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en-US2016-07-19T09:24:19-07:00Why Massachusetts should ban toxic flame retardants
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/07/frfree.html
Toxic flame retardants are in our children’s products and furniture and get into children’s and adults’ bodies: Toxic flame retardants are added to highchairs, car seats, nursing pillows, couches, carpet pads, electronic equipment (including toys), and other common household products....<p><br /> <a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d2068a68970c-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Infographic_FR_07.14.16b wPFFM logo" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b8d2068a68970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d2068a68970c-500wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Infographic_FR_07.14.16b wPFFM logo" /></a>Toxic flame retardants are in our children’s products and furniture and get into children’s and adults’ bodies:<br />Toxic flame retardants are added to highchairs, car seats, nursing pillows, couches, carpet pads, electronic equipment (including toys), and other common household products.<br />These chemicals don't stay put - they get out of the products and into the dust in our homes, and also into our bodies.</p>
<p>Toxic flame retardant chemicals are found in breast milk, adults’, children’s and newborn babies’ blood, fish, and marine mammals. Blood levels of certain widely used flame retardants doubled in adults every two to five years between 1970 and 2004.</p>
<p>A typical American baby is born with the highest recorded concentrations of flame retardants among infants in the world.</p>
<p><br />Flame retardants are harmful to our health:<br />Flame retardant chemicals have been linked to cancer, learning disabilities, nervous system damage, infertility, obesity, thyroid problems and other serious health problems.</p>
<p>Some are highly persistent and build up in our bodies and the food chain</p>
<p>Firefighters are exposed in fires and have higher rates of cancer<br />In fires, flame retardants burn and turn into toxic fumes, exposing firefighters, who have 60-136% more flame retardants in their bodies than the average US adult male.</p>
<p>The results of this exposure are serious: Boston firefighters have 2.5 X the rate of cancer of other Boston residents. Every 3 weeks a Boston firefighter is diagnosed with cancer. In fact 20 Boston firefighters every year develop cancer.</p>
<p>Flame retardants are not needed to stop fires.<br />Furniture and foam products can be made to be safe using less flammable materials (such as cotton, wool and polyester) and construction (such as adding barriers between the fabric and foam.</p>
<p>Ashley Furniture, Crate & Barrel, Lay-Z-Boy, Macy’s, Pier 1 and many other manufacturers and retailers have already stopped making and selling furniture with flame retardants.</p>
<p>The toxic treadmill<br />Whack a mole: When one chemical is phased out it is often replaced with another equally toxic chemical.</p>
<p>For example, Chlorinated Tris was banned from children’s pajamas in the 1970s because of it’s links to cancer. When some toxic flame retardants started to be banned in household furniture, Chlorinated tris started to show up.</p>
<p>Globally, flame retardants are a four billion pound, five billion dollar annual industry. In the United States, companies have reported production and import of more than 450 million pounds of flame retardants. More than half of that volume is used in plastics of various kinds, including polyurethane foam. The most widely used classes are the brominated, chlorinated, phosphorus, and metal hydroxide flame retardants.</p>
<p>What you can do:<br />S. 2302, An Act to protect children, firefighters and families from harmful flame retardants, was passed unanimously by the Massachusetts Senate in May. The House now has until July 31st to pass this bill (or the nearly identical H.4241) into law. <a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2155/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=19392">Write to your state Representative</a> today and tell them to finish the job. </p>
<p>_____________________________________________________________________________</p>
<p>http://www.chicagotribune.com/ct-met-flame-retardants-20120506-story.html<br /> ibid<br /> Shaw, S.; Berger, M.; Harris, J.; Yun, S.; Wu, Q.; Liao, C.; Blum, A.; Stefani, A.; Kannan, K., Persistent organic pollutants including polychlorinated and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in firefighters from Northern California. Chemosphere 2013, 91, 1386-1394.<br /> Dr. Michael Hamrock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOvBypsaHog<br /> Chemical Data Reporting; http://epa.gov/cdr</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2016-07-18T12:27:00-07:00Newton Mother of 2 Calls on Mass. Lawmakers to Ban Toxic Flame Retardants
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/07/newton-mother-of-2-calls-on-mass-lawmakers-to-ban-toxic-flame-retardants.html
On a hot and muggy morning in late June, a dynamic assembly of environmentalists, parents, firefighters, worker’s health advocates, and others piled into Hearing Room 222 of the Massachusetts State House. The issue that brought all these folks together: toxic...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d203ee52970c-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Erica and kids couch" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b8d203ee52970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d203ee52970c-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Erica and kids couch" /></a>On a hot and muggy morning in late June, a dynamic assembly of environmentalists, parents, firefighters, worker’s health advocates, and others piled into Hearing Room 222 of the Massachusetts State House. The issue that brought all these folks together: toxic flame retardants in kid’s products and household furniture.</p>
<p>Flame retardant chemicals have been flying under the radar for decades. Parents, medical professionals, health advocates, legislators, and others tried to nip the flame retardants issue in the bud during the 70’s and 80’s, but a deceptive campaign by the chemical and tobacco industries institutionalized the practice of adding flame retardants to many common household items. Thus, despite research connecting them to cancer, learning and developmental delays in children, and other serious health problems, flame retardants continue to be added in gross amounts to couches, kid’s pajamas, nursing pillows, and many other unlikely items, <em>to this day</em>.</p>
<p>There are currently <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/05/flame-retardants.html">two bills pending in the state legislature</a> that would ban several highly toxic flame retardants from children’s products and residential upholstered furniture in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously to pass their version of the flame retardants bill in May. Now, if the House of Representatives follows suit before the legislative session ends on July 31<sup>st</sup>, we could have a new law this summer that protects our most vulnerable from dangerous flame retardant exposure.</p>
<p>That is why the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow convened a robust group of supporters on June 28<sup>th</sup> to lobby our State Representatives for their support of the flame retardants bill. Before dispersing to our respective Rep.s’ offices to urge them to act on the bill, we heard from a number of individuals on why phasing out flame retardants is a priority for them. One of those individuals was Erica Streit-Kaplan, AHT leader and Newton mother of two.</p>
<p>This is Erica’s story:</p>
<p>Good Morning. My name is Erica Streit-Kaplan and I want to speak with you about flame retardants and my family.</p>
<p>If you indulge me, I need to start by telling you about my couch. When my husband and I moved into our first one-bedroom apartment together, we went shopping for a new couch. After much deliberation, we settled on one that’s deep blue, with colorful piping along the edges, and with a fold-out bed inside so that guest could stay on it when they visited. We’ve had lots of guests sleep there over the years, and watched many TV shows & movies on the couch. A few years later I was lucky enough to get pregnant. I was exhausted in the early months, so I spent a lot of time napping, watching more TV, and eating meals on that couch.  I later nursed my 2 babies on that couch, read books to them & took family photos there. </p>
<p>Around that time, I became aware that toxic flame retardants were in so many things -- including children’s pajamas, toys, nursing pillows, and very likely in our beloved couch. </p>
<p>Since then, I’ve tried to purchase products that were not treated with flame retardants, but it’s not easy – I’ve had to go out of my way to find toys & nontoxic pajamas;  we’ve received gifts from well-meaning family and friends that I’ve had to throw away – not even donate, because I didn’t want to subject anyone else’s kids to these chemicals.</p>
<p>Coming to terms with the idea that these toxic chemicals may be leaching into my and my children’s bodies deeply frightens me. I think my kids are healthy, but who knows what is lurking under the surface?</p>
<p>I’m aware that I’m lucky – I have the information and resources to search out safer products, but not everyone has the time or energy to do this.</p>
<p>And as for our couch –It still makes me uneasy, but buying a new one hasn’t been in the cards for us.  We’ve had plenty of other expenses as parents – from diapers to daycare, dance classes to soccer leagues.</p>
<p>I hope to someday buy a new couch, and that when I do, that all of the couches for sale in Massachusetts will be free of toxic flame retardants -- safe for me, my growing children, and all of the families in our state.</p>
<p>I urge the House to do everything in its power to ban toxic flame retardants now.</p>FeaturedOur StoriesElizabeth Saunders2016-07-11T06:35:58-07:00 Families and firefighters call for ban on toxic flame retardants
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/07/-families-and-firefighters-call-for-ban-on-toxic-flame-retardants.html
June 28, 2016 BOSTON, Mass.—Families, firefighters and advocates came together at the State House on Tuesday to call on the House of Representatives to pass a bill to ban toxic flame retardants in children’s products and household furniture. The event...<p>June 28, 2016</p>
<p><strong><br /><br /> <a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d20193e2970c-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="PFF and AHT Lobby Day 6-28" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b8d20193e2970c image-full img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d20193e2970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="PFF and AHT Lobby Day 6-28" /></a>BOSTON, Mass.</strong>—Families, firefighters and advocates came together at the State House on Tuesday to call on the House of Representatives to pass a bill to ban toxic flame retardants in children’s products and household furniture. <strong>The event was organized b</strong>y the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In May, the Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously to pass S.2302 <em>An act to protect children and families from harmful flame retardants, </em>filed by Senator Cynthia Stone Creem (D-Newton), which bans eleven toxic flame retardants from children’s products and residential upholstered furniture sold or manufactured in the commonwealth. The bill is now pending in the House Ways and Means Committee, along with a very similar bill, H.4241, filed by Representative Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge).</p>
<p>"Firefighters have extremely high rates of cancer. Since flame retardants are linked to cancer and their value is doubtful, it’s time to get them out of our homes and businesses which will reduce our exposure during a fire,” said <strong>Jay Colbert, Secretary-Treasurer of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and 3rd District Vice President of the International Association of Fire Fighters</strong>. “This bill will help promote the health and safety of firefighters, our children and all citizens of Massachusetts."</p>
<p>Flame retardant chemicals have been linked to cancer, learning disabilities, thyroid disease, infertility and a host of other health problems.  They migrate out of products and into air and dust where they can easily be inhaled or ingested. Children and infants are among the most vulnerable to flame retardant exposure because they are undergoing critical periods of growth and development, and because they spend so much time on the floor where dust settles. Firefighters are exposed to more than their fair share when they enter buildings where flame retardant furniture is burning.</p>
<p><strong>Representative Decker</strong> commented, “It has become clear that flame retardants are not needed for fire safety but yet they are in our homes and our bodies. This bill will be a clear step forward for protecting our firefighters, who we count on to risk their lives on our behalf, and our children, who are most vulnerable. It is my strongest hope that we get this bill over the finish line and pass it this session.”</p>
<p>The bill echoes a growing national outcry over the use of flame retardants in consumer products. In 2012, the Chicago Tribune published a series of articles exposing the deceptive campaign by the tobacco and chemical industries to keep in place policies requiring the heavy use of flame retardants. The Tribune reported that through a blatant misrepresentation of facts, industry advocates misled the American public into believing that flame retardants were a life-saving technology. In reality, the heavy doses of flame retardants added to couches, mattresses, kid’s pajamas and other items have done more harm than good.</p>
<p>“Flame retardants were used for decades in ways that were ineffective at stopping fires and resulted in all of our bodies being contaminated,” commented <strong>Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts Director of Clean Water Action and coordinator of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow</strong>. “Today’s fire safety standards are more protective of public safety and can be achieved with or without the use of toxic flame retardants. This bill is not a choice between public safety and public health; rather it is a choice to achieve public safety in the way that provides the highest protection to our most vulnerable.”</p>
<p>Due to public pressure some major retailers and manufacturers, such as Ashley Furniture, Macy’s and Crate and Barrel, have voluntarily phase out flame retardants from their products, but the transition has been slow, and it is often hard for shoppers to know which products are safe and which are not.</p>
<p>“As parents, we count on our homes to be safe spaces where our children are protected from the outside world, so it’s frustrating and scary that they are invaded by toxic chemicals, like flame retardants, even in products that are designed for children,” said <strong>Erica Streit-Kaplan of Newton</strong>. “As a mom I should not have to spend my limited time and resource researching whether my furniture is loaded with toxic flame retardants, it just should be made in the safest way possible, and Massachusetts legislators should require that.”</p>
<p>In 2013, California-based fire safety standards that impact furniture sold across the country were updated to reflect modern understandings of fire safety.  The new standards can be met with or without flame retardants.</p>
<p>“We now know that flame retardants cause harm to firefighters and families and they are not needed in children’s products or household furniture, yet they are still in many products sold in stores every day,” said <strong>Tolle Graham, Labor and Environment Coordinator at Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health</strong>. “Massachusetts legislators should act now to protect these heroic workers and all of our families who are experiencing unnecessary toxic exposures and suffering from illnesses as a result.”</p>
<p>In order to become law, S.2303 must also be passed by the House of Representatives, before it adjourns on July 31st. If the bill becomes law, Massachusetts will join 13 other states, including Maine, Vermont, Minnesota and Washington, in restricting the use of one or more flame retardants. </p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2016-07-05T06:55:09-07:00Pick up the Phone for Kids and Firefighters
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/06/pick-up-the-phone-for-kids-and-firefighters.html
Take action from your desk or your couch: join Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow for a call-in day to protect children and firefighters from toxic flame retardants. What: On June 15th, call your State Representative and ask them to do...<p><strong> <a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb09113d44970d-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="FR campaign" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01bb09113d44970d img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb09113d44970d-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="FR campaign" /></a>Take action</strong> <strong>from your desk or your couch:</strong> join Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow for a call-in day to protect children and firefighters from toxic flame retardants. </p>
<p><strong>What: On June 15th</strong>, call your State Representative and ask them to do all that they can to pass <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/05/flame-retardants.html">S.2302 and H.4241</a> before July 31st. <br /><br /><strong>Why:</strong> Flame retardants chemicals in our homes have been linked to cancer, learning and developmental disabilities in children and many more health issues. The Massachusetts Senate has passed a bill to ban toxic flame retardants in children’s products and household furniture and the House has until this July 31st to do the same. Our strategy is clear: light a fire under the House of Representatives.</p>
<p><strong>3 Easy Steps to Contacting your State Representative</strong><br /><br />1)  Call your Rep. at 617-722-2000 (general State House phone number)<br /><br />2) Urge them to work to pass flame retardants legislation (call script below)<br /><br />3) Let us know when you call: send a message to <a href="mailto:info@healthytomorrow.org?subject=I%20called%20my%20Rep%20to%20protect%20Kids%20and%20Firefighters">AHT</a>. </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><u><strong>Sample Script:</strong></u></span><br />Hello (insert Rep.’s name) my name is _____________ , and as a resident of your district, I’m asking you to work to pass legislation that would ban harmful flame retardants from kid’s products and household furniture in Massachusetts. Flame retardants are bad for my/my family’s health and current fire safety standards in Massachusetts can be met without them. Thank you for putting the health of families and firefighters first!</p>
<p>If you don’t know who your Representative is you can look them up <a href="http://wheredoivotema.com/">here</a>.</p>
<p>Thank you for taking action!</p>FeaturedToxics & Our HealthElizabeth Saunders2016-06-14T12:55:41-07:00June 28th: Lobby Day to protect our families and firefighters
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/06/june-28th-lobby-day-to-protect-our-families-and-firefighters-.html
Mark your calendars - Join the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts at the Boston State House as we directly urge our state Representatives to ban toxic flame retardants from products in our homes!...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb09109faa970d-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="AHT webpost photo with qoute" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01bb09109faa970d img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb09109faa970d-500wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="AHT webpost photo with qoute" /></a><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1f6f45a970c-pi" style="float: right;"></a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1556199084683803" target="_blank">Mark your calendars</a> - Join the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts at the Boston State House as we directly <strong>urge our state Representatives to ban toxic flame retardants from products in our homes!</strong></p>
<p><strong>When:</strong> June 28<sup>th</sup>10:30AM – 1:00PM</p>
<p><strong>Where:</strong> State House: 24 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02133, Room 222</p>
<p><strong>Why:</strong> The house has until this <strong>July 31<sup>st</sup> </strong>to pass S.2302 and H.4241 which will ban 11 toxic flame retardants from kid’s products and residential furniture! Our strategy is clear: light a (virtual) fire under the House of Representatives.</p>
<p><strong>RSVP:</strong> <a href="http://bit.ly/FRLobbyDayRSVP" target="_blank">bit.ly/FRLobbyDayRSVP</a></p>
<p>Flame retardants chemicals in our homes have been linked to cancer, learning and developmental disabilities in children and many more health issues. Thanks to your help, these bills that would protect us have passed the Senate. But we still have work to do; let’s <strong>use this lobby day to</strong> <strong>get the House to finish the job</strong>. Help protect our children and firefighters’ from toxic flame retardants and get face time with YOUR rep to tell them that you don’t want flame retardants in your home!</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2016-06-10T06:54:21-07:00Toxic Substances Control Act revised by Congress
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/06/tsca.html
On May 24th the US House of Representatives passed a final bill to amending the nation's chemical safety laws and on June 7th the Senate followed suit. After years of debate and negotiations to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act...<p><img alt="Toxic Substances Control act revised by Congress" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1f5353d970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1f5353d970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Toxic Substances Control act revised by Congress" />On May 24th the US House of Representatives passed a final bill to amending the nation's chemical safety laws and on June 7th the Senate followed suit. After <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/04/tsca.html">years of debate and negotiations to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)</a>, a bill is on its way to the President. He is expected to sign it into law.</p>
<p><strong>Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow released the following statement:</strong></p>
<p>The bill, though much improved from previous drafts, is problematic in many ways. Though many states have led the way on chemical safety, it ultimately blocks proactive action by state regulators to safeguard residents from toxic chemicals early in the Environmental Protection Agency's safety assessment process. Many states have built protective precedents which mobilize broad movement at the national level. Unfortunately, this bill leaves less room for states to continue to innovate. The bill also removes key tools for EPA to shield Americans from imported products containing hazardous chemical ingredients. Furthermore, it only requires EPA to initiate 10 Risk Evaluations this year and be working on 20 at a time as of the end of 2018; with over 60,000 chemicals in commerce that’s not a fast timeline.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"The bill passed by the Senate addresses some core weaknesses of our outdated chemical safety laws - but it further restricts states, narrowing their ability to protect people from chemical health threats," said Cindy Luppi of Clean Water Action, who represented Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow in national campaign discussions throughout the process. "We're disappointed -- this legislation creates regulatory holes that may leave state residents unprotected while the EPA conducts studies on a potentially hazardous chemical."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The bill does make some vital improvements. Provisions that trigger earlier review of the most hazardous chemicals (PBTs, or persistent, bio-accumulative toxins) are welcome, as is the explicit consideration of the needs of populations most vulnerable to toxic chemical exposure. The Senate bill also "grandfathers" all important state laws passed before 2003 such as California's Proposition 65 and the Massachusetts Toxic Use Reduction Act. For laws passed between 2004 and 2016, regulations finalized by April 22nd, 2016 are grandfathered in as well. In addition, it provides important windows of opportunity for state action on chemicals like toxic flame retardants, allowing pending bills in Massachusetts and other states to move forward without swift preemption.</p>
<p>Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow thanks all who successfully negotiated for these improvements, but cannot support the final bill.</p>
<p>For more details about the bill and most current information visit <a href="http://saferchemicals.org/legislative-update/" target="_blank">Safer Chemicals Healthy Families</a>.</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2016-06-09T13:47:11-07:00MA S.2293 flame retardant bill passes the senate!
