children have the highest exposures to these hazardous chemicals. As a result of the widespread use of phthalates in vinyl plastic products, they have been found in the air and dust of our homes and schools, our bodies, blood and breast milk. The production and disposal of vinyl school supplies also releases other highly hazardous chemicals including chlorine gas, ethylene dichloride, vinyl chloride, dioxin, and mercury

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ATTENTION JOURNALISTS: Photos of Disney children’s products containing toxic chemicals can be accessed at: http://bit.ly/disneyphthalates To read the report documenting toxic chemicals in Disney products, please visit: http://www.chej.org/disney

For More Information Contact:

Steve Brittle, Don’t Waste Arizona dwaz@fastq.com / 602 881 3305

Mike Schade, CHEJ mike@chej.org / 212 964 3680

Chemicals + Children’s Exposure = Obesity

Following up on the recent article in Environmental Health Perspectives which discussed endocrine disruptors that are sometimes added to PVC plastic cause mice to grow obese and suffer liver problems, Nicholas Kristof from the NY Times wrote a great opinion piece about why this is important. He also made a point about how journalist are missing these health related  stories which are important.

Read his article.

CHEJ has been working to clean up the toy and childrens/mothers consumer products for decades. It is time to move quicker we can’t just take off market one chemical/product at a time. Chemical Policy reforms must move faster in Washington, D.C.

Is It Safe? New Book

We are all just a little bit plastic. Traces of bisphenol A or BPA, a chemical used in plastics production, are widely detected in our bodies and environment. Is this chemical, and its presence in the human body, safe? A new book by our friend and colleague See summary.

NY PTA Passes Resolution to Phase-out PVC in Schools

The New York State Parents Teachers Association (PTA) voted last week at their annual meeting in Saratoga Springs, NY to pass a resolution calling for a phase out of the plastic PVC in schools. The resolution, called “Reducing & Phasing Out the Purchase of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Plastic in New York Schools,” acknowledged the serious harm posed by PVC throughout its lifecycle, releasing toxic chemicals such as phthalates during use in products such as school supplies and building materials; releasing toxic chemicals such as vinyl chloride and ethylene dichloride during manufacture; and generating toxic chemicals such as dioxins during disposal when burned.

The PTA’s resolution recognized that chronic health problems and conditions in children linked to environmental exposures are on the rise, including learning and developmental disorders; that children are uniquely vulnerable to harm from toxic chemicals such as those released by PVC; that PVC materials and products contain toxic additives, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and phthalates, that may be released into the indoor environment, posing hazards to human health including asthma and developmental problems and that children are at greatest risk of exposure; that PVC is commonly found in office supplies and building materials used in schools; that safer, cost-effective alternatives to PVC products are readily available for schools; and that the U.S. Green Building Council provides incentives for schools to avoid PVC and phthalates in “green schools.”

The NYS PTA resolution calls for the following actions:

• Resolved that the New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc. seek and support legislation that would reduce and phase out the use of PVC products at all New York State school facilities; and be it further

• Resolved that the New York State PTA urge school districts and the New York State Education Department (NYSED) to develop green procurement policies to reduce and phase out the use and purchase of PVC building materials and office and education supplies in school facilities where safer cost effective alternatives are available; and be it further

• Resolved that the New York State PTA and its constituent units educate parents and community members about the potential health effects of PVC and work to eliminate PVC products at all PTA-sponsored events; and be it further

• Resolved that the New York State PTA forward this resolution to the National PTA for its consideration.

This resolution adds to the growing movement for PVC-free schools and follows similar resolutions enacted by the American Public Health Association (APHA), the “oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world,” last year and by the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) union that represents more than 600,000 employees and retirees from New York State schools, colleges, and healthcare facilities, this past summer. The full PTA resolution can be read at the following link: http://chej.org/wp-content/uploads/NYS-PTA-PVC-Resolution.pdf.

When our children are sent off to day care – are they breathing in toxic phthalates?

