New Study Links Phthalates to Breast Enlargement in Teen Boys

Yet another study linking phthalates to adverse health impacts was released this month. Researchers linked gynecomastia to higher levels of DEHP in the blood. Researchers strongly advice limiting exposure to plastic toys and food containers. Another study this month linked prenatal exposure to phthalates to shorter pregnancies.

New PVC-Free Schools Campaign Fact-Sheets

CHEJ is kicking off a brand new PVC-free schools campaign to encourage schools to ditch the poison plastic in favor of safer alternatives. We need your help to make it a success! We’ve created a series of new PVC-free schools fact-sheets to help educate parents, students and decision-makers on the dangers of PVC plastic.
Click here to download the new fact-sheets!

Baby’s Toxic Bottle Report Featured on NBC’s Nightly News with Brian Williams

After a shocking new report by Consumers Union finding bisphenol A in canned food labeled BPA-free, NBC’s Nightly News offered a special report on BPA-contaminated food and baby bottles. View the NBC segment or read the original Baby’s Toxic Bottle report.

Consumer Reports Finds BPA in Nearly All Canned Food Samples

In the wake of a new Consumer Reports study that found BPA in common, name-brand canned goods, the Center for Health, Environment & Justice and other environmental groups have joined forces to call on the FDA to act immediately to protect consumers from this hazardous chemical in our food supply. Read the release and Consumer Report’s original study.

Apple and Best Buy Make Progress in Ditching the Poison Plastic

The huge market shift away from the poison plastic continues. Apple nerds rejoice! This month, Apple announced the first ever PVC-free MacBooks and iMacs, making Apple the first major electronics company to completely eliminate PVC in these electronics. Apple was recently profiled in a report by Clean Production Action for their work phasing out PVC. In related news, Best Buy announced in their latest corporate social responsibility report they’ve made progress in phasing out PVC packaging and has set a goal of eliminating 50% of their PVC packaging by the end of 2010 (see page 38).

New Study finds PVC Packaging Breaks State Laws
A national study released today by the Toxics In Packaging Clearinghouse found toxic heavy metals in over 60% of PVC packaging it tested, which violates laws in 19 states.
[Read the full release to learn more]

Tell Target to Quit Ducking the Truth About the Dangers of PVC
While Target shareholders attended the company's annual meeting in Cleveland today, protests, press conferences and letters were delivered to store managers at over 200 stores across the country.
Read the news release. Print out copies of our USA Today ad.
Check out new report, Way Off Target and see pictures from events around the country. Take action and sign our petition to Target.

Wal-Mart, Apple Announce New Plans to Eliminate PVC
Wal-Mart commits to support industry standard to eliminate PVC from all children's products, adding fuel to the national campaign challenging Target to “meet and beat” Wal-Mart’s commitment. View the news release.

CHEJ and other Environmental Groups Challenge Disney to Go Green with New Campaign Launch
CHEJ and Florida groups officially launch the national Disney Go Green Campaign, urging Disney to become a tourism-industry leader by switching away from toxic cleaners and over to green cleaning. Get involved in the campaign by sending a letter to Disney today! View the press release launching the campaign.NEW! See media coverage of the campaign kick-off.

Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty
The United Church of Christ released a new report, "Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty," a follow-up study to their original report two decades ago that helped spark the environmental justice movement. The report finds that minority communities are as or more unfairly burdened with toxic waste now than they were 20 years ago. [Read a summary of the report.]

How Much Pollution is in Your Community?
"Toxic Pollution and Health," a new report from U.S. PIRG, uses data from the Toxic Release Inventory to document the continued pollution of U.S. air and water.It also lists the 100 most polluted zip codes in the United States for different kinds of pollution. Want to see what's in your zipcode? Go to scorecard.org for the TRI information on your community.

Rate Sam Suds on YouTube!
Make sure more people see the video that the chemical industry doesn't want you to see. Go watch Sam Suds on YouTube and rate it! Click here for more ways to promote the video. [Take action here.] [Learn more.]

Students to Begin Classes at New School Built on Former Dump
After years of controversy and millions of dollars spent removing PCB-contaminated soil, Keith Middle School students and staff will finally move to a brand new, state-of-the-art school. There’s a catch: tons of polluted soil still remains on the site beneath a protective barrier.[Read More]

Watch Videos of the PVC Campaign in Action!
Check out videos of our giant PVC-free rubber ducky protest outside of Target in California, as well as the Raging Grannies singing songs at the Bioneers conference.

Pollution "putting millions of children at brain damage risk"
Millions of children throughout the world may have suffered brain damage as a result of industrial pollution, researchers say.
[Read more]

CHEJ Responds to Wal-Mart Chemicals and Packaging Policies
Wal-Mart unveiled a new safer chemicals policy as well as a packaging scorecard ranking suppliers on sustainable packaging.  Wal-Mart gave PVC the worst possible rating as a packaging material. 
[Read CHEJ’s responses]

Take Action - Tell Target PVC Is Out of Style
Target may have the latest hip designs, but they sell many products such as shower curtains made out of or packaged in PVC, the poison plastic. Take action and sign our petition to Target! [Learn more.]

Watch CHEJ's Funny New Video about the Poison Plastic
Check out CHEJ's funny new spoof video, Sam Suds and the Case of PVC, the Poison Plastic. Have a laugh and be one of the first to watch our three-minute animation. [Help promote the video]

Dozens of Target Stores Protested Nationwide
On October 11th, nearly 30 Target stores nationwide faced concerned mothers, scientists, environmentalists and customers who no longer want to purchase products and packaging made with PVC, sold by Target.  [Read the news release] 

New York Establishes First Ever Children's Environmental Health Council!
Making the protection of children from environmental hazards one of the highest priorities of the state, Governor Pataki has signed A.6905-a/S.3061-a to establish a first ever NYS Children’s Environmental Health Council.  The council will develop health-protective programs and regulations to be implemented by school districts and boards of cooperative educational services. 
[Click here to read the bill summary.]

News Release! National Academies New Study Concludes Dioxin is Toxic
The National Academies (NA) released a controversial report confirming what numerous scientific panels have concluded over the past 15 years: dioxin is a potent cancer-causing chemical. Chlorine-based industries have been effectively stalling the release of the EPA’s controversial dioxin reassessment for 15 years.
[Read the release]
[Read the study]

Press Release: Crabtree & Evelyn and Johnson & Johnson Are Expanding PVC Phase-Out
Victory! Crabtree and Evelyn has announced it is accelerating its plans to stop using PVC packaging products by March 2009, and Johnson & Johnson says it will reduce use of PVC packaging by 70 percent by year end 2007.
[Read the press release]

NYC to Reduce Purchase of PVC!
On December 21st the New York City Council passed legislation that will reduce the City’s purchase of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, Lead, Mercury, Toxic Flame Retardants, and other hazardous products, wielding its $11 billion annual purchasing budget to drive markets for safer, environmentally friendly products.
[Read CHEJ's news release]
[Read a copy of the bill that addresses PVC]
[Read a memo that talks about the bill]

Microsoft Completes Phase Out of Poison Plastic
Microsoft has joined the fast-growing ranks of major corporations demonstrating concern about the environmental health impacts of their products or packaging by phasing out PVC plastic.  Microsoft announced that by the end of 2005 it will have completed its PVC packaging phase out, which has already resulted in the elimination of 361,000 pounds of PVC since July, 2005.
[Read more]
[Microsoft letter to retailers]
[Microsoft correspondence]

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