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/05/ma-s2293-flame-retardant-bill-passes-the-senate-.html
Massachusetts Senate passes bill to protect children, families, firefighters from toxic flame retardants Chemicals linked to cancer, infertility, thyroid problems regularly used in couches, nursing pillows, highchairs, other children’s products Contact: Elizabeth Saunders, Clean Water Action 617-869-3937, esaunders@cleanwater.org Melissa Hurley,...<h2><strong><br />Massachusetts Senate passes bill to protect children, families, firefighters from toxic flame retardants</strong></h2>
<p><strong><br /><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b7c85f2582970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="S.2293 Press Release" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b7c85f2582970b img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b7c85f2582970b-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="S.2293 Press Release" /></a>Chemicals linked to cancer, infertility, thyroid problems regularly used in couches, nursing pillows, highchairs, other children’s products </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Contact:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Elizabeth Saunders, Clean Water Action</strong></p>
<p><strong>617-869-3937, esaunders@cleanwater.org</strong></p>
<p><strong>Melissa Hurley, Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts</strong></p>
<p><strong>781-799-4406, melissa@pffm.org</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>BOSTON, Mass.—</strong><strong>The Massachusetts Senate voted favorably today to ban eleven toxic flame retardants from children’s products and upholstered furniture sold or manufactured in the commonwealth. The vote</strong> was hailed by firefighters, legislators and public heath advocates as a significant victory for public health and the environment who also called on the House to pass the bill swiftly.</p>
<p>"The value of flame retardants is certainly doubtful and given the extremely high cancer rates of firefighters the more toxic chemicals we can get out of our environment the less exposure we will have,” said <strong>Ed Kelly, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts</strong>. “This bill will ensure the health and safety not only of firefighters, but our children and all citizens of Massachusetts."</p>
<p>S.2293, <em>A</em><em>n Act to protect children and families from harmful flame retardants</em> was filed by <strong>Senator Cynthia Creem (D-Newton)</strong> along with 26 co-sponsors. A similar bill (H.2119) was filed by Representative Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge) in the House.  Creem commented, “I am proud of the Senate’s action today to ban the sale of home furnishings and children’s products that  unnecessarily contain toxic flame retardants, and I urge my colleagues in the House to follow suit. The more we learn about the health risks to our children, to our firefighters, and to the environment generally, the harder we must work to keep them out of our homes.“</p>
<p>The bill echoes a growing national outcry over the use of <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/05/flame-retardants.html">flame retardants</a> in consumer products. In 2012, the Chicago Tribune published a series of articles exposing the deceptive campaign by the tobacco and chemical industries to keep in place policies requiring the heavy use of flame retardants. The Tribune reported that through a blatant misrepresentation of facts, industry advocates misled the American public into believing that flame retardants were a life-saving technology. In reality, the heavy doses of flame retardants added to couches, mattresses, kid’s pajamas and other items have done more harm than good.</p>
<p>“Flame retardants were used for decades in ways that were ineffective at stopping fires and resulted in all of our bodies being contaminated,” commented <strong>Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts Director of Clean Water Action and coordinator of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow</strong>. “Today’s fire safety standards are more protective of public safety and can be achieved with or without the use of toxic flame retardants. This bill is not a choice between public safety and public health; rather it is a choice to achieve public safety in the way that provides the highest protection to our most vulnerable.”</p>
<p>Flame retardant chemicals have been linked to cancer, learning disabilities, thyroid disease, infertility and a host of other health problems.  They migrate out of products and into air and dust where they can easily be inhaled or ingested. Children and infants are among the most vulnerable to flame retardant exposure because they are undergoing critical periods of growth and development, and because they spend so much time on the floor where dust settles. Firefighters are exposed to more than their fair share when they enter buildings where flame retardant furniture is burning.</p>
<p>"We thank Massachusetts Senators for passing this bill to protect the health of the citizens of Massachusetts, to defend the health of our brave firefighters, and to give our children and future generations the benefit of living a safer, healthier, and fuller life," said <strong>Margo Simon Golden, President, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition. </strong>“The House should follow suit soon so that we can stop the needless exposure to Massachusetts families and firefighters.”</p>
<p>"The Lung Association applauds the Senate for taking action on the issue of hazardous and harmful flame retardants,” added<strong> Jeff Seyler, President & CEO of the American Lung Association of the Northeast</strong>.  “Firefighters often face elevated risk of serious lung diseases and this bill is poised to make their jobs safer, along with the general public, by phasing out these chemicals."</p>
<p>In order to become law, S.2293 must also be passed by the House of Representatives, which has until July 31<sup>st</sup> to act. If the bill becomes law, Massachusetts will join 13 other states, including Maine, Vermont, Minnesota and Washington, in restricting the use of one or more flame retardants.  Due to public pressure some major retailers and manufacturers, such as Ashley Furniture, Macy’s and Crate and Barrel, have voluntarily phase out flame retardants from their products, but the transition has been slow, and it is often hard for shoppers to know which products are safe and which are not.</p>
<p>###</p>FeaturedToxics & Our HealthElizabeth Saunders2016-05-19T12:11:46-07:00Two Out of Three Food Cans Tested Have Toxic BPA in the Linings, New Report Says
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/03/bpa-study.html
HADLEY, MA- A new report released today by the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and several national organizations that tested nearly 200 food can linings for the toxic chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA) found that two out of three cans tested...<p class="p3"><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb08d0872d970d-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="7 out of 10 cans contain BPA" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01bb08d0872d970d img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb08d0872d970d-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="7 out of 10 cans contain BPA" /></a></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>HADLEY, MA-</strong> A new report released today by the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and several national organizations that tested nearly 200 food can linings for the toxic chemical, Bisphenol A (BPA) found that two out of three cans tested have the chemical in the lining. BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that negatively impacts our hormonal systems. Evidence suggests it may contribute to a host of harmful health effects including breast and prostate cancer, infertility, type-2 diabetes, obesity, asthma and attention deficit disorder. Other studies have demonstrated the capacity of BPA to migrate into food and then into people, raising concerns about exposures to low, but biologically relevant levels of BPA. Local results were startling: <strong>five out of six cans tested from the Walmart in Hadley were found to contain BPA.</strong></p>
<p class="p3">For the first time ever, this report also identified the replacement materials for BPA in can linings, and to what extent - if any - their safety has been studied. </p>
<p class="p3"><em>Buyer Beware: Toxic BPA & Regrettable Substitutes in the Linings of Canned Food </em>(#BPA #ToxicFoodCans) was conceived and authored by the <a href="http://www.breastcancerfund.org/"><span class="s1">Breast Cancer Fund</span></a>; <a href="http://ej4all.org/campaigns-and-activities/campaign-for-healthier-solutions/"><span class="s1">Campaign for Healthier Solutions</span></a>; <a href="http://www.cleanproduction.org/"><span class="s1">Clean Production Action</span></a>; <a href="http://www.ecocenter.org/"><span class="s1">Ecology Center</span></a>; <a href="http://environmentaldefence.ca/"><span class="s1">Environmental Defence</span></a> (Canada); and <a href="http://saferchemicals.org/mind-the-store/"><span class="s1">Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families’ Mind the Store campaign</span></a>. </p>
<p class="p3">The report identified and analyzed the interior linings and lids of canned foods containing vegetables, fruits, soups, broth, gravy, milks and beans. </p>
<p class="p3"><a href="http://www.toxicfoodcans.org"><span class="s1">Link to the full report</span></a></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="asset asset-generic at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1b663e4970c img-responsive"><a href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/files/bpa-infographic-final-1-1.pdf">Link to the full infographic on the right</a></span></p>
<p class="p3"><strong>Quotes from Massachusetts:</strong></p>
<p class="p3">“As a working mother of a four-year-old who cares about providing my daughter with healthy, nutritious food, I shouldn’t have to worry about what toxins might be lurking in the packaging my food arrives in. I don’t know any working mom that has the time to research what carcinogens or endocrine disrupters like BPA are currently in all the products we buy. Walmart should be vigilant about vetting the products on their shelves to protect us, their customers, and our families, their future customers.” <strong>Naomi Pusch, Easthampton mother of one</strong></p>
<p class="p2">“Massachusetts residents have the right to expect that the food we buy is safe and that includes the packaging. That is why we are calling upon Walmart and other major retailers to put our health first and find safer alternatives for BPA in the linings of food cans.” –<strong>Sara Moffett, spokesperson for Clean Water Action and the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, and Amherst mother of one </strong></p>
<p class="p3">"I think it’s unfortunate that over half of the cans tested still contain BPA in the linings. As a student on a tight budget, I shop at discount stores like Walmart regularly as do many other people looking for cheaper food options. Therefore, it is critical that companies like Walmart stop contributing to the present food injustices that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations in low income communities." –<strong>Keely Griffin, student at Umass Amherst</strong></p>
<p class="p2"><strong>The findings were significant: </strong></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">71 percent of sample Del Monte cans (10 of 14) tested positive for BPA-based epoxy resins.</li>
</ul>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">50 percent of sampled General Mills cans (six of 12, including Progresso) tested positive for BPA.</li>
</ul>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">100 percent of Campbell’s products sampled (15 of 15) contained BPA-based epoxy, while the company says they are making significant progress in its transition away from BPA.</li>
</ul>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">62 percent of all private-label, or generic food cans (71 out of 114) from retailers analyzed in the study tested positive for BPA-based epoxy resins, including Walmart, Dollar General, Dollar Tree (including Family Dollar), Target, and Trader Joe’s.</li>
</ul>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">BPA was found in private-label cans sold at both Target and Walmart, the largest grocery retailer in the United States. In their private label products, 100 percent of Target cans sampled (five out of five) and 88 percent of Walmart cans sampled (seven out of eight) tested positive for BPA-based epoxy resins.</li>
</ul>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">Discount retailers (“dollar stores”) were among the laggards in transitioning away from BPA in can linings. Testing revealed that 83 percent of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar private-label cans (five out of six) and 64 percent of Dollar General private-label cans (nine out of 14) were coated with BPA-based epoxy resins. This is especially a problem because discount retailers are often the major retail outlet in low-income communities—which already face higher levels of BPA exposure.</li>
</ul>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">Amy’s Kitchen, Annie’s Homegrown (recently acquired by General Mills), Hain Celestial Group, and ConAgra have fully transitioned away from BPA and have disclosed the BPA alternatives they’re using. Eden Foods reported eliminating the use of BPA-based epoxy liners in 95 percent of its canned foods and stated that it is actively looking for alternatives.</li>
</ul>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">Whole Foods has clearly adopted the strongest policy of the retailers surveyed in the report. Whole Foods reports that store brand buyers are not currently accepting any new canned items with BPA in the lining material.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p2"><strong>What about the alternatives?</strong></p>
<p class="p3">The report found that retailers and national brands that are phasing out BPA could be replacing it with equally toxic substitutes. Identifying the safety of BPA alternatives is challenging, given the insufficient FDA review and approval of packaging additives and highly protected trade secrets in this product sector. However, the report found that:</p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">Aside from BPA, four major coating types were identified among the 192 cans tested including: acrylic resins (including almost all oleoresin, polyester resins, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) copolymers. There were multiple formulations of these compounds found, but no way to determine the specific chemicals used or how they are produced. </li>
</ul>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">18 percent of retailers’ private-label foods and 36 percent of national brands were lined with a PVC-based copolymer that is made from highly hazardous chemicals including vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen. PVC is considered a regrettable substitute. </li>
</ul>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">33 percent of retailers’ private-label foods and 51 percent of national brands were lined with acrylic based polymers. Of the cans tested, 39 percent had a polystyrene-acrylic combination, of concern because styrene is considered a possible carcinogen.<span class="Apple-converted-space">   </span></li>
<li class="li3">Much more research is needed to determine the safety of these compounds, and what may be migrating from the “alternative” can linings into food.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p3"><strong>The report includes numerous recommendations including: </strong></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">National brands, grocery stores, big box retailers and dollar stores should eliminate and safely substitute BPA from all food packaging and label all chemicals used in can liners.</li>
</ul>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">In conjunction with the report release, advocates have launched a national online campaign calling on Kroger and Campbell’s to eliminate and safely substitute <a href="http://www.toxicfoodcans.org"><span class="s1">BPA</span></a>. Congress should adopt comprehensive legislation to reform the FDA’s fatally flawed system for reviewing and approving the safety of packaging material.</li>
</ul>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">Consumers should choose fresh or frozen foods, or only purchase canned food from manufacturers and retailers that fully disclose the identity and safety of their can linings. Look for food packaged in other materials such as glass and Tetra Pak containers.</li>
</ul>FeaturedToxics & Our HealthElizabeth Saunders2016-03-30T08:40:17-07:00Boston changes fire code to allow furniture free of flame retardants in public spaces
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/03/boston-changes-fire-code-to-allow-furniture-free-of-flame-retardants-in-public-spaces.html
New bill protects public from exposure to toxic chemicals, reflecting growing demand nationwide for flame retardant-free furniture. BOSTON, Mass. (Wednesday, March 23, 2016)—Boston City Councilors passed a bill today to amend the city’s Fire Prevention Code, allowing hospitals, schools, colleges,...<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>New bill protects public from exposure to toxic chemicals, reflecting growing demand nationwide for flame retardant-free furniture.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em> <br /></em></strong></p>
<p><strong> <a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb08cd2b13970d-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="IMAG2918" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01bb08cd2b13970d img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb08cd2b13970d-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="IMAG2918" /></a>BOSTON, Mass.</strong> (<strong>Wednesday, March 23, 2016)</strong>—Boston City Councilors <span class="asset asset-generic at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01bb08cd4305970d img-responsive"><a href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/files/ordinance---furniture-flammability-new-draft-clean-2.pdf" target="_blank">passed a bill</a></span> today to amend the city’s Fire Prevention Code, allowing hospitals, schools, colleges, and other public buildings with sprinkler systems to use furniture free of toxic flame retardant chemicals.</p>
<p>“This bill protects people from needless exposure to harmful flame retardants, creating a safer and healthier environment for all those who live, work, serve, and learn in our great city,” says <strong>Josh Zakim, City Councilor representing district 8, who sponsored the bill.</strong> The bill also brings Boston in line with the Massachusetts Fire Code’s regulation for upholstered furniture, as well as other major cities across the country that have taken steps to reduce the use of these toxic chemicals.</p>
<p>Until today, Boston was the only major city in the U.S. that enforced a decades-old flammability standard, called TB 133, with no exceptions for buildings equipped with automatic sprinklers. The vast majority of manufacturers can only meet TB 133 by adding large amounts of flame retardant chemicals to furniture. In contrast, other places in the country, including the rest of Massachusetts, follow a newer flammability standard that does not necessitate the use of flame retardants in furniture. In addition, there are other non-toxic ways to achieve fire safety, such as the use of sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, and smoking bans.</p>
<p><span class="asset asset-generic at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b7c828a949970b img-responsive"><a href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/files/ordinance---furniture-flammability-new-draft-clean-2-1.pdf" target="_blank">The bill</a></span>, passed by a unanimous vote and awaiting signature by Mayor Marty Walsh, received widespread support from healthcare leaders, advocates, firefighters, students, and other groups concerned about the health effects associated with exposure to these chemicals. “I applaud Boston City Councilors for considering public health as well as public safety,” says<strong> Kathryn Rodgers, a staff scientist at Silent Spring Institute</strong>. “Our research has shown that flame retardant chemicals migrate out of furniture into the air and dust, and ultimately people’s bodies, putting people’s health at risk.” Studies have linked exposure to flame retardants with cancer, thyroid disruption, low birth weight, lowered IQ, fertility problems, and many other health issues.</p>
<p>The bill’s passing is also welcome news for Boston Fire Fighters Local 718, who along with firefighters across the state and throughout the nation have been advocating for less toxic fire safety methods. Firefighters are especially vulnerable to flame retardants since large amounts of the chemicals are released into the air during a fire. Cancer rates among firefighters in Boston are significantly higher than they are among the city’s other residents.</p>
<p>“This is an important step toward protecting people from exposure to dangerous chemicals that we know are associated with increased cancer risk,” says <strong>Margo Simon Golden, board president of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition</strong>, which focuses on breast cancer prevention.</p>
<p>The bill now gives schools, colleges, hospitals and other large institutions the green light to purchase flame retardant-free furniture. <strong>John Messervy, </strong><strong>corporate director of design and construction at Partners HealthCare, </strong>praised the City Council for its decision. “These fire retardants are not safe and do not belong in a healthcare environment,” says Messervy. Also, as the furniture industry has begun to move away from manufacturing furniture treated with chemicals, furniture containing flame retardants comes at a premium. “For Partners Healthcare, that premium amounts to millions of dollars in added costs per year,” he says.</p>
<p>“The city made the right choice today in adopting a new flammability standard,” says <strong>Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts director of Clean Water Action </strong>and coordinator of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow. “The passage of this important bill will protect millions of people from these dangerous chemicals.”</p>
<p>Efforts to phase out flame retardants continue at the state level. In Massachusetts, two bills—which were reported favorably out of the Committee on Public Health and the Committee on Public Safety last week—would require manufacturers and retailers to phase out the use of certain flame retardants in children’s products and residential upholstered furniture. “Both bills will need continued support through the legislative process in order to become law, so we urge the Massachusetts legislature to follow the lead of the city of Boston in being proactive about reducing flame retardant exposures in our everyday lives,” says Saunders.</p>
<p><em>Read a few statements of support for this bill <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/03/statements-of-support-for-boston-fire-code.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">###</p>
<p><em> </em></p>
<p><em><strong>Silent Spring Institute</strong></em><em> is the leading scientific research organization specifically dedicated to understanding the link between chemicals in our everyday environments and human health, with a focus on cancer prevention. For more information, visit </em><a href="http://www.silentspring.org"><em>www.silentspring.org</em></a><em>. </em></p>
<p><em><strong>Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow</strong></em><em> is a coalition of over 100 public health, labor, environmental, faith based, civic, health care, parent and other organizations in Massachusetts working to prevent harm to human health and the environment from toxic chemicals. </em><a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org"><em>www.healthytomorrow.org</em></a></p>
<p><strong><em>Clean Water Action</em></strong><em> was founded during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, and since then, it has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking, and people power to the table. </em><a href="http://www.cleanwateraction.org"><em>www.cleanwateraction.org</em></a></p>FeaturedToxics & Our HealthElizabeth Saunders2016-03-23T11:14:13-07:00Two flame retardant bills move forward
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/03/two-flame-retardant-bills-move-forward.html
This week, two bills that would protect our children, families, and firefighters from harmful flame retardants moved one step closer to becoming Massachusetts laws. The Children and Firefighters Protection Act (H.2119) and An Act to protect children and families from...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1b035d2970c-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1968f0c970c-800wi" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1b035d2970c img-responsive" height="201" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1b035d2970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1968f0c970c-800wi" width="201" /></a>This week, two bills that would protect our children, families, and firefighters from harmful flame retardants moved one step<br />closer to becoming Massachusetts laws. <br /> <br /><a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/04/flame-retardants.html" target="_blank">The Children and Firefighters Protection Act (H.2119)</a> and <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/04/flame-retardants.html" target="_blank">An Act to protect children and families from harmful flame retardants (S.1132)</a> were reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee and the Joint Committee on Public Health, respectively.</p>
<p> <br />There are a <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/03/5-reasons-why-you-should-care-about-flame-retardants.html" target="_blank">multitude of reasons</a> to eradicate flame retardants from our everyday lives, and protect the well-being of firefighters who put their lives on the line for us every day. This is an important step towards significant change. </p>
<br />The bills were sponsored by Representative Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge) and Senator Cynthia Stone Creem (D-Newton); each bill will now be assigned to a financial or procedural committee in the House or Senate.
<p>These bills will require manufacturers and retailers to phase out the use of certain flame retardants in children’s products and residential upholstered furniture. The bills will also give the Department of Environmental Protection the authority to restrict additional flame retardant chemicals if they are linked to serious health problems and Massachusetts residents are in danger of being exposed. <br /> <br />March 16th was the deadline for committees to take action on bills so these are not the only bills endorsed by the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow that we received news on in the past few weeks. <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/03/news-update-chemical-disclosure-bill-voted-in-favor.html" target="_blank">Last week</a> chemical disclosure and chemical phase out bills were given a favorable report by the Environment Committee. Other bills were either “sent to a study” (which most likely is a dead end for this session) or had their deadlines extended so that committees could continue their consideration. For a full roundup visit our <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/07/legislative-priorities.html" target="_blank">state legislative priorities page</a>.</p>
<p> </p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2016-03-17T13:09:08-07:005 Reasons why you should care about flame retardants
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/03/5-reasons-why-you-should-care-about-flame-retardants.html
We have an opportunity this year to fight against an invisible health threat that pervades our environment, our homes, and our bodies: flame retardant chemicals! For years, these toxins have been added to consumer items like upholstered furniture and children's...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b7c8242740970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="6a011168f025e2970c01901ec678b6970b-800wi" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b7c8242740970b img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b7c8242740970b-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="6a011168f025e2970c01901ec678b6970b-800wi" /></a>We have an opportunity this year to fight against <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/03/news-update-chemical-disclosure-bill-voted-in-favor.html" target="_blank" title="This external link will open in a new window">an invisible health threat</a> that pervades our environment, our homes, and our bodies: flame retardant chemicals! For years, these toxins have been added to consumer items like upholstered furniture and children's products, based largely on misguided policy decisions from the 1970s. We now know that flame retardants are a threat to our health and do not provide a meaningful increase to fire safety. It is time for them to go!<br /><br />Here are the 5 top reasons why flame retardants should be a thing of the past:</p>
<p>1) <strong>Flame retardants just don't stay put...</strong><br />They migrate easily out of the products we use every day and into our homes and bodies, where they build up and persist for years!</p>
<p><br />2) <strong>Health impacts can be dangerous...</strong><br />Far from saving lives, these toxic chemicals have been linked to cancer, neurological disorders, reproductive issues and a host of other significant health problems.</p>
<p><br />3) <strong>Our most vulnerable are most at risk...</strong></p>
<p>Since flame-retardant chemicals bio accumulate (build up through the food chain), they are found in breast milk and easily enter the blood stream of infants during their most important phases of physical and mental development.</p>
<p><br />4) <strong>Firefighters are fighting more than just fires...</strong></p>
<p>Firefighters are exposed to a toxic soup of flame retardants and other chemicals when they enter burning buildings. A study by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found higher rates of cancer in 30,000 U.S. firefighters than the general population.</p>
<p><br />5) <strong>We can have fire safety without flame retardants...</strong></p>
<div>There are safe, non-toxic methods of making furniture that use less flammable materials and construction. In addition sprinkler systems and smoke alarms can make more of a difference than how furniture is made in preventing fire deaths. </div>
<p>13 states across the country have already passed laws banning one or more flame retardants for use in kid’s products and/or residential furniture. <strong>NOW is the time for Massachusetts to join their ranks and pass common sense policies that will protect our families and firefighters from these unseen toxins!</strong></p>
<p>Click <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/08/flame-retardants.html" target="_blank">here</a> to learn more about flame retardants, for more on current bills read more <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/04/flame-retardants.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2016-03-14T09:53:32-07:00News: State Toxic Bills Advance Through the House
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/03/news-update-chemical-disclosure-bill-voted-in-favor.html
Great News! Last week, two of the Massachusetts bills endorsed by the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow took a major step forward in the process of becoming law! H.697, an Act Relative to the Disclosure of Toxic Chemicals in Children's...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/03/news-update-chemical-disclosure-bill-voted-in-favor.html" style="float: right;" target="_blank"><img alt="MAstate_house" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1ab3456970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1ab3456970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="MAstate_house" /></a>Great News! Last week, two of the <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/07/legislative-priorities.html" target="_blank">Massachusetts bills endorsed</a> by the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow took a major step forward in the process of becoming law!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/04/disclosure-bill.html" target="_blank">H.697, an Act Relative to the Disclosure of Toxic Chemicals in Children's Products</a>, was reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture and now moves on to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing!</p>
<p>In the struggle to protect our health from exposure to dangerous toxins, the lack of information on the products we use can be quite frustrating. This bill would allow consumers to make more informed decisions. It will require that the state create a list of hazardous chemicals in consumer products and require that manufacturers of children's and formulated products report to the state when they use the ingredients on that list.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/07/healthy-families-bill.html" target="_blank">H.696, an Act for Healthy Families and Businesses</a>, was also reported favorably out of the Environment Committee. This bill would require companies to replace toxic chemicals in their products with safer alternatives wherever feasible.</p>
<p>Thank you to Committee Chairs Senator Anne Gobi and Representative Paul Schmid, for taking steps to protect our health from toxins!</p>
<p>Stay tuned for how you can help these and other bills to protect our health from toxics become law in Massachusetts.</p>FeaturedToxics & Our HealthElizabeth Saunders2016-03-08T12:59:31-08:00Take action: Tell your state legislators to phase-out flame retardants!