When considering day care, more than a few related topics could come to mind: children, toys, play, and a safe environment are probably some to just name a few. However, although children at day care may be under the supervision of responsible adults and having a great time with their playmates, they may be at risk for a danger most parents would have no idea about — toxic chemicals in the day care environment.

A new study of day care centers found a toxic cocktail of chemicals lurking in the air and dust, including phthalates, chemicals that are so toxic they’ve been banned in toys across the globe.

The research, funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), is the first-ever detailed analysis of environmental contaminants and exposures for California day care centers. It covered 40 early childhood education facilities.

“Children are more vulnerable to the health effects of environmental contaminants, and many small children spend as much as 10 hours per day, five days a week, in child care centers,” said study lead author Asa Bradman, associate director of the UC Berkeley Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health (CERCH).

Phthalates Widespread in Daycare Centers

Phthalates are chemicals commonly used to make vinyl building materials such as flooring soft and flexible.  These building materials are commonly used in schools and day care centers, even though safer biobased alternatives like linoleum are available.

In the new study, phthalates were found in 100% of the air and dust samples inside daycare centers.  The report noted that,

“Phthalate compounds, detected in 100% of the air and dust samples, have been shown to disrupt normal hormone function in animals. There are no health-based benchmarks to evaluate phthalate levels in air. Of all compounds measured in dust, the highest were the phthalates di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), with medians of 172.2 and 46.8 μg/g, respectively.”

Oy.  Every single sample.

Phthalates have no place inside day care centers or schools, and are brought to us by BIG CHEM.  They are harmful to children’s health.  The researchers stated that

“Phthalate compounds are on the California Proposition 65 list as developmental toxins, and have been found to contaminate indoor environments.Studies have associated phthalate exposures with bronchial obstruction, allergies, and asthma in young children, and they are likely endocrine disruptors in humans.”

US EPA: Children Face Highest Exposures to Phthalates

According to the EPA,

“Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey (NHANES) indicates widespread exposure of the general population to phthalates. Biomonitoring data from amniotic fluid and urine have demonstrated that humans are exposed to phthalates in utero, as infants, during puberty, and in adult life, and that people are exposed to several phthalates at once…NHANES detected a DEHP urinary metabolite in 78% of the 2541 samples tested with women having a higher exposure than men. Children have been reported as having the highest exposures; specifically to DEHP, DBP, BBP and DnOP…Children are exposed to phthalates through environmental sources (e.g., air, water, food) as well as consumer products (e.g., toys)…Children’s estimated exposures are often greater than those in adults which may be due to increased intakes of food, water, and air on a bodyweight basis, as well children’s unique exposure pathways such as mouthing of objects and ingestion of non-food items. The 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 biomonitoring data in the Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals demonstrate that children have the highest exposures to phthalates of all groups monitored, and other biomonitoring data indicate in utero exposures to phthalates.”

Phthalates Banned in Toys in the US and Around the World

Phthalates were banned in toys in the United States in 2008.  Similar bans have been enacted by the states of California, Washington and Vermont.

Restrictions or bans have been placed on phthalates in PVC toys in the entire European Union, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Iceland Mexico, Norway, and Sweden.

While phthalates have been banned in toys, similar protections do not exist for day care centers and our schools.

Insane right?

Why are they still allowed in daycare centers and schools?

BPA in Receipts – The chemical that’s everywhere, or so it seems

It’s very likely that you’ve heard of a chemical called BPA or bisphenol A. It’s been in the news because it’s an endocrine disrupting chemical used in making plastic products and in the lining of metal cans. The problem is that BPA leaches out of plastic bottles, canned foods and other products and gets into the food and drink. Trace amounts of BPA have been found in the urine of at least 90% of Americans.  BPA mimics the hormone estrogen in the body and has been linked to reproductive and developmental abnormalities as well as other adverse health effects.