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/02/take-action-tell-your-state-legislators-to-phase-out-flame-retardants.html
Toxic flame retardants are linked to cancer, nervous system damage, decreased fertility and other health problems, and they are found everywhere. They are in items such as furniture (including baby furniture), children’s products like toys or car seats, carpet pads,...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb08be18b7970d-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Cb1RS3pW8AEFo1i" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01bb08be18b7970d img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb08be18b7970d-250wi" style="width: 250px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Cb1RS3pW8AEFo1i" /></a>Toxic flame retardants are linked to cancer, nervous system damage, decreased fertility and other health problems, and they are found everywhere. They are in items such as furniture (including baby furniture), children’s products like toys or car seats, carpet pads, electronic equipment and many more common household products. Worse, these flame retardants are ineffective at stopping fires! We are affected by flame retardants every day, have been from the time we were born, and will continue to be unless we take action.</p>
<p>The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow is supporting two bills in the Massachusetts state legislature that would ban the sale of children’s products and household furniture containing toxic flame retardants.  Legislators need to hear from you. <a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2155/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=19153">Take action now</a> and let your state legislators know that you want Massachusetts to join the other states that have already banned toxic flame retardants and have taken initiative to protect our most vulnerable.</p>
<p>As scientific studies provide mounting evidence of health risks associated with toxic flame retardant chemicals, increasing public concern has pushed manufacturers and retailers to take steps on their own to eliminate these toxins from their products. Some, such as Ashley Furniture, Crate and Barrel and Macy's, are already phasing flame retardants out of their products, and we need a law to ensure that all Massachusetts children are protected, not just those whose families shop at certain stores.</p>
<p><strong>The bills:</strong></p>
<p>S.1132 - An Act to protect children and families from harmful flame retardants (sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem) and H.2119 - The Children and Firefighters Protection Act (sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Decker) will both ban the sale of certain flame retardants, such as PBDEs and Clorinated Tris, in children’s products and household furniture for sale in Massachusetts.  Learn more about these bills <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/04/flame-retardants.html">here</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Massachusetts is not alone!</strong><br /> Thirteen states have banned PBDE and/or Chlorinated Tris chemicals for use in children’s products and/or residential furniture. PBDEs, are so widely regarded as toxic that they have been banned in 172 countries.</p>
<p>Please take action <a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2155/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=19153">here</a> and write to your legislators!</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2016-02-23T09:31:00-08:00Stand up for us, not the chemical industry
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2016/02/stand-up-for-us-not-the-chemical-industry-marley-kimelman.html
It was an unseasonably warm November day when I sat down in my political ecology class at Northeastern University. My professor, Danny Faber, an environmental justice champion in the Boston area, was showing us a film called “Toxic Hot Seat.”...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d19a5dce970c-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Marley testifying" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b8d19a5dce970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d19a5dce970c-320wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Marley testifying" /></a>It was an unseasonably warm November day when I sat down in my political ecology class at Northeastern University. My professor, Danny Faber, an environmental justice champion in the Boston area, was showing us a film called “Toxic Hot Seat.” The topic seemed mundane: flame-retardants. But after sitting through the compelling and borderline shocking documentary, I was outraged. I had just watched a step-by-step breakdown about how flame-retardants, chemicals that are supposed to protect us from essentially bursting into flames, were nothing more than a tool in an industry ploy buried in a maze of misinformation. I am living in buildings and on furniture that are covered in toxic chemicals, and I didn’t even know about it. In addition, flame-retardants are being found all over the earth and are even accumulating in breast milk. I learned that firefighters are dying at incredibly high rates due to cancer and other diseases. Yet, similar to most situations like this, big industry was winning. They were denying the science, and putting profits over people’s health. The difference in this case was there was an actual tangible opportunity to make a difference.</p>
<p>Professor Faber told us that there was a public hearing and an opportunity to testify on a <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/11/boston.html">flame-retardants bill</a> that would update The City of Boston's fire code for public spaces. Under the current fire code, theaters, universities, office buildings and hospitals, for example can only meet the requirements by using flame retardant chemicals in furniture. At first I had no idea what I would say, or how I could possibly sound coherent in front of city councilors, firefighters, and potentially even industry executives. But I decided that I would give it a shot and maybe a Boston student who showed he actually cared about something political would help point to how clear the decision to update the fire code to eliminate flame-retardants should be. <br /> <br />The day came and a group of five of us had decided we were going to testify together, one after another. As we prepared outside the council chamber we could hear each person as they stood up to provide their reasoning for why they wanted flame-retardants out of furniture in the city’s “assembly spaces”. Mothers, professors, scientists, furniture manufactures, health care executives, and community leaders all stood up for what was right. Then it was our turn. As I got up to close our group testimony, I made sure I hammered home the point that all of the people who testified and spoke before the councilors that day were begging them to do their job and protect our health, and it was up to them, as civil servants, to stand up for all of us and not the chemical industry. The feeling of actually taking action instead of just learning and discussing a problem was rewarding. In fact it was addicting. That feeling propelled me to apply and accept an internship with Clean Water Action this January to continue working on this campaign. So far it looks like I will have the platform to continue to speak up and work for meaningful reform, and hopefully help end the use of flame-retardants once and for all in Boston.</p>
<p>Written by : Marley Kimelman</p>FeaturedOur StoriesElizabeth Saunders2016-02-02T12:35:23-08:00Boston holds hearing on flame retardants in public spaces
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/11/boston.html
At City Council hearing, Boston considers updating its Fire Prevention Code to better protect health and safety. BOSTON, Mass. (November 5, 2015)—During a hearing held by the Boston City Council’s Committee on Public Safety, health care leaders, firefighters, moms, scientists,...<p style="text-align: center;"> <strong>At City Council hearing, Boston considers updating its Fire Prevention Code to better protect health and safety.</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong> <a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb088d848f970d-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="119hearing" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01bb088d848f970d img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb088d848f970d-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="119hearing" /></a>BOSTON, Mass.</strong> (<strong>November 5, 2015)</strong>—During a hearing held by the Boston City Council’s Committee on Public Safety, health care leaders, firefighters, moms, scientists, students, advocates, and others called on the City of Boston to update its fire code to allow schools, hospitals, libraries, and other institutions to furnish their buildings with flame retardant-free furniture when automatic fire sprinklers are present.</p>
<p> The flammability standard required for upholstered furniture in public spaces by the Boston Fire Prevention Code can only be met by adding large amounts of flame retardant chemicals to the furniture.  Commonly used flame retardants can pose a threat to human health and the environment.  Flame retardants can cause cancer, disrupt thyroid hormones, and affect brain development, including lower IQ and problems with motor skills and attention.</p>
<p> “Numerous studies have shown us that flame retardan</p>
<p>ts migrate from the products in which they’re found,” <strong>said Kathryn Rodgers from the Silent Spring Institute</strong>, which is engaged in a wide range of chemical exposure studies.  “The chemicals get into the air, into dust, and ultimately into our bodies so that we are exposed to these chemicals daily.”</p>
<p> There are no fire safety data demonstrating that the use of flame retardants increases fire safety in fully-sprinklered public spaces.  The presence of smoke detectors and automatic sprinkler systems, and the prohibition on indoor smoking, significantly reduce, if not eliminate, concerns about fires in public spaces.</p>
<p> “Cancer in the fire service is the largest health‐related issue facing the firefighting profession,” said <strong>Rich Paris, President of Boston Firefighters Local 718 and District Vice President for the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts</strong>. “Every three weeks a new cancer is diagnosed in the Boston Fire Department. This is unacceptable and must be addressed. This hearing is a positive step forward in addressing exposure to the harmful effects of toxic flame retardants for firefighters and the residents of Boston.”</p>
<p> “Given what we know about the links between flame retardants and human disease and the lack of fire safety data associated with their use, we have to ask ourselves: why must we continue to use chemicals that cause cancer and that we know aren’t increasing fire safety?” said <strong>Margo Simon Golden, Board President of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition</strong>, which focuses on prevention as the primary method to end breast cancer.</p>
<p> At issue is Technical Bulletin (TB) 133—a performance standard for institutional furniture that major manufacturers indicate cannot be met without the use of flame retardants.  Boston is alone in requiring upholstered furniture located in public spaces to meet TB 133 even in the presence of automatic sprinkler systems.  </p>
<p>All other jurisdictions in the country—including every other part of Massachusetts—allow furniture located in public spaces that are fully equipped with automatic sprinklers to meet a different performance standard.  This other standard—TB 117-2013—addresses the leading ignition source in upholstered furniture fires and can be met without the use of toxic flame retardants.</p>
<p>“The commercial furniture market strongly supports eliminating fire retardant chemicals in upholstered furniture products,” said <strong>Dave Panning, Technical Director of the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association</strong>. “We urge the City of Boston to change its codes by moving away from TB-133 requirements to those aligned with TB-117-2013.”</p>
<p>Across the country, major institutions with fully-sprinklered public spaces are free to exercise the option of purchasing furniture without the use of flame retardants.  In fact, last year a number of leading health systems, including Kaiser Permanente, Advocate Health Care, and University Hospitals in Ohio, among others, announced that they would no longer buy furniture with flame retardants.</p>
<p>“Boston is home to some of the country’s leading hospitals in the world,” said <strong>Gary Cohen, President and Co-Founder of Health Care Without Harm</strong>.  “These leaders shouldn’t be hindered from doing everything in their power to promote patient safety and to create the safest healing environments.”</p>
<p>Students at universities in Boston expressed a desire for their institutions to be flame retardant free as well.  “Colleges and Universities in other parts of the state and country can choose to prioritize their students’ health and go flame retardant free,” said <strong>Jonah Kurman-Faber, a student at Northeastern University</strong>. “I hope that Northeastern will soon have that option as well.”</p>
<p>The Boston Fire Prevention Code can be amended by city ordinance, upon the recommendation of the head of the Fire Department and approval of the City Council and Mayor.  “Boston has an amazing opportunity to protect both public safety and public health in one move. We hope they take it,” said <strong>Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts Director of Clean Water Action</strong>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>###</em></p>
<p> </p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2015-11-05T07:41:00-08:00Victory! Macy’s agrees to a bright future for our furniture
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/10/macys.html
Just hours before a nationwide Mind-the-Store Campaign Day of Action on October 21 2015 was to call attention to the Macys’ sale of furniture containing toxic flame retardant chemicals, the retailer announced it would end the practice. Macy’s responded to...<p><img alt="Thank you Macy's!" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01bb08850248970d img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb08850248970d-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Thank you Macy's!" />Just hours before a nationwide Mind-the-Store Campaign Day of Action on October 21 2015 was to call attention to the Macys’ sale of furniture containing toxic flame retardant chemicals, the retailer announced it would end the practice.</p>
<p>Macy’s responded to Mind the Store yesterday, saying in part, <em>“We expect that our suppliers (the manufacturers of furniture sold at Macy’s) are no longer using the chemicals in question, and we believe a majority are already in compliance… We will be instructing any remaining suppliers who are using these chemicals to cease doing so…If we do identify a vendor that is still applying the old flame retardants, we will be requiring them to cease doing so immediately<strong>.”</strong></em></p>
<p>The national <a href="http://saferchemicals.org/mind-the-store/" target="_blank">Mind the Store</a> campaign, a project of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, <em>focuses on challenging major U.S. retailers to adopt policies to identify, restrict, and safely substitute the Hazardous 100+ chemicals in common consumer products. </em><em>Mind the Store</em> been working tirelessly to get the large retailer to stop selling furniture with toxic flame retardants and this victory was a direct result!</p>
<p>Toxic flame retardants that are linked to cancer and other health problems are unnecessary for stopping the spread of fires but are commonly added to furniture and other foam products.  These chemicals  tend to drift out of our furniture and accumulate in the dust found in our homes where they can then be inhaled and ingested,. Those most at risk are women children and firefighters who are exposed to these harmful chemicals and the highly toxic byproducts that result when they burn.</p>
<p>Get more information on <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/08/flame-retardants.html">flame retardants</a>.</p>
<p>Read the story as told by <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-20/macy-s-to-ensure-furniture-is-free-of-toxic-flame-retardants" target="_blank">Bloomberg News</a> </p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2015-10-21T14:08:52-07:00October 18: Amherst screening of Toxic Hot Seat
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/10/hbo-documentary-toxic-hot-seat2013-screening.html
To xic Hot Seat, an HBO documentary released in 2013, brings to light the deadly consequences of well-intentioned fire safety regulations. The film follows a courageous group of firefighters and mothers, journalists and scientists, politicians and activists as they fight...<p><em>To</em><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1641d3d970c-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Toxic Hot Seat" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1641d3d970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d1641d3d970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Toxic Hot Seat" /></a><em>xic Hot Seat</em>, an HBO documentary released in 2013, brings to light the deadly consequences of well-intentioned fire safety regulations. The film follows a courageous group of firefighters and mothers, journalists and scientists, politicians and activists as they fight to expose the chemical industry’s role in backing flammability standards that require toxic flame retardant use in our homes.</p>
<p>Please join the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow for a screening of this powerful film:</p>
<p><strong>When:     </strong>Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - Film starts at 6:30<br /> <strong>Where:</strong>   Amherst College, Stirn Auditorium, 41 Quadrangle Drive  Amherst, MA 01002 (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zIlAx0HUpkzM.kFH1PcsYRhIg" target="_self">Directions</a>)<br /> <strong>RSVP:     </strong>Sara Moffett  -  <a href="mailto:smoffett@cleanwater.org" target="_blank">email</a>  -  413-584-9830 x1<br /> <strong>What:</strong>     Film screening followed by panel discussion. Light refreshments will be served.</p>
<p><strong>The panel discussion will feature:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Kyle Cahill, Director of Sustainability and Environmental Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA</li>
<li>Keely Griffin, Protect Our Breasts and Student, UMass Amherst</li>
<li>Elizabeth Saunders, MA Director, Clean Water Action</li>
<li>Other panelists TBA</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Please help us keep this event fragrance free by refraining from wearing perfumes, colognes or other scented products.</em></p>
<p>Flame retardant chemicals are added to many types of furniture, children's products and electronics to meet flammability standards in cities across the nation. However, these chemicals have been found to be unnecessary for fire safety and, most importantly, toxic to human health. Scientists have shown that these chemicals travel out of products and enter our homes and bodies . There is evidence that these chemicals can cause cancer, disrupt normal hormone functioning related to reproduction and development, and affect brain development.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.toxichotseatmovie.com" target="_blank">View the trailer</a><br /> </p>
<p><strong>Event Sponsors:</strong> <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/index.html" target="_blank">Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow</a> - <a href="http://www.amherstfirefighters.org/" target="_blank">Amherst Fire Fighters Local 1764</a> - <a href="http://www.cleanwateraction.org/ma" target="_blank"> Clean Water Action</a> - <a href="https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/our-community/studentgroups/greenproj" target="_blank">Green Amherst Project</a> - <a href="http://protectourbreasts.org/" target="_blank">Protect Our Breasts</a> - <a href="http://www.pffm.org/" target="_blank">Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts </a>- <a href="http://www.hmhb.org/about-us/our-programs/state-local-hmhb-coalitions/" target="_blank">Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Massachusetts </a>- <a href="http://mbcc.org/breast-cancer-prevention/" target="_blank">Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition</a> - <a href="http://www.masscosh.org/" target="_blank">Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health</a> - <a href="http://www.silentspring.org/" target="_blank">Silent Spring Institute</a></p>
<p>This <em>Toxic Hot Seat</em> showing is made possible by the generosity of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts®.  Learn more at <a href="http://www.bluecrossma.com/" target="_blank" title="Blue Cross Blue Shield MA">BlueCrossMA.com</a>.</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2015-10-08T07:50:48-07:00Chemicals without Harm Book Launch
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/09/chemicals-without-harm-book-launch.html
The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow is pleased to announce the release of a new book Chemicals without Harm: Policies for a Sustainable World authored by Massachusetts' own Ken Geiser. Please join us for a reception to launch this important...<p><img alt="Chemicals Without Harm" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b7c7cbdaba970b img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b7c7cbdaba970b-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Chemicals Without Harm" />The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow is pleased to announce the release of a new book <em>Chemicals without Harm: Policies for a Sustainable World </em>authored by Massachusetts' own Ken Geiser.</p>
<p><strong>Please join us for a reception to launch this important new book:</strong></p>
<p>    Thursday, September 17, 2015<br />    4:00 pm-6:00 pm<br />    Conservation Law Foundation<br />    <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Conservation+Law+Foundation/@42.3542272,-71.0586884,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e3708257e27d43:0x199472d89fb56479" target="_blank">62 Summer Street, Boston, MA</a></p>
<p>Thousands of synthetic chemicals are used to make our clothing, cosmetics, household products and electronic devices.  However, many of these chemicals are hazardous and potentially dangerous to our health and the environment. For fifty years, the conventional approach to hazardous chemicals has focused on regulation, barriers, and control. Today, there is a growing international interest in going beyond a singular focus on toxic and hazardous chemicals and developing broader policies for managing all chemicals.</p>
<p>This book proposes a new strategy for chemical management based on changing chemical production and consumption systems.  Reviewing the many initiatives now on-going in the product and chemical markets, in industry, and in science, <em>Chemicals without Harm</em> offers a strategy based on characterizing, classifying and prioritizing chemicals, identifying and adopting safer alternatives to hazardous chemicals, and promoting the research and innovation needed to develop those alternatives.</p>
<p>Ken Geiser is a Professor Emeritus of Work Environment at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and founder and past Co-director of the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production. He is the author of <em>Materials Matter: toward a Sustainable Materials Policy</em>, one of the authors of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act, and was the Director of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute for thirteen years. He has been an adviser to the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow since its founding.</p>
<p><strong>No formal RSVP is required for the reception.  Light refreshments will be served, and copies of the book will be available for purchase.</strong></p>
<p>Chemicals Without Harm is also available for purchase from the <a href="https://mitpress.mit.edu/index.php?q=books/chemicals-without-harm" target="_self">MIT Press</a>.</p>
<p>In addition to the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, this reception is sponsored by <a href="http://toxicsaction.org/" target="_blank">Toxics Action Center</a> and the <a href="http://www.sustainableproduction.org/" target="_blank">Lowell Center for Sustainable Production</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2015-09-10T13:54:21-07:00Calling All Youth: We Need YOUR Help!
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/07/calling-all-youth-we-need-your-help.html
The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and partners at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics are launching a new research project to find out what youth leaders (age 14-24) think about cosmetics and personal care products. How many products do you...<p><br /> <img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b7c7b38d9d970b img-responsive" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;float: right" title="Take our survey" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b7c7b38d9d970b-800wi" alt="Take our survey" border="0" /></a>The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and partners at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics are launching a new research project to find out what youth leaders (age 14-24) think about cosmetics and personal care products. How many products do you typically use each day? What are some of your favorite products? What do you know about and do you have any concerns about the safety of these products or product ingredients? </p>
<p><a href="http://www.surveymoz.com/s/productsurvey/" target="_blank"><strong><em>Take the survey! >></em></strong></a></p>
<p>We’d really like to hear from <em>you</em> because we want to be responsive to <em>your</em> voice and <em>your </em>perspective. Ultimately, we’d like to make sure that the campaign we run includes youth leadership and focuses on the issues that concern young adults as a unique population that needs more representation on issues like this one.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Take a few moments today to take part in this <a href="http://www.surveymoz.com/s/productsurvey/" target="_blank">survey</a> and enter into a drawing to win prizes! Your response will help us focus on the questions and concerns you identify in the campaign going forward – thanks for taking the time to voice your opinions! Please feel free to pass this survey along to anyone between the ages of 14 and 24 that you think would be interested in participating- the more input the better!</p>
<p>And stay in touch with the campaign. We will have exciting new projects coming out of this research that will respond directly to the feedback we receive. If you have any questions, contact info@healthytomorrow.org.</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2015-07-24T09:58:31-07:00Fire fighters and advocates urge phase-out of toxic flame retardants
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/06/flame-retardants.html
For Immediate Release: Thursday June 18, 2015 (Boston, MA) At a public hearing before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security today, Massachusetts firefighters, citizens, scientists, health professionals, workers, and educators seeking preventive action on toxic hazards called...<p><img alt="Ed Kelly, President, Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b7c7a14fb4970b img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b7c7a14fb4970b-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Ed Kelly, President, Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts" />For Immediate Release:  Thursday June 18, 2015</p>
<p>(Boston, MA) At a public hearing before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security today, Massachusetts firefighters, citizens, scientists, health professionals, workers, and educators seeking preventive action on toxic hazards called for swift passage of a bill that would help to protect firefighters and children from toxic flame retardants. The legislation, H. 2119, The Children and Firefighters Protection Act would ban the use of hazardous flame retardants in children’s products and upholstered furniture. <br /><br />“Fire fighters have cancer rates three times higher than the general public,” said <strong>Edward Kelly, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts</strong> (pictured testifying at right). “When we enter a home fire we breathe in gasses and toxins from flame retardants that put us at a higher risk. We're calling on the legislature for swift passage of this bill as it will no doubt save lives.</p>
<br />“Flame retardants cause cancer and the way they’ve been used for decades, they don’t stop fires,” said <strong>Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts Director for Clean Water Action.</strong> “Our children’s health is at risk, firefighters health is at risk, and many furniture manufacturers are already making fire safe products without flame retardants.  It’s time for these toxic chemicals to go.”<br /><br />Due to a California flammability standard, known as TB117, that was found to be based on faulty science, toxic flame retardants are added to highchairs, car seats, nursing pads, furniture, carpet pads, electronic equipment (including toys), and many more common household products.  The California standard was revised in 2013 and the new standard can be met with or without flame retardants.<br /><br />"Every single one of us has flame retardants in our bodies, and children often have even more than adults,” said <strong>Laura Spark of Jamaica Plain</strong>, a member of the Governing Board of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and a participant, along with her daughter Naomi Carrigg, in a 2004 Environmental Working Group study on flame retardants in the blood of American women and their toddlers. “The concentration of flame retardants in my daughter’s blood was 6.5 times higher than mine. Since we now know that the chemicals are not needed or even effective, Massachusetts should take action to eliminate their use.” <br /><br />Flame retardants have been linked to severe health problems including cancer, birth defects, decreased fertility, and nervous system damage.  These chemicals do not stay in the products; they get out into the dust in our homes and the air that we breathe, and ultimately into our bodies. Firefighters are exposed to flame retardants when they go into burning buildings.<br /><br />“Studies show that flame retardants do not stay put in the products that they are added to. They are pervasive in household dust, and we are exposed on a regular basis,” said <strong>Kathryn Rodgers, Staff Scientist at the Newton-based Silent Spring Institute</strong>.  “The health impacts linked to flame retardant exposure are very serious and reducing children’s and firefighters exposure is much needed for public health protection.”<br /><br />H.2119 will require manufacturers and retailers to cease the use of flame retardants in children’s products and residential upholstered furniture sold in Massachusetts. The flame retardant chemicals that would be phased out include Chlorinated Tris (TDCPP, TCEP, TBBPA), Decabromodiphenyl ether, Antimony trioxide, HBCD, TBPH, TBB, Chlorinated paraffins, and TCPP.<br /><br />"The long-term health of our community is in danger. Increasing public concern has already pushed manufacturers and retailers to take steps on their own to eliminate these toxins from their products. Passing the Children and Firefighter Protection Act would be a practical first step towards protecting our most vulnerable citizens and those who risk their lives for our families every day,” said Representative Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge), lead sponsor of the bill. <br /><br />The legislation builds on momentum from 13 other states that have banned Polybrominated di-phenyl ether (PBDE) and/or Chlorinated Tris chemicals for use in children’s products and/or residential furniture. In addition, many major American companies are phasing out the use of toxic flame retardants, including Ashley Furniture, our nation’s largest furniture retailer. Many other furniture chains, including Crate & Barrel, The Futon Shop, and La-Z-Boy, all have flame retardant free furniture available for purchase. <br /><br />The following individuals testified in support of the legislation at the hearing today and are available for interviews upon request:<br /><br />
<ul>
<li>Edward Kelly, President, Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts</li>
<li>Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts Director, Clean Water Action, coordinator, Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow</li>
<li>Kathryn Rodgers, Staff Scientist, Silent Spring Institute</li>
<li>Tolle Graham, Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health</li>
<li>Chris Pontus, RN, Massachusetts Nurses Association</li>
<li>Laura Spark, mother from Jamaica Plain</li>
<li>Margo Golden, President, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition</li>
<li>Lynn Wolbarst, League of Women Voters of Massachusetts</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br />###<br /><br /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><em>The <a href="http://www.pffm.org" target="_blank">Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts</a> represent more than 12,000 fire fighters from across the state.</em><br /><br /><em>Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow is a coalition of over 100 public health, labor, environmental, faith based, civic, health care, parent and other organizations in Massachusetts working to prevent harm to human health and the environment from toxic chemicals. </em><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2015-06-19T09:10:57-07:00Flame Retardants Bill
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/05/flame-retardants.html
Massachusetts legislation to protect children's and firefighters' health from toxic flame retardants S.2302 Sponsored by: Senator Cynthia Stone Creem Passed unanimously by the Senate (5/19/16) and assigned to the House Committee on Ways and Means H.4241 Sponsored by: Representative Marjorie...<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Massachusetts legislation to protect children's and firefighters' health from </strong><strong>toxic flame retardants</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/Senate/S2302/History" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-size: 12pt;">S.2302</span></em></a><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em style="font-size: 12pt;">Sponsored by: Senator Cynthia Stone Creem</em></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em style="font-size: 12pt;">Passed unanimously by the Senate (5/19/16) and assigned to the House Committee on Ways and Means</em></span></p>
<p><a href="https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H4241/History" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><em>H.4241</em></span></a><br /><em style="font-size: 12pt;">Sponsored by: Representative Marjorie Decker</em><br /><em style="font-size: 12pt;">Voted favorably and assigned to the House Committee on Ways and Means</em></p>
<p><strong> <img alt="Firefighter" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b8d13c672c970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d13c672c970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Firefighter" /> <a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d10825ac970c-pi" style="float: right;"><br /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Background:</span></strong> <br />Toxic flame retardants are added to highchairs, car seats, nursing pads, furniture, carpet pads, electronic equipment (including toys), and many more common household products. These chemicals do not stay in products; they get out into the dust in our homes and the air that we breathe, and ultimately into our bodies. Firefighters are exposed to flame retardants when they go into burning buildings. Worse, these flame retardants—which are linked to cancer, nervous system damage, decreased fertility, and other health problems—are ineffective at stopping fires. Because children are still developing, they are much more vulnerable to the health risks associated with flame retardants. Their tendency to touch their faces and mouths add to the danger and put them at even greater risk.</p>
<p>Commonly used flame retardants such as polybrominted di-phenyl ethers (PBDEs) and Chlorinated Tris—which was banned from children’s pajamas in the 1970s) are extremely persistent—they take a long time to break down in the environment and in our bodies. They’ve been found in many likely and unlikely places including the blood of new born babies and ice in the arctic.</p>
<p>Fortunately, there are ways to make furniture more fire safe and less toxic, like using less flammable materials and safer alternative chemicals. Many companies are already doing so.</p>
<p>As scientific studies provide mounting evidence of health risks associated with toxic flame retardant chemicals, increasing public concern has pushed manufacturers and retailers to take steps on their own to eliminate these toxins from their products. In fact, this February our nation’s biggest furniture retailer and manufacturer, Ashley Furniture, announced plans to phase out flame retardant chemicals from its products.</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What the bills do:</span></strong><br /> S.2302 and H.4241 will require manufacturers and retailers to cease the use of 11 toxic flame retardants in children’s products and residential upholstered furniture. S.2302 also includes residential window covering, bedding and carpeting.<br /><br />Both bills give the Department of Environmental Protection the authority to restrict additional flame retardant chemicals if they are linked to serious health problems and Massachusetts residents are in danger of being exposed. This will help ensure that companies don’t just switch to an equally harmful flame retardant.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Massachusetts is not alone!</strong></span><br />Thirteen states have banned PBDE and/or Chlorinated Tris chemicals for use in children’s products and/or residential furniture. PBDEs, are so widely regarded as toxic that they have been banned in 172 countries.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2155/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=19392">Take Action: Ask your legislators to protect children's and firefighters' health!</a> </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="asset asset-generic at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b7c87aa427970b img-responsive"><a href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/files/Flame%20Retardant%20Factsheet%20S_2302%20%26%20%20H_4241%20AHT%205-26-16.pdf" target="_blank">Download the Flame Retardant Bill Factsheet</a></span></p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2015-05-25T17:57:00-07:00Dry Cleaning Bill
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/04/dry-cleaning.html
An Act Requiring Disclosure of Solvents used in Dry Cleaning H.2068 Sponsor: Representative Frank Smizik Background: Over 80% of U.S. dry cleaners use the cleaning agent perchloroethylene, or perc. Perc has been linked to cancer, nervous system problems, liver and...<p><strong style="font-size: 12pt;">An Act Requiring Disclosure of Solvents used in Dry Cleaning</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H2068" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-size: 12pt;">H.2068</span></em></a><br /><em><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sponsor: Representative Frank Smizik</span></em></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /> <img alt="Drycleaning" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b7c7b96b78970b img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b7c7b96b78970b-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Mom with Dry Cleaning" />Background:</span></strong><br />Over 80% of U.S. dry cleaners use the cleaning agent perchloroethylene, or perc. Perc has been linked to cancer, nervous system problems, liver and kidney damage, immune system problems, and other negative health impacts. Unfortunately, many of the alternatives to perc that are currently in use, including some that are marketed as “green” or “eco-friendly”, have also been linked to health and environmental damage. Some garment cleaning businesses in Massachusetts have shifted to the safest method of cleaning called professional wet cleaning. Wet cleaning is a water-based process that uses biodegradable solvents and has no known negative environmental or health effects. This bill will help customers to consider health and safety concerns in their choice of garment cleaner.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What the bill does:</strong> </span><br />This bill will require garment cleaners using a dry cleaning solvent system to post in their stores what chemical(s) they are using in their processes, along with a color coded indicator of the hazard level of each chemical for full disclosure to their customers, neighbors, and employees. The posting will permit consumers to gain information about the potential risks associated with the use of each chemical. Additional detailed information about each of the hazardous chemical substances used at the dry cleaning facilities will be posted on the website of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Access to information about toxic chemicals will help consumers protect their health and that of their families by allowing them to make educated decisions about which dry cleaners they choose.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Massachusetts does not stand alone! </strong></span><br />In 2014, New York City enacted almost identical regulations for garment cleaning businesses. Cleaners are now required to post a notice listing the primary chemicals used at their facility. Notices must include links to more detailed information about specific chemicals online to encourage customer awareness of health and safety concerns when choosing a garment cleaner.</p>
<p><span class="asset asset-generic at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01bb085311f3970d img-responsive"><a href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/files/dry-cleaning-bill-fact-sheet.pdf">Download Dry Cleaning Bill Fact Sheet</a></span> </p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2015-04-23T18:00:28-07:00Safer Cleaning Products Bill
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/04/cleaning-products-bill.html
An Act to Require Environmentally Safe Alternatives to Harmful Cleaning Products H.2067 Sponsored by: Representative Frank Smizik Background: Toxic cleaning chemicals threaten the health of the workers who use them and the children and adults who live, work or study...<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>An Act to Require Environmentally Safe Alternatives to Harmful Cleaning Products</strong></span></p>
<p><a href="https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H2067" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank"><em>H.2067</em></a><br /><em style="font-size: 12pt;">Sponsored by: Representative Frank Smizik</em></p>
<p><strong> <img alt="Spray cleaner" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01bb0857154e970d img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb0857154e970d-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Spray Cleaner" /> <a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d10822bf970c-pi" style="float: right;"><br /></a> <a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d10822c8970c-pi" style="float: right;"><br /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Background:</span></strong><br />Toxic cleaning chemicals threaten the health of the workers who use them and the children and adults who live, work or study in the buildings where they are used. Scientific studies have found that cleaning chemicals have been linked to asthma, certain types of cancers, reproductive problems, stillbirths, and birth defects. Safer cleaning products are already in use in many public buildings and schools, demonstrating that they are effective, available, and feasible. The use of safer cleaning products can be good for the economy. Businesses and institutions using safer products can save on health care costs for workers and Massachusetts businesses that make safer cleaning products can grow their customer base.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What the bill does:</strong></span><br />This bill will require the use of safer cleaning products in schools, day care centers, and public buildings or common areas of public housing in Massachusetts. The alternative cleaning products must meet the environmentally preferable purchasing criteria set by the state Operational Services Division. This criteria is set to protect public health; it includes products which are not toxic to humans, and that do not contain any ingredients which are carcinogens or which are known to cause reproductive toxicity, ingredients that pollute air quality both indoors and out, and other ingredients especially harmful to the environment or major climate change inducers.</p>
<p>Those who clean schools and public buildings are exposed to hazardous chemicals when working with toxic cleaning products. These workers deserve protection as do the people who use the facilities they clean. We need smart legislation that fosters economic growth while protecting human health and the environment.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Massachusetts does not stand alone!</strong></span><br />The Boston Public School System has established a Green Cleaners Policy; a commitment to purchasing green cleaning products. Boston Public Schools include 128 schools and approximately 57,000 students along with teachers, administration, and custodial staff. This commitment to purchasing environmentally friendly cleaning products will improve public health and benefit the environment as well as foster a competitive market for green cleaning.</p>
<p><a href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/files/safe-cleaning-products-bill-fact-sheet.pdf">Download Safe Cleaning Products Bill Fact Sheet</a></p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2015-04-23T17:54:26-07:00Toxic Hot Seat Film Screenings
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/03/toxic-hot-seat-film-screenings.html
Toxic Hot Seat Film Screenings this April Downtown and Cape Cod screenings Toxic Hot Seat is a powerful new film on the toxic dangers in our homes. It is an HBO documentary that brings to light the deadly consequences of...<p><img alt="THS" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b7c761ea5a970b img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b7c761ea5a970b-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="THS" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><em>Toxic Hot Seat</em> Film Screenings this April</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>Downtown and Cape Cod screenings</strong></p>
<p><em>Toxic Hot Seat</em> is a powerful new film on the toxic dangers in our homes. It is an HBO documentary that brings to light the deadly consequences of well-intentioned safety regulations. The film follows a courageous group of firefighters and mothers, journalists and scientists, politicians and activists as they fight to expose the chemical industry’s role in backing flammability standards that require toxic flame retardant use in our homes.</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Join us for two showings this April!</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt;">April 9th - <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/03/toxic-hot-seat-film-screening-with-suffolk-environmental-club.html" target="_self" title="Information about showing at Suffolk">Suffolk University</a></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt;">April 21st - <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/03/toxic-hot-seat-screening-cape-cod.html" target="_self" title="Information about Cape Cod showing">The Barnstable Senior Center</a></span></strong></p>
<p><strong>RSVP</strong>: Amanda Sebert <a href="asebert@cleanwater.org" target="_self" title="asebert@cleanwater.org">asebert@cleanwater.org</a> 617-338-8131 x 201</p>
<p>Scientific studies have found flame retardants to be not only ineffective at preventing the spread of fires but also extremely dangerous to human health. Flame retardant chemicals have been linked to cancer and learning disabilities in children. Legislation to regulate flame retardants is currently being considered in many states across the United States. Many groups across Massachusetts have joined together to express support for bans on flame retardant chemicals in our furniture. Hospitals have joined together in opposition of buying costly furniture containing flame retardants chemicals with the understanding that those chemicals are poisoning their staff and patients. </p>
<p>These <em>Toxic Hot Seat</em> showings are made possible by the generosity of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts®. Learn more at <a href="http://www.bluecrossma.com/" target="_blank" title="Blue Cross Blue Shield MA">BlueCrossMA.com</a>.</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2015-03-17T09:38:00-07:00Furniture Retailer Phase Out of Toxic Flame Retardant Chemicals
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2015/01/retailer-phase-out-flame-retardants.html
Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow Calls On Other Major Retailers and Massachusetts to Follow Suit Boston, MA – Several of the nation’s largest retailers confirmed late last week that they are phasing out furniture with toxic flame retardants chemicals, which...<p><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><strong> <img alt="Flame_retardant" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b8d0c8ee69970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d0c8ee69970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Flame_retardant" /></strong></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em><strong>Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow Calls On Other Major Retailers and Massachusetts to Follow Suit</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Boston, MA – Several of the nation’s largest retailers confirmed late last week that they are phasing out furniture with toxic flame retardants chemicals, which have been linked to cancer and learning and developmental disabilities in children. However the pace of the phase-outs and disclosure of the contents of the furniture remains a muddle according to public health advocates in Massachusetts, and they are urging the nation’s biggest furniture retailers to provide better disclosure.</p>
<p>The nation’s largest furniture retailer and manufacturer, Ashley Furniture, announced it will be phasing out such products, but declined to publicly say when. For years, public health advocates have said that the chemicals threaten human health and the environment, and do not provide an added fire safety benefit as claimed by the chemical industry.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“We’re excited that some of the largest furniture retailers are taking this important step in recognizing that toxic flame retardant chemicals are an unnecessary hazard in our homes,” said Elizabeth Saunders, Clean Water Action Massachusetts Director. “Having these big retailers take this stand will strengthen the hand of legislators here who have introduced a bill to ensure all household furniture sold in Massachusetts is free of these harmful chemicals.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>“It’s so gratifying to see national furniture companies taking a modern approach to protecting our indoor environment by eliminating unnecessary flame retardants” said Senator Cynthia Stone Creem (D-Newton), sponsor of An Act to protect children and families from harmful flame retardants (SD627). “The elimination of flame retardants by big retailers confirms that our bill is in step with the direction of furniture industry standards.”</p>
<p>Mike Schade, Mind the Store campaign director for <a href="http://saferchemicals.org/" target="_self" title="Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families">Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families</a> said, “The nation’s top furniture retailer Ashley has recognized that these toxic flame retardant chemicals are not necessary and will be manufacturing and selling furniture products that are safer as they meet the new California flammability standards. But customers want and have a right to know what they are buying. It’s vital Ashley take the next step by announcing a clear public time frame for phasing out these chemicals in furniture foam and fabrics.”</p>
<p>Friday the Chicago Tribune reported that major furniture retailers including Crate and Barrel, Room and Board, Williams-Sonoma (Pottery Barn, West Elm) have all mostly eliminated chemicals known as toxic flame retardants from their furniture. They also reported that the Futon Shop, Scandinavian Designs and Walmart “have told vendors to stop adding flame retardants to furniture” and that Ashley Furniture, the largest furniture retailer and manufacturer in America, is "committed to designing furniture … without the use of flame retardant chemicals.”</p>
<p>Ashley’s announcement was triggered by a <a href="http://kitchentablecampaigns.org/chemicals/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/01/SCHFLettertoAshleyFurniture_November2014.pdf" target="_self" title="Letter from Mind the Store Campaign ">recent letter</a> to the company from the Mind the Store campaign urging the retailer to identify and phase out the use of toxic flame retardants. The vast majority of couches and upholstered furniture across the U.S. and in Massachusetts contain high levels of toxic flame retardant chemicals. Since 1975, furniture foam sold across the U.S. has been laden with these substances to meet the standards of a California “technical bulletin” called TB117. Despite being called “flame retardants,” research by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and other groups have found that these chemicals are not necessary to ensure that furniture is fire safe.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It was satisfying to finally hear that several of the nation's largest furniture retailers are interested in having a meaningful conversation about phasing out dangerous flame retardant chemicals from their products,” said Richard Paris, President of Boston Firefighters Local 718. “Firefighters have long been aware of the risks these chemicals pose not only to the general public but to the firefighters who are exposed to the toxic chemicals that are present when the furniture treated with these harmful chemicals ignite. The irony of this dilemma, is that the consumer has been lulled into a false sense of security when the phrase, ‘flame retardant’ is used in the furniture industry and firefighters must put themselves at a 3 times higher risk of contracting cancer than any other profession by extinguishing a ‘flame retardant’ fire.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In daily use, the chemicals do not stay in the furniture. They migrate out of the products and collect in indoor dust where they enter people’s bodies by being inhaled, ingested and touched. Some toxic flame retardants do not break down easily, and have been found to persist and travel to waterways and ecosystems virtually everywhere. Firefighters, who already have a higher risk of certain cancers, are exposed to these harmful chemicals in a fire, and the highly toxic byproducts that result when they burn.</p>
<p>While TB117 only applied to California, it soon became the industry standard in all 50 states. After years of advocacy by public health groups, TB-117 was revised at the direction of California Governor Jerry Brown to allow manufacturers to phase out toxic flame retardants without compromising fire safety. The policy was renamed TB117-2013 and became mandatory as of January 1, 2015.</p>
<p>A 2014 Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)<a href="http://www.nrdc.org/health/flame-retardants/files/safer-sofas-FS.pdf" target="_self" title="NRDC Survey of 16 Major Furniture Stores"> survey of 16 major furniture stores</a> found a wide degree of variation. Three chains – Crate & Barrel, The Futon Shop, and La-Z-Boy – have flame retardant-free furniture now available for purchase. Others said they would start offering safer alternatives, with some committing to a 2015 time frame. Other retailers including Target, Pier 1, Restoration Hardware, American Signature, Cost Plus, Macy’s, Rooms-to-Go, and Sears did not indicate they have flame retardant free furniture available in the survey published as of September 2014.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://saferchemicals.org/category/mind_the_store/" target="_self" title="Mind the Store Campaign">Mind the Store campaign</a> is now planning on sending letters to these and other major furniture retailers urging them to also eliminate toxic flame retardants.</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2015-01-28T08:05:25-08:00New Study: Hidden Dangerous Chemicals in Halloween Costumes
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/10/halloween.html
Kids shouldn't have to miss out on Halloween fun in order to protect their health. An alarming new study has found hidden dangerous toxic chemicals in popular Halloween costumes and party supplies. The study was released by the Ecology Center’s...<p><img alt="Batman" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01bb079e52d8970d img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01bb079e52d8970d-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Batman" /><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d0833cd1970c-pi" style="float: right;"><span style="color: #000000;"><br /></span></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Kids shouldn't have to miss out on Halloween fun in order to protect their health.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">An alarming new study has found hidden dangerous toxic chemicals in popular Halloween costumes and party supplies. The study was released by the Ecology Center’s HealthyStuff.org project, the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and Clean Water Action. The nonprofit Ecology Center tested 106 types of Halloween gear—purchased at national retailers such as CVS, Kroger, Party City, Target, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens—for substances linked to asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, reproductive problems, liver toxicity and cancer.  Advocates and parents in Massachusetts expressed outrage and dismay about the findings and called for legislators and retailers to act to ensure that consumer products are made safely.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<a href="http://cleanwateraction.org/ma" target="_self">Clean Water Action</a> and the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow coalition are working, along with concerned parents, to pass state and federal legislation to require consumer products to be made with the safest available alternatives. The groups are also collaborators in the Mind-the-Store campaign which is calling on the nation’s largest 10 retailers to end the use of 100+ hazardous chemicals.