Source: American Chemical Society

Concerns about these adverse health effects led Canada to define BPA as a toxic substance and 11 states to ban its use in baby bottles and sippy cups. The FDA followed suit in July of this year. Concerns remain however about BPA leaching into infant formula, food and beverages. Approximately eight billion pounds of BPA are used each year worldwide.

Although diet is the primary route of exposure to BPA, research has shown that it can also be absorbed though the skin in a less familiar way – the handling of receipts of all kinds. BPA is the primary chemical used in cash register and thermal receipts commonly used in stores, ATM machines, gas stations, various tickets, and many other uses. BPA is used as a color developer for the printing dye. It’s applied as powder coating that acts in the presence of heat to produce an image without ink. The problem here is that the chemical is not bound to the paper, so it rubs off when you handle the receipt. It gets on your fingers and quickly gets into your blood stream. If you handle receipts every day, and it accumulates in the body, you increase your risk. This is especially a concern for workers who handle receipts all day long, or for pregnant women.

While there’s no way to tell if a receipt contains BPA or not, a number of studies have tested receipts for BPA. One study reported in the New York Times of 103 thermal receipts collected from cities in the U.S., Japan, South Korea and Vietnam in 2010 and 2011 found 94% of the receipts to contain BPA. All of the receipts in the U.S. had traces of BPA, even some marked as BPA-free. A study by researchers in Boston found 8 of 10 cash register receipts had BPA, and a study by the Environmental Working Group in 2010 found 14 of 36 receipts collected from fast food restaurants, retailers, grocery stores, gas stations and post offices tested positive for BPA.

Although studies in animals have found that very low concentrations of BPA can produce adverse effects, it’s unclear what level of exposure in people can produce adverse effects. It’s also unclear how much exposure from thermal receipts contributes to a person’s total exposure to BPA. Diet remains the primary route of exposure. It is clear, however, that there are readily available alternatives to BPA and this is another source of chemical contamination that can easily be eliminated. It’s also easy to say “no thank you,” when asked if you want your receipt.

Camp Lejeune Marine Base Families Get Help After Drinking Tainted Water

One million people may have been exposed to tainted groundwater. Read more. . .

Avoid Chemicals In Baby Products

Your baby smells even more beautiful after her bath, but as you wash her hair, lather her up with soap, and then slather on lotion, you could actually be exposing her to toxic chemicals. Chemicals—studies show—that are linked to cancer, autism, learning disabilities, infertility, allergic reactions and skin irritation, and other health complications.

Take Johnson’s baby shampoo. The product description states “as gentle to the eyes as pure water,” yet it isn’t as mild as you’re led to believe. In 2009, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found two chemicals in the shampoo that are linked to cancer: 1,4-dioxane, which is added to create suds, and quaternium 15, a preservative that kills bacteria by releasing formaldehyde. This past October, the chemicals showed up once again in product tests.

Of particular concern to the medical community and environmental health advocates are phthalates. A group of chemicals known as endocrine disruptors, phthalates affect the body’s hormonal system and can cause harm at critical times of development like during infancy and puberty.

“Phthalates interfere with reproductive functioning by reducing the levels of sex hormones that are critical for development and functioning of sex organs,” according to Lisa Archer, National Director for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund. “Our hormonal systems are really exquisitely finely tuned, and when we mess with those systems, you can have real problems,” she said.  Read more

Stop The Madness – You’re Hurting Our Children

The future of our country will be the hands of our children.  But what does that mean?  We can raise our children with values and ethics and teach the basic lessons of life, encourage learning and education.  Yet our children and our future children are at risk of not being able to lead our country. Our children risk not being able to succeed in business, in society because of the environmental chemicals that they are exposed to every single day.  Chemicals are leaching from the floors that they crawl on as infants, beds that they sleep on nightly or the toys they play with and put into their mouths, all release dangerous chemicals.  What will their future be like?  How can our country grow and prosper or compete in the global economy?