<blockquote>
<p style="text-align: left;">“It is beyond scary that chemicals that have been known or suspected to be hazardous for many years are still turning up in products that are designed for and marketed to children,” said Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts Director for Clean Water Action. “And it’s outrageous that the government has done almost nothing to protect the health of everyday people from these hazards.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>HealthyStuff.org tested Halloween products for chemicals based on their toxicity or tendency to build up in people and the environment. These chemicals include lead, bromine (brominated flame retardants), chlorine (vinyl/PVC plastic), phthalates, arsenic, and tin (organotins).</p>
<p>Some products contained multiple chemical hazards, including a Toddler Batman Costume whose belt contained 29% regulated phthalates, 340ppm tin, and lead in the lining of the mask at 120 ppm. Overall, 39% of the products contained tin at levels suggesting organotin stabilizers, which are endocrine disruptors and can damage the developing brain and immune system.</p>
<p>Parents in the Boston metro-area reacted to the news with outrage and dismay. </p>
<blockquote>
<p>“It’s shocking to me that these toxic costumes and toys are sold completely legally, and that the government is doing nothing about it,” said <strong>Quanda Burrell, a South End mother of two</strong>. “My children love Halloween, my 9 year old will even wear her costume to bed, but I never knew that I could be harming my kids.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The results of this study are available on the easy-to-use consumer website – <a href="http://www.healthystuff.org/">www.HealthyStuff.org</a> and build on recent HealthyStuff studies on back-to-school products, summer seasonal & beach products and university-themed products.  The majority of these seasonal or specialty products routinely contain one or more toxic chemicals. Due to the fact that many consumer products are largely unregulated, the items tested sometimes have levels of toxic chemicals that exceed the regulated levels set for children’s products and toys.</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2014-10-23T13:09:16-07:00Join us for a powerful film screening: Toxic Hot Seat
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/10/toxichotseat.html
Are the chemials in your couch toxic? Toxic Hot Seat, an HBO documentary, brings to light the deadly consequences of well-intentioned safety regulations. CineSource Magazine describes Toxic Hot Seat as, “environmental filmmaking at its pinnacle-revealing, horrifying, infuriating, compelling, and hopeful.”...<p><img alt="Toxic Hot Seat" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01b8d07d76d7970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01b8d07d76d7970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Toxic Hot Seat" />Are the chemials in your couch toxic?</p>
<p><em>Toxic Hot Seat,</em> an HBO documentary, brings to light the deadly consequences of well-intentioned safety regulations. CineSource Magazine describes <em>Toxic Hot Seat</em> as, “environmental filmmaking at its pinnacle-revealing, horrifying, infuriating, compelling, and hopeful.”</p>
<p><strong>When: </strong>Friday, November 7, 2014                                           6:00pm-8:30pm</p>
<p><strong>Where:</strong>The John D. O’Bryant African                        American Institute <br />            Northeastern University<br />            40 Leon Street, West Village<br />            Boston, Massachusetts 02115</p>
<p><strong>RSVP:    </strong><a href="mailto:asebert@cleanwater.org" target="_blank">Amanda Sebert</a>                                                    617-338-8131 x 202.</p>
<p>Panel discussion will follow the film. Light refreshments will be served.   </p>
<em>Toxic Hot Seat</em> follows a courageous group of firefighters and mothers, journalists and scientists, politicians and activists as they fight to expose the dangers posed by toxic flame retardants in the furniture in our homes and the deceptive campaign waged by the chemical industry to stall efforts to eliminate unnecessary exposure to these harmful chemicals. Check out the <a href="http://www.toxichotseatmovie.com/" target="_blank" title="Toxic Hot Seat film preview"><em>Toxic Hot Seat</em> film preview</a>. 
<p>Decades worth of scientific research shows that tens of thousands of unregulated toxic chemicals, like flame retardants, are linked to health problems including cancer, hormone-disruption and harm to the developing brain. Flame retardants began entering peoples’ homes in the early 1970’s hidden in couches, carpeting, baby seats, and many other commonplace products. The chemical industry ran an extremely successful campaign, convincing people of the connection between flame retardants and fire safety. Contrary to this campaign, scientific studies have shown that flame retardants are not actually successful at preventing fires and instead, create a toxic soup inside of burning buildings. Due to this onsite exposure to toxic chemicals and gasses, fire fighters have an increased cancer risk compared to the normal population.</p>
<p>Regrettably, we are all affected by this lack of regulation. Recent toxicological studies demonstrate that flame-retardants do a better job at causing birth defects and cancers than protecting us from fires. To protect the health of American families and first responders we must convey to elected officials that chemicals should be proven safe before ending up in our homes and building materials.</p>
<p>__________________</p>
<p><strong>Directions:</strong> The John D. O’Bryant African American Institute at Northeastern University is located at 40 Leon Street, West Village Boston, Massachusetts 02115. Accessible by any orange line train to Ruggles station and any Green line E train to the Northeastern University stop. Parking is located at the Renaissance Garage on Columbus Avenue next to the Ruggles train station beginning at 5:00 pm. Further directions can be found on <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/40+Leon+St,+Northeastern+University,+Boston,+MA+02115/@42.3372118,-71.0913629,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e37a2227f86265:0x3f432f0e49013a2f" target="_self" title="Google Maps">Here</a> and on this <a href="http://www.northeastern.edu/campusmap/printable/campusmap.pdf" target="_self" title="Campus Map">Campus Map</a>, (the O’Bryant African American Institute is building 27).<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/40+Leon+St+John+D.+O'Bryant+African-American+Institute,+Northeastern+University,+Boston,+MA+02115/@42.337586,-71.0912767,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e37a2220f2ddaf:0x9ace6e0abb6724eb" target="_self" title="Google Maps Directions Located Here"><br /></a></p>
<p><strong>This Toxic Hot Seat showing is made possible by the generosity of Furnature™</strong>. Visit <a href="www.furnature.com" target="_self" title="Furnature.com">Furnature.com</a> to learn more about their organic and toxin-free furniture.</p>
<p><strong>This screening is co-sponsored by:</strong> <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/" target="_self" title="Alliance for a Healthy Environment">Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow</a>, <a href="http://www.bluecrossma.com/" target="_self" title="Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA">Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts</a>, <a href="http://www.bostonfirelocal718.org/" target="_self" title="Boston Firefighters Local 718">Boston Firefighters Local 718</a>, <a href="http://www.bphc.org/whatwedo/childrens-health/boston-healthy-start-initiative/Pages/Boston-Healthy-Start-Initiative.aspx" target="_self">Boston Healthy Start Initiative</a>, <a href="http://www.cleanwateraction.org/ma" target="_self" title="Clean Water Action">Clean Water Action</a>, <a href="http://www.coejl.org/" target="_self" title="Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life">Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life</a>, <a href="http://www.hmhb.org/" target="_self" title="Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Massachusetts">Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Massachusetts</a>, John D. O’Bryant African American Institute at Northeastern University, <a href="http://mbcc.org/breast-cancer-prevention/" target="_self" title="Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition">Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition</a>, <a href="http://www.masscosh.org/" target="_self">Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health</a>, <a href="http://www.northeastern.edu/nejrc/" target="_self" title="Northeastern Environmental Justice Research Collaborative">Northeastern Environmental Justice Research Collaborative</a>, <a href="http://www.pffm.org/" target="_self" title="Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts">Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts</a>, <a href="http://www.rsphealth.org/" target="_self" title="Resilient Sisterhood Project">Resilient Sisterhood Project</a>, Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute at Northeastern University, <a href="http://www.silentspring.org/" target="_self">Silent Spring Institute</a>, and <a href="http://www.toxicsaction.org/" target="_self" title="Toxics Action Center">Toxics Action Center</a>.</p>EventsFeaturedElizabeth Saunders2014-10-14T15:00:06-07:00Protect the men you love this Father's Day
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/06/protect-men.html
Let’s skip the cologne and after-shave this year, and give Dad the gift of health. A recent European study tested 100 chemicals, a third of which were found to negatively affect male reproductive cells. In fact, these chemicals can obstruct...<p><img alt="No toxins please" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01a3fd1c45ff970b img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01a3fd1c45ff970b-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="No toxins please" />Let’s skip the cologne and after-shave this year, and give Dad the gift of health.</p>
<p>A recent European study tested 100 chemicals, a third of which were found to negatively affect male reproductive cells. In fact, these chemicals can obstruct sperm’s mobility and efficiency when searching for the female egg. Other chemicals were discovered to make the sperm cells less sensitive to female hormones, further hindering fertility. These findings are crucial as male fertility issues occur in almost 50% of cases involving couples finding it difficult to conceive.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #ff0000; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2155/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15846" target="_self">Take Action!</a></span></span></p>
<p>Many of these same chemicals can increase a man’s risk of suffering from diseases like prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s.</p>
<p>Some of the chemicals evaluated in the study include endocrine disrupting phthalates, which are linked to serious health problems, and are a common ingredient in many shampoos, soaps, deodorants, and shaving creams. Some sunscreens and fragrances contain oxybenzone, which has been restricted in Japan due to its danger as an immunotoxin and endocrine disruptor. Triclosan, often found in toothpaste, is another hormone disruptor linked to infertility and other health issues.</p>
<p>Additionally, BPA, which has been linked to lower sperm count, is used in the linings of canned foods and has been found to leach into the food. Another worrisome chemical for men called perfluoroalkyl acid is used in many non-stick products. Science continues to show the real threats consumers face, and it is time for new laws that truly protect our health from these hazards. We need to protect our current and future fathers from these harmful chemicals.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2155/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15846" target="_self">Take Action! </a>Urge legislators to pass the <em>An Act for Healthy Families and Businesses</em> which will create a program to phase out toxic chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives.</strong><br /><br /></p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2014-06-11T13:03:18-07:00Safer Cleaning Products Bill: A Legislative Summary
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/05/safer-cleaning-products-bill.html
Safer Cleaning Products Bill: An Act to Require Environmentally Safe Alternatives to Harmful Cleaning Products H.2161 The Bill: Toxic cleaning chemicals threaten the health of the workers who use them and the children and adults who live, work or study...<h2> </h2>
<h2>Safer Cleaning Products Bill: <em>An Act to Require Environmentally Safe Alternatives to Harmful Cleaning Products</em></h2>
<h2>H.2161 </h2>
<p><strong> <img alt="Safer_cleaning" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01a511b9ff3f970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01a511b9ff3f970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Safer_cleaning" />The Bill</strong>: Toxic cleaning chemicals threaten the health of the workers who use them and the children and adults who live, work or study in the buildings where they are used. Cleaning chemicals have been linked to asthma, certain types of cancers, reproductive problems, stillbirths, and birth defects. <br />The Safer Cleaning Products bill would reduce asthma and other health threats by requiring that only cleaning products approved by the Department of Public Health be used in schools, day care centers, public buildings, or common areas of public housing in Massachusetts.</p>
<p><strong>Legislative History:</strong></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: #ffffff;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Legislative Session 2013-2014</span></td>
<td>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bill filed:<br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Name: <em>An act to require environmentally safe alternatives to harmful cleaning products</em></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Number: H.2086</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sponsors: Rep. Frank Smizik</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Events: <br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">10/2013: A similar bill, H.2066, <em>An act relative to improving asthma in schools</em> was reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Public Health, with H.2086 attached.</span></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Legislative Session 2011-2012</span></td>
<td>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bill filed:<br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Name: <em>An act to require environmentally safe alternatives to harmful cleaning products</em></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Number: H.624</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sponsors: Rep. Frank Smizik</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Co-sponsors: 28 Representatives, 7 Senators</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Events: <br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">6/2012: A revised version was reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Public Health and given a new number H.4153.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Session ends with bill before the Committee on Health Care Financing.</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Legislative Session 2009-2010</span></td>
<td>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bill filed:<br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Name: <em>An Act to Require Environmentally Safe Alternatives to Harmful Cleaning Products</em></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Number: H.2161, S.816</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sponsors: Rep. Frank Smizik</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Co-sponsors: 41 Representatives, 4 Senators</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Events: <br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">2/2010: A revised version was reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Public Health and given a new number H.4481.  The bill was then referred to the Committee on Health Care Financing which sent it to study.</span></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Legislative Session 2007-2008</span></td>
<td>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bill filed:<br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Name: <em>An Act Relative to Environmentally Safe Alternatives to Harmful Cleaning Products</em> & <em>An Act to Reduce Asthma and Other Health Threats from Cleaning Products Used in Schools, Hospitals and Public Housing</em> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Number: H.2246, S.2204</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sponsors: Rep. Frank Smizik, Sen. Dianne Wilkerson</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Co-sponsors: 32 Representatives, 6 Senators </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Events:<br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">2008: Bill receives favorable reports from the Joint Committee on Public Health (February) and Joint Committee on Health Care Financing (May).</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Session ends with bill in the House Committee on Ways and Means.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Legislative Session 2005-2006</span></td>
<td>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: 10pt;">Bill filed:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: 10pt;">Name: An Act to reduce asthma and other health threats from cleaning products used in schools, hospitals, day care centers, and public housing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: 10pt;">Number: H.2738, S.1223</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: 10pt;">Sponsors: Rep. Frank Smizik</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: 10pt;">Co-sponsors: 57 Representatives, 15 Senators</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: 10pt;">Events:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: 10pt;">2/06: New draft (H.4704) is reported out of Joint Committee on Public Health.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: 10pt;">6/06: New draft (H.5018) is reported out of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva; font-size: 10pt;">Session ends with bill in the House Committee on Ways and Means.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2014-05-16T12:34:46-07:00Proposed bill fails to protect public health
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/05/proposed-bill-fails.html
This past February, U.S. Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), Chairman of the Environment and Economy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released a problematic draft bill titled the “Chemicals in Commerce Act”, which would replace the already limited toxic...<p><img alt="CICA" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01a51183418d970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01a51183418d970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="CICA" /></p>
<p>This past February, U.S. Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), Chairman of the Environment and Economy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released a problematic draft bill titled the “Chemicals in Commerce Act”, which would replace the already limited toxic regulation currently existing under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  </p>
<p>In late April, the subcommittee held a <a href="http://energycommerce.house.gov/hearing/chemicals-commerce-act-0" target="_blank">hearing</a> of the revised bill, at which (not surprisingly) industry witnesses hailed it as making effective reforms, while advocates called it out for doing more damage than good in protecting public health. </p>
<p>As of late May, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to hold a bill mark-up session very soon.</p>
<p>This bill thinly disguises itself as a measure to protect public health, but in reality disregards years of work by scientists, environmental and health advocates, and state legislators to push for reform against the urgent toxic chemical crisis. “In essence, this draft bill has the potential to make a bad situation even worse”, reads a statement from the San Francisco-based <a href="http://www.breastcancerfund.org/media/press-releases/cica.html" target="_blank">Breast Cancer Fund</a>.</p>
<p>Among its many problems, the Chemicals in Commerce Act (CICA) would:</p>
<ul>
<li>Significantly <strong>roll back EPA’s authority</strong> to restrict the use of existing toxic chemicals in products and to require health information for new chemicals before they end up on the market.</li>
<li><strong>Preempt Existing State Laws</strong>: Once EPA completes a safety determination on a chemical, it would annul existing and prevent future state laws to regulate that chemical. Massachusetts-specific advances that would be preempted under the new bill include:</li>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>The <strong>Toxics Use Reduction Act</strong> (TURA) of 1989, which has effectively worked with businesses to reduce the use of toxic chemicals in products and manufacturing processes, and simultaneously cut costs.</li>
<li>The <strong>Massachusetts Mercury Management Act</strong> of 2006, which bans the disposal of mercury in trash and wastewater, sets recycling goals for mercury products, and more. </li>
<li>The draft also preempts states from regulating <strong>new</strong> chemicals introduced into commerce.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Continue the legal standard and other hurdles in current TSCA that prevented the EPA from taking action on <strong>asbestos</strong>. </li>
<li>Contradict the recommendations of the National Academy of Science and the American Academy of Pediatrics for how chemical safety should be reviewed.</li>
<li>Require EPA to weigh the <strong>economic benefits</strong> of a chemical, rather than use a strictly health-based standard. </li>
<li>Require the EPA to classify chemicals as <strong>high or low priority</strong> as soon as feasible – with no middle category of substances not yet prioritized, more chemicals will likely end up in the low priority category.</li>
<li>Dismiss risks to <strong>vulnerable</strong> <strong>populations</strong>, as a result of the cost-benefit analysis standard.</li>
</ul>
<p>As stated in a <a href="http://www.saferstates.com/2014/02/state-experts-warn-proposed-chemicals-in-commerce-act-would-wipe-out-public-health-progress.html#.UyBxbD9dVUN" target="_blank">release by Safer States</a>, “Of great concern are the measures to undermine and block state action. As the bill is designed, once EPA takes action of any kind, it would effectively hamstring and sideline state leaders, offering no possibility for states to contribute to health protective chemical policy.” States across the nation have taken steps forward to increase safeguards against the already flawed toxics regulation legislation, and the new CICA bill would reverse all of this progress.</p>
<p>You can view the discussion draft <a href="http://docs.house.gov/meetings/IF/IF18/20140429/102160/BILLS-113pih-TheChemicalsinCommerceAct.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>Material for this article was drawn from statements by <a href="http://www.saferchemicals.org/2014/02/house-chemical-bill-fails-to-protect-public-from-toxic-chemicals.html" target="_blank">Safer Chemicals Healthy Families</a> and <a href="http://www.saferstates.com/2014/02/state-experts-warn-proposed-chemicals-in-commerce-act-would-wipe-out-public-health-progress.html#.UyBxbD9dVUN" target="_blank">Safer States</a>.</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2014-05-16T12:21:30-07:00The Safer Alternatives Bill: A Legislative Summary
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/05/safer-alternatives-bill-timeline.html
An Act for Healthy Families and Businesses (previously the Safer Alternatives Bill) H.235 / S.354 The Bill: The Healthy Families and Businesses Act (Safer Alternatives Bill) will establish a pragmatic, gradual approach to reducing health impacts from many toxic chemicals...<h3> </h3>
<h3>An Act for Healthy Families and Businesses (previously the Safer Alternatives Bill)</h3>
<h3>H.235 / S.354</h3>
<p><strong>The Bill: </strong>The Healthy Families and Businesses Act (Safer Alternatives Bill) will establish a pragmatic, gradual approach to reducing health impacts from many toxic chemicals we are exposed to in everyday life.  This approach targets the worst toxic chemicals in Massachusetts—chemicals that are currently replaceable with safer alternatives for many uses.  The bill mandates a careful process to evaluate alternatives and replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives where feasible. It also stimulates research and development on new technologies and solutions when a safer option is not currently workable. </p>
<p><strong>Legislative History:</strong></p>
<table border="2" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Legislative Session 2013-2014</span></td>
<td>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bill filed:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Name: An Act for Healthy Families and Businesses </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">H.235, S.354 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Note: S.387 (An Act for a competitive economy through safer alternatives to toxic chemicals), filed by Sen. Marc Pacheco, has some similarities to the Healthy Families and Businesses Bill but is based on a weakened version that was first redrafted by the Joint Committee on the Environment in 2010.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sponsors: Rep. Jay Kaufman, Sen. Kenneth Donnelly</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Co-sponsors: 46 Representatives, 22 Senators</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Events:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">4/2013: Environment Committee gives a <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/04/familiesbusinesses.html" target="_blank">favorable report</a> to S.387, attaching S.354. S.387 is referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">4/2014: H.235 revised to match S.387. Revised version (H.3997) given a favorable report by the Environment Committee and sent to Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.</span></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Legislative Session 2011-2012</span></td>
<td>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bill filed:<br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Name: An Act for a Competitive Economy Through Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Number H.1136, S.397</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sponsors: Rep. Jay Kaufman, Sen. Steven Tolman</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Co-sponsors: 58 Representatives, 20 Senators</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Events:<br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">11/2011: Bill is weakened by the Environment Committee, and new draft (S.2079) is successfully <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2011/11/committee-report.html" target="_blank">reported out</a> to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">2/2012: <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2012/02/sign-on.html" target="_blank">22 senators sign</a> onto Senator Mark Pacheco’s letter asking W&M chairman Stephen Brewer to give the bill a favorable report.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">7/2012: AHT organizes a <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2012/07/stroller-brigade-in-boston.html" target="_blank">Stroller Brigade for Safe Chemicals</a> to push to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Formal session ends with bill remaining in Senate Committee on Ways and Means.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Legislative Session 2009-2010 </span></td>
<td>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bill filed: <br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Name: An Act for a Competitive Economy Through Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Number: H.757, S.442</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sponsors: Rep. Jay Kaufman, Sen. Steven Tolman</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Co-sponsors: 98 Representatives, 26 Senators</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Events:<br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">7/2010: Bill is weakened by the Environment committee; new draft (H.4865) receives <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2010/07/safer_alternatives_favorable.html" target="_blank">favorable report</a>. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Formal session ends with bill in House Committee on Ways and Means. Read about the <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2010/08/session-wrapup.html" target="_blank">business opposition</a> that held it up.</span></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Legislative Session 2007-2008</span></td>
<td>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bill filed: <br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Name: An Act for a Healthy Massachusetts: Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Number: H.783, S.558</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sponsors: Rep. Jay Kaufman, Sen. Steven Tolman</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Co-sponsors: 80 Representatives, 29 Senators </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Events:<br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">5/2007: AHT organizes a <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2007/05/mothersday.html" target="_blank">lobby day</a> leading up to a <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2007/06/debate-underway-on-legislation-to-curb-toxic-chemicals.html" target="_blank">hearing</a> before the Joint Committee on Natural Resources, Environment and Agriculture</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">11/2007: Bill receives a favorable report from the Environment Committee and from Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Bill receives new number: S-2406.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #ffff00;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1/2008: <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2007/11/legislation-senate.html" target="_blank">Senate passes bill in a unanimous vote</a>, under new name and number: S.2481 An Act Providing for Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">6/2008: A <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2008/06/letter_signers.html" target="_blank">letter</a> requesting a vote on the bill is delivered to Speaker DiMasi with the signatures of 85 Representatives. </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Formal session ends with the bill in the House Committee on Ways and Means.</span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Legislative Session 2005-2006 </span></td>
<td>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bill filed: <br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Name: An Act for a Healthy Massachusetts, Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals (Safer Alternatives Bill)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Number: H.1286, S.553</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sponsors: Rep. Jay Kaufman, Sen. Steven Tolman</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Co-sponsors: 56 Representatives, 15 Senators</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Events:<br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bill is assigned to the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (the Environment Committee).</span></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Legislative Session 2003-2004 </span></td>
<td>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bill filed: </span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Name: An Act for a Healthy Massachusetts: Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Number: H.2275, S.1268</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sponsors: Rep. Jay Kaufman, Sen. Steven Tolman</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Co-sponsors: 29 Representatives, 6 Senators</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Events:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bill is assigned to the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (the Environment Committee).</span></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2014-05-14T13:24:57-07:00Video Feature: Mind the Store's April 16th Day of Action
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/05/video-mind-the-store.html
On April 16th, AHT supporters gathered outside ten Walgreens locations across Massachusetts to urge the major retailer to phase out toxic products from their shelves. Concerned parents, student activists, health professionals, and leaders of environmental organizations visited Walgreens stores in...<p>On April 16th, AHT supporters gathered outside ten Walgreens locations across Massachusetts to urge the major retailer to phase out toxic products from their shelves. Concerned parents, student activists, health professionals, and leaders of environmental organizations visited Walgreens stores in downtown Boston, Dorchester, Lexington, Medway, the North Shore, Revere, and Yarmouth, as part of the national Mind the Store campaign.  Nearly 50 events were held across the country on April 16th to call on Walgreens, the largest drugstore chain in the states.</p>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4JicsPz1r9k?feature=oembed" width="500"></iframe></p>
<p>Check out this video that features events organized at the downtown Boston flagship store and Dorchester locations.  At the Boston location, students from Suffolk University were joined by representatives from the Massachusetts Council of Churches, the Environmental League of Massachusetts, and Clean Water Action.  In Dorchester, Rev. Bill Loesch led a group of B.O.L.D. (Breath of Life Dorchester) Teens, a youth group focused on environmental and social justice.  </p>
<p>You can still join the action - add your voice to theirs by signing a <a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2155/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15521" target="_blank">petition</a> to Walgreens.  </p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2014-05-01T05:00:00-07:00Walgreens, Mind the Store!
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/04/mind-the-store-walgreens.html
This week, as part of the national Mind the Store campaign’s day of action, concerned parents, youth activists, and health professionals gathered at Walgreens locations to call for stronger store policies regarding toxic products sold on their shelves. As the...<p><img alt="MAParticipants" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01a73dad9a39970d img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01a73dad9a39970d-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="MAParticipants" />This week, as part of the national <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/02/mind-the-store.html" target="_blank">Mind the Store campaign</a>’s day of action, concerned parents, youth activists, and health professionals gathered at <a href="http://mindthestore.saferchemicals.org/walgreens.html" target="_blank">Walgreens </a>locations to call for stronger store policies regarding toxic products sold on their shelves. As the country’s largest drugstore chain, Walgreens has the responsibility to protect the health of their customers. However, it has been unresponsive to previous campaign efforts, having undertaken no major initiatives to address toxic chemicals in their supply chain and ignoring requests for meetings from environmental health organizations. Therefore, on April 16th, customers across the nation took it in their own hands to make their voices heard.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We should be able to trust that a store like Walgreens in our neighborhood has safe products on their shelves that don't contain the most hazardous ingredients, like lead or triclosan," said Michelle Gottlieb, mother, environmental health advocate and Board of Health member. "We want to support stores that show this level of caring for our families and our pets, and are frankly surprised that Walgreens isn't taking more of a step in this direction. Scouring the fine print on labels, hoping to leave the store with safe products, is simply not practical or feasible."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Here in Massachusetts, Michelle and several supporters of AHT participated in the action, visiting Walgreens in over ten locations across the state. These included stores in downtown Boston, Brookline, the North Shore, Lexington, Medway, Dorchester, Revere, and Yarmouth.</p>
<p>At the counter, they led conversations with store managers, bringing to their attention a <a href="http://www.healthystuff.org/get-stuff.php?report=New+study+shows+toxic+chemicals+in+everyday+items+from+Walgreens" target="_blank">new study released by HealthyStuff.org</a> (a project of the Ecology center) regarding toxic ingredients identified in cosmetics, toys, cleaning products, and other items sold at Walgreens. Many of the products tested were found to have one or more chemicals of concern, including PVC (vinyl) plastic, phthalates, organotins, heavy metals, and other chemicals linked to cancer, reproductive disorders and other health hazards.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“It’s frustrating to know that we aren’t better protected from chemicals like triclosan in toothpaste or hand wash in products sold by Walgreens,” said Lila Farino, Suffolk University senior. “Even worse, not all ingredients are listed on product labels so we don’t really know what hazardous chemicals we are exposed to overall. This has got to change.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Youth activists from the <a href="http://www.boldteens.org/" target="_blank">Breath of Life Dorchester (B.O.L.D.) Teens</a> organization also had a powerful impact on the Codman Square Walgreens they often frequent. They delivered comment cards and even had conversations with the employees, who shared their concern and surprise upon learning about specific hazards found in products like baby shampoo and toothpaste.</p>
<p>We hope that the powerful messages delivered to retail locations across the country will make its way up to the corporate offices, prompting newer and stronger store policies, the phase-out of toxic products, and the wider availability of safer alternatives. In the absence of strong legislation to regulate toxic chemicals in consumer products, stores like Walgreens have the potential to step in and take action.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Preventing harm to our health from toxic chemicals is a moral imperative," said The Rev. Laura Everett, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches. "We know that the most vulnerable among us to these chemicals include pregnant women, young children, and communities of color already overburdened with pollution. We hope that Walgreens takes this into account and moves forward with a more health protective store policy."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Your voice can still be heard - <a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2155/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15521" target="_blank">join the conversation with Walgreens</a>!  </p>
<p>To read more about the events organized across the country, check out the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families summary <a href="http://blog.saferchemicals.org/2014/04/we-told-walgreens-to-step-up.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p> </p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2014-04-18T13:12:42-07:00Joining forces with firefighters to Give Toxics the Boot!
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/03/give-toxics-the-boot.html
Firefighters risk their lives every day on the job, but flames aren’t the only danger they face. They are especially vulnerable to toxic chemical exposure, one of the main causes of chronic diseases like cancer and reproductive disabilities. You may...<p><img alt="Toxic_Boot" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01a51180f207970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01a51180f207970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Toxic_Boot" /></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Firefighters risk their lives every day on the job, but flames aren’t the only danger they face.  They are <em>especially</em> vulnerable to toxic chemical exposure, one of the main causes of chronic diseases like cancer and reproductive disabilities.  You may be surprised to learn, for example, that the breast cancer rate in San Francisco female firefighters age 40-50 is six times the national average.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Here in Boston, the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, and the Boston Firefighters Union are teaming up to host a powerful event on <strong>Thursday, March 27<sup>th</sup>, 2014</strong> as part of the nation-wide <strong>Give Toxics the Boot</strong> campaign.</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: underline;"><em>Toxic Hot Seat</em> Film Screening and panel discussion</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When: 7:00 - 9:30 PM</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Where:<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Florian+Associate+Inc/@42.2823475,-71.0473279,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e37b784ee84941:0x48fd010776d8d5a8" target="_blank"> Florian Hall, 55 Hallet Street, Dorchester, MA 02124</a></span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.givetoxicstheboot.org" target="_blank">Give Toxics the Boot</a> </strong>is a campaign organized by Safer Chemicals Healthy Families, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and the filmmakers of <em>Toxic Hot Seat. </em>Similar events will be held across the country on this day of action to demonstrate the need for toxics reform and protection of our firefighters, families, and homes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The irony of it all is that a significant source of toxic exposure in firefighters is flame retardants – the very chemicals that are supposedly used as a “safety measure.”  When flame retardants burn, they release carcinogenic byproducts such as halogenated dioxins and furans, putting firefighters at a particular risk because of the high exposure levels in burning buildings. However, flame retardants are not only toxic when ablaze; these chemicals, present in many household items, can settle into the dust around your home and transfer into the human body via hand-to-mouth contact.  Not only are flame retardants dangerous to the health of firefighters, but they also pose a serious risk to you and your families. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">For over 40 years, flame retardants have been advertised as a protective fire measure and therefore have been pumped into sofa cushions, baby products, clothing fabric, and more.  But the question is raised: If we are aware of these concerning health statistics, then <em>why </em>are hazardous chemicals still being infused into products that are in our homes, offices, and schools?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/toxic-hot-seat#/" target="_blank"><strong><em>Toxic Hot Seat</em></strong></a>, an HBO documentary released in November 2013, sheds light on the complicated, controversial answer to this very question.  The film, set on the backdrop of the award-winning Chicago Tribune investigative series titled “<a href="http://media.apps.chicagotribune.com/flames/index.html" target="_blank">Playing with Fire</a>”, dives into an intricate story involving the chemical industry’s role and following the activist movement led by firefighters, mothers, journalists, and environmental activists to eliminate the use of toxic flame retardants.  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Flame retardants are just one example of why there needs to be stronger state and federal legislation against the use of toxic chemicals in consumer products.  We invite you to join the effort to push for flame retardant elimination and stronger toxics regulation by joining us on March 27th<strong>.  Show your support for our firefighters and the campaign to extinguish the use of toxic flame retardants!</strong></span></p>EventsFeaturedElizabeth Saunders2014-03-27T05:37:21-07:00Mind the Store, Protect the Customer
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/02/mind-the-store.html
With great market power comes great responsibility. Retailers hold the power to choose which products are available to consumers, and what ingredients go into store brand items. With a lack of federal regulation over toxic chemicals in consumer products, retailers...<p><em> <img alt="Mind the Store" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01a3fcc709c7970b img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01a3fcc709c7970b-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Mind the Store" />With great market power comes great responsibility</em>. Retailers hold the power to choose which products are available to consumers, and what ingredients go into store brand items. With a lack of federal regulation over toxic chemicals in consumer products, retailers have the potential to step in and screen their inventory, and by doing so have a large impact on improving public health and the environment. In support of pressuring retailers to take action, the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow coalition is excited to join other environmental and health organizations in joining the efforts of <a href="http://mindthestore.saferchemicals.org/" target="_blank"><em>Mind the Store</em></a> this spring.</p>
<p>Mind the Store is a national campaign led by <a href="http://saferchemicals.org/" target="_blank">Safer Chemicals Healthy Families</a> (SCHF) that targets major retailers and their role in regulating the products sold on their shelves.  Scientific research continues to reveal health risks associated with common ingredients in cosmetics, baby products, and more, yet current legislation surrounding consumer product regulation is very outdated.  Alarmed at this lack of legislative monitoring, the campaign challenges big-name stores such as Walmart, Target, and Kroger to reduce, eliminate, or find safer alternatives for products with ingredients on the SCHF “Hazardous 100+” list. This list consists of over one hundred chemicals known or suspected to be linked to chronic health issues, such as cancer, developmental disabilities, and hormone disruptions, and include chemicals often in the public health spotlight such as bisphenol A (BPA) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), among others.</p>
<p>The campaign is calling on retailers to phase out this list of 100+ chemicals, so that consumers are not burdened with the task themselves. Imagine having to go into a store with a list of 100 dangerous chemicals in mind - it would be ridiculous to scour through the tiny ingredient labels of every product you buy! However, it is <em>not</em> ridiculous for the stores to step in and regulate the safety of their stock. By doing so, customers can confidently purchase items knowing that their health and safety is of priority.</p>
<p>The campaign has already had some successes. Last September, Walmart implemented a <a href="http://mindthestore.saferchemicals.org/walmart.html" target="_blank">new corporate policy</a> requiring manufacturers of cleaning, cosmetics, and baby care products to disclose full ingredient lists, and in addition, will remove a select 10 chemicals from these product sectors (See our previous post on Walmart <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/10/walmart.html" target="_blank">here</a>). In October, Target announced a new <a href="http://mindthestore.saferchemicals.org/target.html" target="_blank">sustainable products standard </a>to assign scores based on ingredient, packaging, and environmental impact quality. Target also created a list of over 1,000 chemicals to avoid in their products. Other retailers have also undertaken work to develop safer, more sustainable products and methods.</p>
<p>Mind the Store hopes to build on the momentum of these successes from last fall to achieve its goal of negotiating with other major stores to eliminate the chemicals on the Hazardous 100+ list. Until the government enacts new laws to better regulate the toxics in consumer products, it is the responsibility of the retailers to create change.</p>
<p><strong>Take action:</strong> During the month of March, we're telling Walgreens, the nation's largest retailer, "No more toxic products!". <a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2155/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=15308" target="_blank">Send a message to Walgreens today</a>.</p>
<p>A Day of Action is in the works for Mid-April. For more information on how to get involved, contact us at <a href="mailto:info@healthytomorrow.org" target="_blank">info@healthytomorrow.org</a>.</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2014-02-27T14:40:49-08:00Young advocates for safe cosmetics
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/02/workshop-la-chic.html
"Dear Retail Stores, Listen up!" urges 11-year-old Sophie Alcindor. After learning about the dangers of toxic ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products at her after school program, Sophie decided to take action. In a letter addressed to major retailers,...<p><img alt="LaChic" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01a3fcbd21ec970b img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01a3fcbd21ec970b-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="LaChic" /><em>"Dear Retail Stores, Listen up!"</em> urges 11-year-old Sophie Alcindor. After learning about the dangers of toxic ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products at her after school program, Sophie decided to take action. In a letter addressed to major retailers, she expressed her desire for change:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>"We all get it that you want to make money, but are [sic] this neck to neck competition really worth it. Can customers walk in and feel safe without having to feast valuable hours just to find good and safe products....Stop having dangerous products in your stores.  If you would listen to the scientists or chemists telling you they are bad then maybe you would have more customers. Create a safe environment for the customers."</em></p>
Last month, AHT coordinator and Clean Water Action’s Massachusetts Director, Elizabeth Saunders, led workshops aimed at educating young women about toxic ingredients found in the very products they use at home. The workshops were organized in partnership with <a href="http://www.lachicmentoringplus.org/" target="_blank">La Chic Mentoring Plus</a>, an after-school mentoring program that strives to help girls and young women gain confidence through academic support and public speaking lessons. Recently, La Chic received a grant from the <a href="http://www.turi.org/" target="_blank">Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI)</a> at UMass Lowell to educate girls about toxic chemicals in beauty products and raise awareness about safer alternatives and methods.