Recently the Center for Disease our federal health agency reported that 1 out of every 88 American children is affected by autism. That is a 78% increase in autism since 2002 and 23% increase since 2006. As if that is not bad enough, the agency also reports that 14% of American children are affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Of course not all of these problems are the result of chemicals in a child’s environment but a good percentage are.  Looking at the chemicals that are in every day products, ones that are linked to these particular diseases, it is clear society can prevent the harming of children.  PCBs, for example are fond in our environment, in lighting and windows of schools built before 1980.  Lead is found in toys imported from other countries; paint in older building, homes, play grounds and around various industrial sites.  Brominated flame retardants are in mattresses, pillows, clothing and all types of furniture. Also there are Endocrine disruptors like phthalates found in PVC products that are all around us in flooring, toys, pipes, shower curtains and binds.

Not a single one of these chemicals in products are necessary for life or for comfort.  Every one of them can be taken out of children’s environment today.  We know how, and we know where to find and remove these threats.  We are just lacking the political will.

Our politicians need to stop the madness and find the conviction and courage to stand up to Corporate America and say no more . . .”Our children will no longer be sacrificed.”

If I as a parent deliberately, knowing harmed my child I would go to jail, yet in America corporations are above the law and spend huge amount of money to keep their unsafe product from being eliminated in our marketplace and environment.

Just look at the statistics above or the rising cancer incidence in children across the country.  This is an election year where we have a chance to ask the hard questions and vote out of office those that intend to harm our children to protect corporate interests.  Everyone needs to get involved, today, so that we together can reverse the trend and protect our futures. For more information

Over 20 Years Later Styrofoam Toxicity Argued

In 1987 CHEJ’s McToxic Campaign worked to get styrofoam out of food processing.  Today more than 20 years later the toxicity is still being argued.

Union, health groups side with HHS in court fight over styrene

Jeremy P. Jacobs, E&E reporter

Published: Monday, May 21, 2012

Public health advocates and a labor union came to the defense of the Department of Health and Human Services late Friday in a lawsuit surrounding its listing of a chemical as “reasonably anticipated” to cause cancer.

HHS’s National Toxicology Program, or NTP, listed styrene — a common component in many plastics, including food packaging — as a possible carcinogen in its “Report on Carcinogens” in June (E&ENews PM, June 10, 2011). It was the first time styrene had been listed in the congressionally mandated report and was promptly challenged in court by industry.

Earthjustice, representing the Environmental Defense Fund and the United Steelworkers, intervened on HHS’s behalf late Friday, filing a motion in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

“This case is about the public’s right to have scientifically sound information on the link between styrene exposure and cancer,” said Marianne Engelman Lado, Earthjustice attorney representing the groups. “It’s clear that industry is trying to prevent people from getting scientific information about this toxic chemical, and we intend to make sure government can inform the public of the risk of styrene, as well as the potential dangers of other chemicals.”

The Styrene Information and Research Center (SIRC), which is leading the lawsuit challenging the listing, argues that the report is flawed in three ways. First, it says procedural errors render NTP’s “reasonably anticipated” classification “arbitrary and capricious.” Second, the group alleges that NTP misled Secretary Kathleen Sebelius during the report’s development process. Third, it says the “reasonably anticipated” labeling is actually illegal because the authorizing statute did not call for listing possible carcinogens.

Industry has also argued that NTP did provide enough opportunity for public comment on the report and that the deadline for written comments was far too short. The American Chemistry Council has called the process “shoddy” and lacking transparency.

Backlash to the listing has also cropped up on Capitol Hill. Last year’s trillion-dollar omnibus spending package included $1 million for a National Academy of Sciences review of the report (E&E Daily, Dec. 20, 2011).

Moreover, a recent House Science Committee hearing devolved into a partisan brawl with Democrats defending the report and charging that Republicans were doing industry’s bidding. Republicans pushed back that there are several problems in the report’s methodologies and that an incorrect listing can have a devastating effect on small businesses (E&E Daily, April 26).