<p>During the workshop, the girls explored the variety and number of personal care products they use on a daily basis, scrutinized ingredient labels in search of toxic chemicals, and investigated some of the risks associated with hazardous ingredients.  The workshops proved to be very engaging and eye-opening for the girls in the program.</p>
<p>As part of the session, students were introduced to a list of particularly dangerous chemicals common in personal care products, and used the online <a href="http://ewg.org/skindeep" target="_blank">EWG SkinDeep® database</a> to see whether the products they use at home contain any of these ingredients. Shocked to find many of their products listed with high hazard scores, they expressed their concern by writing advocacy letters to nearby retailers, which they agreed should take responsibility for the public’s protection. A letter written by a group of 11-13 year-olds reads:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>"Dear CVS, We believe that some of the personal care products (soap, lotion, etc) that you sell at your store are harming people and animals… For example, Colgate toothpaste has sodium laureth sulfate that releases contaminants that can eventually cause cancer. We at La Chic suggest that you look deeper and buy and sell safer products that do not contain harmful chemicals."</em></p>
<p>AHT hopes that these young women's concerns will be heard and will prompt change that ensures the health and safety of consumers.</p>FeaturedOur StoriesElizabeth Saunders2014-02-18T08:06:28-08:00New Database Reveals Toxic Ingredients in Cosmetics
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2014/01/new-cosmetics-database.html
Did you know that retinol, the vitamin A supplement added to many anti-aging creams, is actually listed as a developmental toxin? Or that methyleugenol, commonly used for fragrance in a variety of personal care items such as lotions and shampoos,...<p><img alt="Cosmetics Shopper" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01a3fcaef2cf970b img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01a3fcaef2cf970b-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Cosmetics Shopper" />Did you know that retinol, the vitamin A supplement added to many anti-aging creams, is actually listed as a developmental toxin?  Or that methyleugenol, commonly used for fragrance in a variety of personal care items such as lotions and shampoos, is a known carcinogen?<br /><br />Earlier this month, the California Safe Cosmetics Program launched a searchable <a href="http://www.safecosmeticsact.org/search/" target="_blank">online database</a> listing cosmetic products containing ingredients that are known to pose risks of cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. This database is a result of the California Safe Cosmetics Act of 2005, which requires that companies self-report a list of all products sold in California that are known or suspected to contain ingredients with the aforementioned health risks.  </p>
<br />This database, searchable by product type, brand name, or chemical ingredient, has a user-friendly interface that makes it a great addition to the public’s toolbox for health education.  By making manufacturer information accessible to the public, it gives consumers the power to make informed decisions when choosing the products they use on a daily basis. <br /><br />This is not the first resource aimed at raising consumer awareness; the Environmental Working Group (EWG) developed its <a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/" target="_blank">Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database</a> in 2004, which currently contains data on nearly 75,000 products and counting.  Recently, Skin Deep® has also been transformed into mobile application that allows users to scan barcodes and instantly retrieve ingredient and risk factor information while at the store!<br /><br />Not only do these tools place power in the consumers’ hands to make safer choices, but they also hold manufacturers accountable for any toxic ingredients in their products.  According to Gretchen Lee Salter of the California based <a href="http://www.breastcancerfund.org/" target="_blank">Breast Cancer Fund</a>, which coordinates the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, “The searchable public database exerts pressure on companies to clean up their act or be forced to acknowledge that they are intentionally adding toxic chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects to lotions, lipsticks and makeup that people use on their skin every day.”  We hope that this added pressure will push companies to reformulate their products to remove these dangerous chemicals.<br /><br />Considering the widespread and frequent use of cosmetics, it is surprising that they are among the least regulated products available on the market. Currently, the FDA is not authorized to perform health reviews or pre-market testing of cosmetics and personal care products.  While the California database is a leap forward in public health education, consumers should not have to take such steps in the first place.  It should be the government’s responsibility to ensure that companies replace these toxins with safer alternatives, without the consumer having to scrutinize every product they purchase.  It is in these efforts that the AHT is working with the <a href="http://www.safecosmetics.org" target="_blank">Campaign for Safe Cosmetics</a> and others to secure regulatory and legislative reforms to eliminate dangerous chemicals from cosmetics products.<br /><br />FeaturedToxics & Our HealthElizabeth Saunders2014-01-29T12:30:57-08:00Autism and toxic chemicals: evidence of a link
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/12/autism-and-toxics.html
Autism rates have been rising exponentially, with a 600 percent increase over the past two decades. Today 1 in 50 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the U.S. every year. Research compiled by The Institute for Agriculture...<p><img alt="Autism" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c019b02be5a37970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019b02be5a37970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Autism" />Autism rates have been rising exponentially, with a 600 percent increase over the past two decades. Today 1 in 50 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the U.S. every year. Research compiled by <a href="http://www.iatp.org/documents/autism-what-do-environment-and-diet-have-to-do-with-it" target="_blank">The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy</a> explores recent reports that there may be more at play here than better diagnosis and genetics.  There is growing evidence that there might be a correlation between environmental exposures to toxins, dietary factors and increased Autism rates, especially with prenatal and early life exposure.</p>
<p>ASD was previously considered purely a developmental disorder impairing communication and social interactions. It is now shown to cause physical factors such as intestinal problems, immune disorders and seizures. The increase in ASD and other developmental disorders are a huge cost to our society. The U.S. spends an average of $126 billion dollars each year on educational and medical services for people with Autism, which does not even include out of pocket expenses of families. Most of the resources devoted to ASD are being used for services and genetic research, and very few are dedicated to prevention through environmental and dietary factors.</p>
<p>According to the <a href="http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1104285/" target="_blank">National Institute of Environmental Health</a> there are numerous toxic chemicals that we are commonly exposed to which are directly linked to developmental disorders, such as lead, methyl mercury, PCBs, pesticides, endocrine disrupters, automotive exhaust, brominated flame retardants, and PAHs which occur in oil, coal and tar. Endocrine disrupters are found in the systems of all women of childbearing age in the U.S. Exposure to toxic chemicals needs to be reduced to begin to reduce the rate of Autism. Studies have found increased rates of autism in areas exposed to the following environmental toxins:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Pollution</strong>, air pollution and close proximity to pollutant sites such as highways</li>
<li><strong>Pesticides</strong>,  living near agricultural organochlorine pesticide (OP) applications</li>
<li><strong>Phthalates</strong>, a chemical found in plastics and fragrance in personal care products</li>
<li><strong>Heavy metals</strong>, mercury, lead, aluminum & cadmium</li>
<li><strong>Persistent organic pollutants</strong>, PCBs & DDEs which bioaccumulate in fish, meat and dairy products</li>
<li><strong>Parental occupation</strong>, specifically mothers exposure to exhaust, combustion and solvents</li>
</ul>
<p> There are also strong links between maternal prenatal diets and their diets during pregnancy to increased risk of autism. Woman with higher-fat diets, obesity or metabolic disorders such as diabetes are at a higher risk of having children with behavioral disorders such as ADHD and Autism. There is also a link in deficiency of Zinc, Magnesium and vitamin D to increases in behavioral disorders.  <br />With all the factors contributing to Autism and other developmental disorders which cannot be controlled, it is important to stop the ones that can. The growing evidence of the links between unnecessary exposures to environmental toxins and increased risk of Autism shows yet again the need for reform of our nation’s chemical laws and the need to protect particularly vulnerable members of society such as pregnant women and children. <br /><br /></p>
<p><em>*Photo from the <a href="http://www.iatp.org/blog/201312/let%E2%80%99s-focus-on-environment-and-diet-to-help-prevent-autism" target="_blank">Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.</a></em></p>FeaturedToxics & Our HealthElizabeth Saunders2013-12-13T11:06:27-08:00Playing on Poison: Toxic Chemicals in Children's Furniture
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/11/playing-on-poison-1.html
BOSTON—Independent testing commissioned by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH), with support of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, has released a report on harmful flame retardant chemicals found in children’s chairs, couches and other kids’ furniture purchased from major...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019b0164bea1970c-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Report cover" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c019b0164bea1970c img-responsive" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019b0164bea1970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Report cover" /></a>BOSTON—Independent testing commissioned by the <a href="http://www.ceh.org/" target="_blank">Center for Environmental Health (CEH)</a>, with support of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, has released a <span class="asset asset-generic at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c019b01659f66970d"><a href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/files/final-report-2.pdf">report</a></span> on harmful flame retardant chemicals found in children’s chairs, couches and other kids’ furniture purchased from major retailers throughout the U.S. and Canada. A children’s chair purchased from Target in Kingston, Massachusetts was found to contain the toxic flame retardant TCPP.  In response, advocates and parents are calling for the Massachusetts legislature to require that companies make safer products.<br /><br />The products that were found to contain flame retardants were specifically marketed to children with colorful designs and popular children’s characters such as Dora the Explorer and Spiderman.  It is well established by fire safety scientists that these chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, infertility and other health problems do not actually prevent fires.</p>
<blockquote>
<p> “Most parents would never suspect that their children could be exposed to toxic flame retardant chemicals when they sit on a Mickey Mouse couch, but our report shows that children’s foam furniture can carry hidden health hazards,” said CEH’s Judy Levin, co-author of the report Playing on Poison released by CEH today. “Companies that sell these products need to know that parents want safer products made without these harmful chemicals.”</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>“It’s outrageous that a chair designed for children would be laden with toxic chemicals,” said Anna Baker, a mother of 2 from Marshfield, who has shopped for her family at the Kingston Target store where one of the products in the report was purchased.  “Parents could use some help from the government in requiring that companies make safe products.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In July and August, CEH, the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and other partner groups purchased 42 items of children’s furniture from 13 states and Canada. Items were purchased from major retailers, such as Walmart and Target, and sent to Duke University researcher Heather Stapleton for laboratory analysis. <br /><br />Dr. Stapleton’s analysis found four flame retardant chemicals (including two chemicals that are mixtures of various flame retardants) in 38 of 42 products tested. The chair from the Target in Kingston, Massachusetts contained the toxic chemical TCPP, which is part of a class of chemicals known as Chlorinated Tris and classified as a known carcinogen. A second chair, purchased in a Pittsfield “HomeGoods” store did not contain flame retardants.  The chemicals found in other chairs were:</p>
<ul>
<li>Firemaster 550 (found in 22 items): a mixture of four chemicals, linked to obesity and disruption of the bodies’ natural hormone functioning.</li>
<li>TCPP (Tris, 15 items): linked to genetic damage and changes in the length of the menstrual cycle.</li>
<li>TDCPP (chlorinated Tris, 2 items): known to cause cancer, linked to genetic damage, effects on fertility and natural hormones, and damage to developing embryos.</li>
<li>Butylated Triphenyl Phosphate (1 item): a mixture of four chemicals linked to decreased fertility and abnormal menstrual cycles.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p> “The chair that I contributed to the study didn’t happen to have flame retardants in it, which is a relief,” said Steve Levin, a father from Williamstown, MA.  “But it also makes me mad because clearly all of the children’s couches and chairs could be made to be safe, and they’re not. I could just have easily purchased a toxic chair—there’s no way to tell them apart.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Children are more vulnerable to toxic flame retardant chemicals than adults are because of their behaviors and physical needs. Children put their hands in their mouths often, and touch whatever is near them. Young children crawl and play where dust containing high levels of flame retardants settles in homes, daycares and schools. Recent studies show children carry on average three times higher levels of flame retardants in their bodies than the levels found in their mothers and that children of color or from low-income communities have higher levels of flame retardant chemicals in their bodies than levels found in white children.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“I will do anything I can to protect my daughter from harm. But how can I protect her from things I can't see?” asked Eugenia Gibbons, of Revere. “When it comes to toxic chemicals, parents just can't go it alone. We need companies to make products that don't poison their customers and we need the government to do everything it can to protect our children.” <br /><br /></p>
</blockquote>
<p>In the Massachusetts legislature, S.354 & <em>H.235 An Act for Healthy Families and Businesses</em>, filed by Senator Ken Donnelly (D-Arlington) and Representative Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington) would create a program to replace toxic chemicals in consumer products with safer alternatives wherever feasible.<br /><br /></p>
<blockquote>
<p>“The Healthy Families Bill is exactly what’s needed to protect children and families from toxic chemicals like flame retardants,” said Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts Director for Clean Water Action. “Children should not be playing on poison, and the state has an important role to play in seeing that these products are made more safely.”<br /><br /></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Flame retardant chemicals are used in these products despite their lack of efficiency largely due to an outdated, California flammability standard called TB 117, which set the standard nationally and globally. The bill requires flame retardants to be put in the inside of furniture,  which fire safety scientists say render the chemicals virtually useless because once the outside fabric ignites, the fire will be too large to be controlled by the chemical flame retardants used on the inside. <br /><br /><em>The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) works to protect children and their families from toxic chemicals their exposed to from the environment and consumer products. CEH also works with major industries and green businesses to promote alternatives to toxic products. </em><br /><br /><em>Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow was founded in 2002 and is a coalition of health, environmental, labor, science, civic, faith-based, and health professional groups working together in Massachusetts to pass laws and policies that prevent harm to human health and the environment from toxic chemicals.</em><br /><br /></p>FeaturedPress RoomElizabeth Saunders2013-11-20T08:49:00-08:00Chem Fatale
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/11/chem-fatale.html
Would you be surprised to learn that feminine care products--like tampons, pads, douches, wipes, and sprays—can contain hazardous ingredients? And these toxic chemicals are coming into contact with some of the most absorptive tissue on women’s bodies! Our partners at...<p><img alt="Chem Fatale" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c019b00b40185970d" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019b00b40185970d-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Chem Fatale" />Would you be surprised to learn that feminine care products--like tampons, pads, douches, wipes, and sprays—can contain hazardous ingredients? And these toxic chemicals are coming into contact with some of the most absorptive tissue on women’s bodies!</p>
<p>Our partners at <a href="http://www.womensvoices.org" target="_blank">Women’s Voices for the Earth</a> just released a new report, <a href="http://www.womensvoices.org/chem-fatale" target="_self"><em>Chem Fatale: Potential Health Effects of Toxic Chemicals in Feminine Care Products</em></a>, which examines unregulated toxic chemicals in feminine care products that may result in serious health problems, like increased risk of breast cancer, reproductive problems, asthma, and allergic reactions. Chemicals of concern commonly used in feminine care products include carcinogens, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors, and allergens.</p>
Some shocking highlights from the report:
<ul>
<li>While pads and tampons are used almost universally by all women, Black and Latina women use some feminine products like douches, wipes, and sprays in greater numbers than white women.  These women of color are disproportionately impacted by the chemicals found in these products.</li>
<li>Pads and tampons are regulated as medical devices, which means that companies don’t have to disclose any ingredients in these products.</li>
<li>Companies are not required by law to disclosed fragrance ingredients. Unfortunately, a “fragrance” is a mixture of ingredients that can include any of over 3,000 different chemicals, including carcinogens, irritants, allergens, and potential endocrine disruptors.</li>
<li>Test results show dioxins, furans and pesticide residues in tampons, which have been linked to cancer, reproductive harm and endocrine disruption.</li>
<li>Lots of feminine care products contain formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, and formaldehyde is a carcinogen and a potent allergen.</li>
<li>Common chemicals in feminine washes are regulated by the FDA as safe “for external use only.”  However, it is extremely unlikely that some internal vaginal exposure would not occur from regular use.</li>
<li>Anti-itch creams commonly contain chemicals which are either allergens or irritants, and can actually serve to exacerbate the very symptoms that women are attempting to treat.</li>
<li>Because of weak regulation companies do not have to prove the chemicals they are using in these products are safe, so companies are legally allowed to use ingredients linked to cancer, birth defects, and other chronic diseases</li>
</ul>
<p>Obviously, this is not an issue that comes up in polite conversation. No one likes to talk about these products, or their use of these products, and as a result they are not getting the attention, scrutiny or oversight they deserve to assure their safety for women’s health.</p>
<p>That’s why Women's Voices for the Earth and Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow are talking about it. Toxic chemicals have no place in feminine care products. Period.</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Take Action: </strong></span>This is exactly the sort of research that demonstrates how important it is that our state and federal governments pass laws that prevent harm to our health from toxic chemicals.  <a href="http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2155/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13293" target="_self"><strong>Write to your State Senator today and ask him or her to pass the Healthy Families and Businesses Bill</strong></a>, to replace toxic chemicals in consumer products wherever possible.</p>
<p>While we’re working on getting companies to make safer products, you can reduce your own exposure to toxic chemicals in feminine care products by:</p>
<ul>
<li>Reducing your use of feminine care products;</li>
<li>Eliminating use of products that may be unnecessary to a healthy vagina;</li>
<li>Choosing unscented products where available (particularly tampons and pads);</li>
<li>Choosing chlorine-free bleached or unbleached cotton tampons and pads.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Material for this article was provided by <a href="http://www.womensvoices.org" target="_blank">Women's Voices for the Earth</a>.</em></p>
<p> </p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2013-11-06T04:00:00-08:00Don't miss! Unacceptable Levels Film Screening
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/11/unacceptable-levels.html
Come join us on November 21st to see the new groundbreaking documentary Unacceptable Levels play at UMass Lowell! There will be a reception at 5:30 followed by the movie at 6pm. After the film, we'll get to hear from a...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019b00aa45a4970d-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="UL" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c019b00aa45a4970d" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019b00aa45a4970d-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="UL" /></a>Come join us on November 21st to see the new groundbreaking documentary <em>Unacceptable Levels</em> play at UMass Lowell! There will be a reception at 5:30 followed by the movie at 6pm. After the film, we'll get to hear from a panel including two local heroes who are featured in the film:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Dr. Joel Tickner</strong>, Associate Professor of Community Health & Sustainability at UMass Lowell;</li>
<li><strong>Dr. Richard Clapp</strong>, Adjunct Professor at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production and retired Boston University Professor of Public Health; and</li>
<li><strong>Amy Canon</strong>, Co-Founder of <em>Beyond Benign;</em></li>
<li><strong>Elizabeth Saunders,</strong> Massachusetts Director of Clean Water Action</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
Unacceptable Levels is a documentary created by first time film maker Ed Brown that examines the results of the chemical revolution in America. After his wife's second miscarriage, Brown decided to investigate the effects of environmental exposure to toxic chemicals on our bodies. Brown travels the country speaking with top leaders in science, public health, advocacy and law in search of answers. His findings are scary to say the least. 26.9 trillion pounds of 84,000 different chemicals are produced in or imported to the U.S. every year! The average American has over 200 synthetic chemicals in their bodies every day, the effects of which are largely unknown.
<p>The Chemical Industry argues that there is too little evidence linking chemicals to diseases and other health problems for the government to step up regulations. This argument is weak and flawed and the government needs to replace its outdated <a href="http://www.saferchemicals.org/resources/tsca.html" target="_blank">Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976</a> with the more up to date and preventative <a href="http://www.saferchemicals.org/safe-chemicals-act/" target="_blank">Safe Chemicals Act</a> proposed by the late Senator Frank Lautenberg in 2010. The film is a narrative of how the chemical revolution of the 1940's has led us to where we are today, and where we will be tomorrow, if something big doesn't change and to shift our efforts and attention from the treatment of existing diseases, to prevention.</p>
<p><strong>Film Location:</strong> O'Leary library 222; 61 Wilder St. Lowell, MA 0185. Download <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/attachments/Unacceptable%20Levels%20directions1.pdf" target="_blank">driving directions in PDF</a> or <a href="http://www.uml.edu/maps/" target="_blank">visit the UMass Lowell website for a campus map</a>.</p>
<p> </p>EventsFeaturedElizabeth Saunders2013-11-05T12:57:30-08:00National Stroller Brigade for Safe Chemicals 2013
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/11/stroller-brigade.html
Tuesday October 29th was a huge day for the fight against toxic chemicals. Hundreds of women, men and children from all over the country came together in Washington D.C. for the second National Stroller Brigade for Safe Chemicals. Many mothers...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019b00aa2ffc970d-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="10578217515_7102781a4f" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c019b00aa2ffc970d" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019b00aa2ffc970d-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="10578217515_7102781a4f" /></a>Tuesday October 29th was a huge day for the fight against toxic chemicals. Hundreds of women, men and children from all over the country came together in Washington D.C. for the second National Stroller Brigade for Safe Chemicals. Many mothers with their young children and babies in tow traveled from as far as Alaska to raise awareness and lobby against weak toxic chemical policies in congress. The event was organized by  <a href="http://saferchemicals.org/" target="_blank">Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families</a> a coalition of over 11 million individuals and hundreds of diverse groups from across the nation all coming together to express their concerns about the toxic chemicals we’re exposed to in our environment. The message of the Stroller Brigade was clear; we need Congress to pass a strong, meaningful law that protects the public from the thousands of toxic chemicals we are exposed to every day.</p>
<p>A dynamic team of 4 women and one child (pictured on the right) traveled from Massachusetts to join the stroller brigade. Eugenia Gibbons who leads a strong mom network for Boston and lives in Revere came with her adorable 15 month old Sylvie. Lori Alper, a nationally recognized mom <a href="http://groovygreenlivin.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a>; active Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families campaigner and mother of four came from Medford. We were also joined by Cheryl Durr Patry a mother of four who leads Medfield Green Moms and Madeleine Doggett a Northeastern University student and <a href="http://www.cleanwateraction.org/ma" target="_blank">Clean Water Action</a> intern currently living in Boston. These women, greatly concerned about environmental exposures to toxic chemicals especially in children and other particularly vulnerable communities took Washington by storm. They visited the offices of Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Edward Markey, Representative Michael Capuano and Representative Joe Kennedy to express their concerns about our chemical laws.</p>
The nation’s current law regulating toxic chemicals is the<a href="http://www.epa.gov/oecaagct/lsca.html" target="_blank">Toxic Substance Control Act</a> (TSCA) of 1976, an act which is outdated and ineffective in protecting the public. A new bill was proposed by the late Senator Frank Lautenberg (D- NJ) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA) in June 2013, the <a href="http://www.saferchemicals.org/chemical_safety_improvement_act.html" target="_blank">Chemical Safety Improvement Act</a> (CSIA). Unfortunately the CSIA is flawed and so the Stroller Brigade participants called on Congress to improve the bill before it is passed in order for it to be effective. As currently written, the bill would undermine existing state laws that have been effective in regulating toxic chemicals, such as the <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/08/turi-report.html" target="_self">Toxic Use Reduction Act</a> in Massachusetts. The bill would also make it more difficult for the EPA to test chemicals in consumer products. Furthermore, the CSIA does not go far enough towards protecting of some of the most vulnerable communities in the U.S., such as pregnant women, children and workers exposed daily to toxic chemicals.
<p>As we see the rise in cancer, reproductive diseases, and developmental disabilities which have been linked to chemical exposure, it is time to create meaningful policies regulating our environmental exposure. To see more photos from the Stroller Brigade for Safe Chemicals, “Like” the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/healthytomorrow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</p>EventsFeaturedElizabeth Saunders2013-11-04T12:45:48-08:00Pink ribbon mania: Can we shop our way out of breast cancer?
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/10/preventing-pinkwashing-prevent-breast-cancer.html
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. in her lifetime—that is 250,000 women each year. Every year 40,000 women die from breast cancer in the U.S. Breast cancer is an epidemic and the disease...<p> </p>
<p>
<a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019b0006e165970d-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Pink ribbon products" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c019b0006e165970d" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019b0006e165970d-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Pink ribbon products" /></a>One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. in her lifetime—that is 250,000 women each year. Every year 40,000 women die from breast cancer in the U.S. Breast cancer is an epidemic and the disease needs to be stopped before it starts. October is national breast cancer awareness month, which means pink ribbons as far as the eye can see, but how much are these pink ribbons really helping the cause? Since the national pink ribbon campaign began, have breast cancer rates decreased at all?    <br /><br />The first breast cancer ribbon was peach, not pink, made by a woman named Charlotte Haley to campaign for the National Cancer Institute to increase funding for breast cancer prevention research. Haley was approached by <span>Estée</span> Lauder to use the peach ribbon to market cosmetic products, but Haley refused, fearing that the ribbon would be used for profit. That is when <span>Estée</span> Lauder changed the color to pink and the national marketing campaign began. You can now find the pink ribbon on an array of products, but consumers should be aware that there is no regulation of which products can advertise with a pink ribbon. <strong>In fact, many corporations are selling pink ribbon products which themselves contain chemicals linked to cancer, a marketing ploy referred to by some as “pinkwashing.”</strong> There are 80,000 chemicals produced in the U.S. every year, of which only 200 have been properly tested for human safety</p>
<br />Breast cancer rates have significantly increased over the last century. In 1920 only one in twenty women was diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime (compared with the current one in eight). Breast cancer research has mostly focused on treatments and cures for woman already diagnosed, which is important, but leaves out the important angle of preventing women (and men) from getting the disease in the first place. Of the $1.5 billion dollars spent every year on breast cancer research, only 7% goes towards prevention. The strategy of waiting until people get sick and searching for treatments, rather than addressing the root causes, results in much suffering that could be avoided.
<p><br />Clean Water Action works with the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT) coalition to create laws and policies that prevent harm to our health from toxic chemicals.  Our partners in the AHT include groups who are doing important work to shift the focus of the national breast cancer campaign towards prevention.  <a href="http://mbcc.org/breast-cancer-prevention/" target="_blank">Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition</a>, which is a founding member, board member and lead partner of AHT has started the campaign <a href="http://mbcc.org/breast-cancer-prevention/index.php/2013/10/turn-pinkwashing-into-prevention/" target="_blank"><em>Turn Pinkwashing into Prevention</em></a> to raise awareness about the environmental carcinogens woman are exposed to everyday. By encouraging companies to remove chemicals linked to breast cancer from their products and by raising consumer consciousness of pink ribbon products they are taking important steps in the fight towards prevention. Another AHT member group <a href="http://www.bcaction.org/" target="_blank">Breast Cancer Action</a> is doing similar work on a national level with their <a href="http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/" target="_blank"><em>Think before you pink</em></a> campaign. </p>
<div id="stcpDiv" style="position: absolute; top: -1999px; left: -1988px;">Clean Water Action works with the <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/" target="_blank">Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow</a>
(AHT) coalition to create laws and policies that prevent harm to our
health from toxic chemicals.  Our partners in the AHT include groups who
are doing important work to shift the focus of the national breast
cancer campaign towards prevention.<a href="http://mbcc.org/breast-cancer-prevention/" target="_blank"> Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition’s</a> campaign <a href="http://mbcc.org/breast-cancer-prevention/index.php/2013/10/turn-pinkwashing-into-prevention/" target="_blank"><em>Turn Pinkwashing into Prevention</em></a> and <a href="http://www.bcaction.org/" target="_blank">Breast Cancer Action’s</a> campaign <a href="http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/" target="_blank"><em>Think Before You Pink</em></a>
are raising awareness about the environmental carcinogens woman are
exposed to everyday. By encouraging companies to remove chemicals linked
to breast cancer from their products and by raising consumer
consciousness of pink ribbon products they are taking important steps in
the fight towards prevention. - See more at:
http://blog.cleanwateraction.org/2013/10/15/think-before-you-pink-clean-water-action-on-breast-cancer-awareness/#more-3190</div>
<p>October’s pinkwashing can serve as a reminder that the links between toxic chemical exposure and breast cancer incidence are largely swept under the rug by manufacturers of consumer products. We need stronger state and federal laws that hold companies accountable for the toxic chemicals that they use and require companies to phase toxic chemicals out in favor of safer alternatives wherever possible. </p>
<p>Information for this article was drawn from the websites and materials of the <a href="http://mbcc.org/breast-cancer-prevention/" target="_blank">Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition</a> and <a href="www.bcaction.org" target="_blank">Breast Cancer Action</a>.</p>FeaturedToxics & Our HealthElizabeth Saunders2013-10-17T09:48:07-07:00Walmart Chemical Phase out: Let's Start with Lead!
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/10/walmart.html
Walmart has been in the spotlight this fall in the campaign to remove toxic chemicals from consumer products. On September 17th, in response to a national Mind the Store campaign--coordinated by Safer Chemicals Healthy Families--the retail giant took a huge...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019affc67d77970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Walmart jewlery" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c019affc67d77970b" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019affc67d77970b-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Walmart jewlery" /></a>Walmart has been in the spotlight this fall in the campaign to remove toxic chemicals from consumer products.  On September 17th, in response to a national <em><a href="http://mindthestore.saferchemicals.org/" target="_blank">Mind the Store</a></em> campaign--coordinated by <a href="http://www.saferchemicals.org" target="_blank">Safer Chemicals Healthy Families</a>--the retail giant took a huge step in the right direction by announcing a plan to phase out ten toxic chemicals from its cleaning, personal care and cosmetic products by 2015. Just twelve days before, the <a href="http://watoxics.org/" target="_blank">Washington Toxics Coalition</a> (WTC) released a report on jewelry sold at Walmart that was found to contain high amounts of lead.</p>
<p>The WTC study, <em><a href="http://watoxics.org/research/walmart-get-the-lead-out" target="_blank">Walmart Get the Lead Out</a></em>, found high levels of lead in 25% of the jewelry tested. Eight out of 34 products tested contained lead ranging from 7,748 parts per million (ppm) to 357,790 ppm. For example, the horseshoe necklace pictured above tested at 35.8% lead! A toxic chemical phase out by one of the top retailers in the country truly exemplifies the power of the consumer to influence the products they are being sold, which is why we need to continue to pressure Walmart and other retailers to take these lead filled products out of their stores immediately.</p>
<p>The federal <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/gettingstarted" target="_blank">Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act</a> (CPSIA) signed by President George W. Bush in 2008 defined children's jewelery to be any jewelry intended for children 12 years and younger. The law mandated that products sold to children could not contain more than 100 ppm of lead in total. Some of the jewelry tested in this study was labeled as not intended for use for children under 14, so while it's technically within the letter of the law, the brightly colored and sparkly pieces are clearly marketed to be appealing to young girls, and nothing beside the fine print is preventing this jewelry from being bought by children, or worn by younger siblings. The Consumer Product Safety Commission should investigate the lead content of Wal-Mart’s jewelry and enforce the regulation limits set by the CPSIA.</p>
<p>The adverse health effects of lead exposure in children and adults are very well documented. Exposure in children has been linked to nervous system damage, decreased IQ levels, increased cases of ADHD as well as hearing impairment. Leading into adulthood, lead exposure can cause renal problems, reproductive problems and hypertension. The danger of lead exposure, especially to children, has become a huge concern of the federal and state governments.</p>
<p>Given the WTC's findings of high levels of lead in children’s jewelry, we urge Walmart to take these dangerous products off the market immediately. We also urge Walmart to release to the public the list of ten toxic chemicals which it plans to phase out. We all want non-toxic products in our homes!</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2013-10-04T14:14:53-07:00Toxic worries? SafeMarkets.org helps you find safer products
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/09/toxic-worries-safemarketsorg-website-helps-you-find-safer-products.html
If you are reading this website you are probably concerned about reducing toxic exposure and finding the safest products for yourself and your family. A new website is just about to make that job easier: www.SafeMarkets.org combines the best resources...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019104db1990970c-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Cc-safebaby-url-8.13-72dpi" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c019104db1990970c" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c019104db1990970c-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Cc-safebaby-url-8.13-72dpi" /></a>If you are reading this website you are probably concerned about reducing toxic exposure and finding the safest products for yourself and your family. A new website is just about to make that job easier: <a href="http://www.safemarkets.org" target="_blank">www.SafeMarkets.org</a> combines the best resources to help consumers and retailers quickly identify toxic chemicals and safer alternatives in food, baby products, toys, furniture, building materials and other consumer goods.</p>
<p>The new site is by the Workgroup for Safe Markets, a collaborative of over two dozen leading health, environmental, business and consumer groups that are working to shift the US economy to safer products and practices.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“People assume that if a product is on store shelves, that it is safe, and unfortunately that couldn’t be further from the truth. While we wait for urgent reform of our nation’s chemicals regulations, it has fallen on moms and dads to become educated on how to protect themselves and their families from toxic chemicals in our homes, schools and hospitals,” explains Mike Schade, co-leader for the Workgroup for Safe Markets and markets campaign coordinator with Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ).</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>“This new website is a one-stop shop to provide information for consumers, retailers and manufacturers that are demanding safer products,” adds Beverley Thorpe, also a Workgroup for Safe Markets co-leader and consulting co-director for for Clean Production Action (CPA).</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Features of the new <a href="http://www.safemarkets.org" target="_blank">www.SafeMarkets.org</a> site include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Links to the best databases and resources to help you find safer baby products, building materials,   electronics, cosmetics and more on our <a href="http://www.safemarkets.org/finding-safer-products-simple-steps-to-protect-your-health-and-family" target="_blank">Finding Safer Products</a> page.</li>
<li>Important science and health information about problematic chemicals such as <a href="http://www.safemarkets.rainbowtiger.net/toxic-chemicals-in-products/bisphenol-a-bpa/about" target="_blank">bisphenol-A</a> (BPA), toxic <a href="http://www.safemarkets.rainbowtiger.net/toxic-chemicals-in-products/toxic-flame-retardants/about" target="_blank">flame retardants</a> in furniture, <a href="http://www.safemarkets.rainbowtiger.net/toxic-chemicals-in-products/pesticides-and-food/about" target="_blank">pesticides</a>, polyvinyl chloride <a href="http://www.safemarkets.rainbowtiger.net/toxic-chemicals-in-products/vinyl-the-poison-plastic/about" target="_blank">(PVC) plastic</a> and the many toxic ingredients used in <a href="http://www.safemarkets.rainbowtiger.net/toxic-chemicals-in-products/cosmetics/hazardous-chemicals-in-cosmetics" target="_blank">cosmetics</a>.</li>
<li>Resources for the <a href="http://safemarkets.org/for-the-media/media-contacts" target="_blank">media</a> about leading campaigns that are moving the US market to safer chemicals and healthier products that the world market is demanding.</li>
<li>Take action for safer products and see our video about toxic chemicals in our bodies on the <a href="http://www.safemarkets.org/" target="_blank">Safe Markets Homepage</a>.</li>
<li>You can also learn more about the collaborative efforts of the leading US groups that are working to shift the market to safer chemicals and products on the <a href="http://www.safemarkets.org/about-us" target="_blank">About Us</a> page.</li>
</ul>
<p>For more, see <a href="http://www.safemarkets.org" target="_self">www.SafeMarkets.org</a><br /><br /></p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2013-09-04T14:39:29-07:00A state success story: carcinogen use falling in Massachusetts
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/08/turi-report.html
For many of us, cancer feels like it surrounds us – so many friends, family members, co-workers, and neighbors seem to be carrying this health burden in neighborhoods throughout our state, and throughout the nation. In Massachusetts, one hundred people...<p><a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c0192ac8ecdea970d-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Turi cover" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c0192ac8ecdea970d" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c0192ac8ecdea970d-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Turi cover" /></a>For many of us, cancer feels like it surrounds us – so many friends, family members, co-workers, and neighbors seem to be carrying this health burden in neighborhoods throughout our state, and throughout the nation. In Massachusetts, one hundred people on average are diagnosed with cancer every day. Since the mid 1980s cancer rates have risen 14% among men and 19% among women. The good news:  due to a landmark law passed here in 1989, we’re making real progress in stemming this tide. <br /><br />In 1989, Massachusetts passed the <a href="http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/toxics/tur/" target="_blank">Toxic Use Reduction Act</a> (TURA) to protect public health and the environment while helping industries maintain and improve their competitiveness. This law has been an undisputed success. According to a new report by the Toxic Use Reduction Institute (TURI), <a href="http://www.turi.org/Our_Work/Toxic_Chemicals/Trends_in_the_Use_and_Release_of_Carcinogens_in_Massachusetts" target="_blank"><em>Trends in the Use and Release of Carcinogens in Massachusetts</em></a>, <strong>by 2010 the use of carcinogens in Massachusetts facilities had declined by 32% and release had declined by 93% </strong>from 1989 levels<strong>.</strong> According to the <a href="http://www.who.int/cancer/prevention/en/" target="_blank">World Health Organization</a> the most cost efficient way to fight cancer is through primary prevention strategies, such as toxics use reduction, so laws like TURA are key health protecting and cost saving measures.</p>
TURA’s success is grounded in basic common sense and simplicity –  it requires facilities with more than 10 full-time employees that use or release large amounts of chemicals to report annually to TURI as well as come up with a plan for further reduction of use and release of toxic chemicals.
<p><strong>Since the implementation of TURA there has been a huge decline in the use and release of the 74 known or suspected carcinogenic chemicals targeted by the program.</strong> For example, Perchloroethylene (PERC) and Trichloroethylene (TCE), which are  carcinogenic chemicals used in dry-cleaning fabric and metal degreasing processes, decreased by 85% and 92% respectively. <br /><br />The report examines trends in the use of chemicals associated with specific types of cancer. For the most part, the use of carcinogens linked to specific types of cancer has declined significantly over the last twenty years, but still remains large. The use of carcinogens associated with testicular cancer, for example, declined by 88% between 1990 and 2010. However, incidences of many cancers, including breast cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and childhood cancers have increased. <br /><br />The rise of cancer rates, despite the reported decline in the use and release of carcinogenic chemicals, demonstrates the complex nature of the disease and multitude of sources of exposure to carcinogens. There are many sources of exposure not covered by TURA, including a plethora of consumer products. The accumulation of many combined factors such as tobacco or alcohol use, poor nutrition, infectious disease agents and environmental or occupational exposure make it impossible to pinpoint the specific cause of cancer in most individuals.  <br /><br />TURA has influenced companies to find safer alternatives to toxic chemicals or alternative manufacturing processes simply by making companies examine their use. Although the act does not mandate facilities to change or limit their use of carcinogens, it has been very successful in doing just that. </p>
<blockquote>
<p>As report author Molly Jacobs put it: "This is a reminder that state-level toxics use reduction programs can be a powerful force for occupational and environmental cancer prevention."<br /><br /></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Congress should not forget that fact as it considers the <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/08/csia.html" target="_self">Chemical Safety Improvement Act</a> (CSIA) over the coming weeks and months.  As written, the CSIA would pre-empt many elements of the TURA program that make it such a success. Federal policy should aim to lift up programs like TURA rather than eliminate them. <br /><br /></p>
<p>With <a href="http://healthreport.saferchemicals.org/cancer.html" target="_blank">cancer rates</a> as high as they are any step towards prevention should be protected and preserved.  Let’s all join together in <a href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6639/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=14460" target="_blank">pressing Congress</a> to get serious about cancer prevention and pass a smart bill that does more to protect our health and retains state authority to tailor policies like TURA to unique in-state needs.</p>
<p> </p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2013-08-15T13:18:36-07:00Bi-Partisan Effort in Congress Falls Short
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/08/csia.html
The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow is united in our efforts to prevent harm to health from toxic chemicals that are contributing to the largest health epidemics of our times -- cancer, asthma, learning disabilities and many more. Our major...<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01901ec678b6970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Safety first" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01901ec678b6970b" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01901ec678b6970b-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Safety first" /></a>The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow is united in our efforts to prevent harm to health from toxic chemicals that are contributing to the largest health epidemics of our times -- cancer, asthma, learning disabilities and many more. Our major national chemical safety policy, the Toxics Substances Control Act of 1976, is widely viewed as outdated and deeply flawed, resulting in hazardous chemicals being found in everyday household and workplace products that expose our families to hidden health threats.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow has worked for many years, as part of the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families and SAFER States coalitions, to build momentum for reforms that would better protect our health and stimulate green chemistry innovations. This summer, the late Senator <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/06/lautenberg.html" target="_self">Frank Lautenberg </a>(D-NJ) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA) introduced a new bill, the <a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d113:s.1009:" target="_blank">Chemical Safety Improvement Act </a>(CSIA), in the U.S. Senate that signals bi-partisan interest in finally moving beyond our failed policies of the past. The bill needs significant amendments to effectively advance the new protections we believe are vital to safer chemicals and 21st century innovations. Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow member groups have developed a set of <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=140792610041d5bf&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui%3D2%26ik%3Da39df865dd%26view%3Datt%26th%3D140792610041d5bf%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dsafe%26realattid%3Df_hkbi4gc70%26zw&sig=AHIEtbTyR_4Qvf-6rf196ul5yX4ytfkc5Q" target="_blank">recommondations</a> to improve the bill and meet our goals. We are also continuing to press for reforms at the state level in Massachusetts so that safer alternatives replace toxic chemicals <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/01/healthy-families-and-businesses.html" target="_self">locally</a></span></span>. The bill’s federal preemption provisions are too broad, which limit state actions on certain chemicals falling into the low or high prioritized categories. The improvements and recommendations put forward by Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow would greatly enhance the effectiveness of this bill and only if these amendments are made, will the bill have our support. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Strong and consistent efforts by advocates at the local, state and federal levels have led to exciting developments in our fight against toxic chemicals. In late July: Nine State Attorneys General (including Martha Coakley of Massachusetts) signed a <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/TSCA%20Multistate%20AGs%20Letter%20_FINAL_.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a> regarding the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA). The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on July 31st to hear public testimony and discuss, for the first time this year, a path forward in passing a stronger law on toxic chemicals. This <a href="http://blog.saferchemicals.org/2013/08/notes-on-wednesdays-hearing.html" target="_blank">“marathon hearing”</a> lasted over six hours and included testimony by members of the Safer Chemicals Healthier Families coalition, as well as bipartisan support to reform current laws and find a stronger path forward on the new compromise bill. Also worth noting for twitter fans, the hearing was so widely followed that the hash-tag #SaferChemicals was trending throughout the hearing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The recent events that took place are a testament to the hard work and dedication that local, state and federal advocates have invested as they contribute time and energy in order to move forward in the fight against toxic chemicals. It is now up to us to keep the pressure on until the Senate passes strong laws on toxic chemicals that will ensure safety in our homes and workplaces.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2013-08-13T13:15:38-07:00Chemical safety movement loses a champion
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/06/lautenberg.html
Senator Frank Lautenberg, United States Senator from New Jersey, passed away early on the morning of June 3rd. Lautenberg (pictured at a 2012 Stroller Brigade for Safe Chemicals, behind the child holding the "moms 4 sfty" sign) was a proponent...<p>
<a class="asset-img-link" href="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01901cfc3207970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img alt="Lautenberg_stroller_brigade_250" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01901cfc3207970b" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01901cfc3207970b-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Lautenberg_stroller_brigade_250" /></a>Senator Frank Lautenberg, United States Senator from New Jersey, passed away early on the morning of June 3rd.  Lautenberg (pictured at a 2012 <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2012/05/stroller-brigade.html" target="_self">Stroller Brigade for Safe Chemicals</a>, behind the child holding the "moms 4 sfty" sign) was a proponent and champion of public health and environmental protection and his leadership will be sorely missed. As head of the Senate Environment and Public works subcommittee on environmental health, as well as chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health, Senator Lautenberg fought for the communities and the well being of the citizens that he represented. He will be remembered for his commitment to enacting smarter laws and advocating for the protection of people’s health.</p>
“Among his many other accomplishments, Senator Lautenberg authored the landmark Toxic Release Inventory legislation, which passed as part of the 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) requires polluters to report releases of toxic chemicals to air, land and water with the specific intent for this information to be available and usable by the public. Senator Lautenberg was also a tireless champion of the Superfund program, which manages cleanup of the nation’s worst hazardous waste sites and responds to environmental emergencies.” (<a href="http://www.cleanwateraction.org" target="_blank">Clean Water Action</a>)
<blockquote>
<p>Andy Igrejas, executive director of the <a href="http://www.saferchemicals.org/2013/06/safer-chemicals-healthy-families-mourns-loss-of-sen-lautenberg.html" target="_blank">Safer Chemicals Healthy Families</a> coalition, eloquently stated that Lautenberg “was a genuine public hero, and the leading champion for protecting the public from toxic chemicals.” </p>
</blockquote>
<p>Lautenberg worked to strengthen the Toxic Substances Control Act, introducing the <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/04/safechems2013.html" target="_self">Safe Chemicals Act</a>, which woudl require safety testing of all industrial chemicals, placing pressure on industry to prove chemicals safe in order for them to remain on the market. For these reasons and many more, Senator Lautenberg receives the Alliance for a Heatlhy Tomorrow's praise and recognition for his efforts and we will continue to be inspired by his legacy as we work for a safer environment for all.</p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2013-06-04T12:50:08-07:00Action on Toxics Happening at State AND Federal Levels
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/04/toxics2013.html
Whether they know it or not, American families are exposed to toxic substances like lead, mercury, and formaldehyde everyday in their own homes. Our country’s system for regulating toxic chemicals is broken, allowing toxic chemicals to find their way into...<p>
<img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c01901b8c4698970b" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="CapitolStateHouse_250" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c01901b8c4698970b-800wi" border="0" alt="CapitolStateHouse_250" align="right" />Whether they know it or not, American families are exposed to toxic substances like lead, mercury, and formaldehyde everyday in their own homes. Our country’s system for regulating toxic chemicals is broken, allowing toxic chemicals to find their way into common household items like laundry detergent, couches, and even baby shampoo.</p>
<p>The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is the only law our nation has guiding regulation of toxic chemicals—it has not been updated since 1976. Since that time, hundreds of new chemicals have entered the market and our homes without being tested for safety. Meanwhile, the rates of chronic illnesses like asthma, cancer, and reproductive and developmental have continued to rise. </p>
<p>Thankfully, legislators are taking action to protect our families and both the state and federal levels. Read about what is being done in the <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/04/familiesbusinesses.html" target="_self">Massachusetts State House</a> and in the <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/04/safechems2013.html" target="_self">US Capitol Building</a>. </p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2013-04-24T10:24:39-07:00Flame retardants: a hot topic
http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/02/hot-topic.html
February is the month for sweethearts to fan the flames of love, and this year for those in the trenches of toxic chemical phase out it's been the month of new news on flame retardants. Today, Alliance for a Healthy...<p><img alt="Naptime Nightmares" border="0" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a011168f025e2970c017ee898217e970d" src="http://healthytomorrow.typepad.com/.a/6a011168f025e2970c017ee898217e970d-800wi" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" title="Naptime Nightmares" />February is the month for sweethearts to fan the flames of love, and this year for those in the trenches of toxic chemical phase out it's been the month of new news on flame retardants.<br /><br />Today, <a href="http://www.healthytomorrow.org/2013/02/naptime-nightmares.html" target="_self">Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow helped to release <em>Naptime Nightmares</em></a>, a new study on Chlorinated Tris in nap mats used in day care centers.  Chlorinated Tris may not exactly be a common household name, but it is a resident in many of our homes as it is used as a flame retardant in furniture and many other products.  It may also ring a bell as the chemical that was banned from children's pajamas in the 1970s because of its health impacts--Chlorinated Tris is linked to cancer and may cause genetic damage as well.  Unfortunately, in a case of "regrettable substitution," it has been been making a resurgence in recent years as a replacement for the flame retardants known as PBDEs that the industry has been phasing out due to consumer pressure and laws passed in some states.<br /><br />
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Consumers seeking flame retardant free furniture may soon have more options due to an <strong>upcoming change in California law</strong>.  The rule—called TB 117—required massive amounts of flame retardants in furniture and baby products.  TB 117 required that foam be able to withstand 12 seconds of exposure to an open flame without catching fire.<br /><br />Since the rule was enacted, however, it has been discovered that interior foam is not the cause of most fires, and the flame retardant requirement was not saving lives. TB117 led to manufacturers putting massive amounts of flame retardant chemicals, many of which are now being found to be harmful to babies and other vulnerable populations, into foam-containing products nationwide.<br /><br />On February 8th, the state announced that the rule would be changed.  This is a step in the right in the right direction and the trick now will be to continue to pass laws in the states that require that manufacturers remove the chemicals. The recognition by California that these chemicals are unnecessary should help legislators to understand that it's an easier decision than ever to outlaw the toxic flame retardant chemicals.
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<p>In <strong>Massachusetts</strong>, Senator Cynthia Stone Creem is sold.  “These toxic flame retardants are both unnecessary and harmful and we can do better,” said Senator Creem.</p>
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<p>Senator Creem, who is from Newton, has filed legislation to replace both PBDEs and Chlorinated Tris in children’s products and furniture with safer alternatives, <em>An Act to protect children and families from harmful flame retardants</em>.  We hope that her colleagues will agree with her.</p>
<p><em>This article includes material from <a href="www.saferstates.org" target="_blank">Safer States</a>.</em></p>FeaturedElizabeth Saunders2013-02-19T03:00:00-08:00