U.S. food company says BPA-free cans possible

May. 29 2008
CTV.ca News Staff

Bisphenol A is found in cans that contain many popular foods, including tomato paste and soup, but one company has been using BPA-free cans for almost a decade.

Eden Foods, a natural and organic food company based in Michigan, sells most of its canned food, except the highly acidic tomato products, in BPA-free cans. For now, the company is keeping its tomato products in cans with BPA because their shelf life would be drastically reduced without the chemical. The company's juices are sold in glass bottles. "We badgered our canned suppliers to come up with an alternative and one of them said they would accommodate us with a bisphenol A-free lining," said Eden Foods President Michael Potter. "They ended up with all our business. I did it because I didn't want to be in the loop of providing this contaminant, this toxin, to my children." Potter said most canned-good manufacturers should have no trouble following his company's lead, given that a 15-ounce BPA-free can costs only 2.2 cents more.

BPA is found in everyday items, including stereo equipment, some car parts, hard plastic food containers and beverage containers and the linings of food cans. During the manufacturing process, food is put into cans and then heated at high temperatures to kill bacteria. Scientists say that this is when BPA can leach out of the lining and into food.

A joint study conducted by CTV News and The Globe and Mail showed that trace amounts of BPA can be found in cans that contain popular foods such as soup and vegetables.

While baby bottles leach about 6 parts per billion of BPA, the exclusive tests of food cans showed:

* A can of children's ravioli leached 6 parts per billion.
* A can of peas and carrots leached 7 parts per billion.
* A can of tomato juice leached 14 parts per billion.

READ FULL STORY HERE

New tests find BPA in kids' food containers

Wed. May. 28 2008
CTV.ca News Staff

A controversial chemical that Health Canada is moving to ban in baby bottles has turned up in tests conducted on cans for foods commonly served to Canadian children.

Tests conducted on the food cans for CTV News and The Globe and Mail shows similar or higher levels of bisphenol A than in baby bottles.

While baby bottles leach about 6 parts per billion of bisphenol A (BPA), the exclusive tests of food cans show:

* A can of children's ravioli leached 6 parts per billion.
* A can of peas and carrots leached 7 parts per billion.
* A can of tomato juice leached 14 parts per billion.

In this study, the first of its kind in Canada, the method of testing used most closely mimics the canning process. Fourteen cans of popular Canadian foods were sent to XenoAnalytical LLC, a laboratory in Columbia, Mo . The cans were emptied of food and rinsed five times before being filled with water and heated for 24 hours at 95 C.

(The food itself from each can could not be accurately tested because other chemicals in the food could interfere with measuring the BPA.)

Studies have shown when cans are heated in the manufacturing process, BPA leaches out of the linings. Foods are first sealed in cans and heated to kill bacteria in the food. Cans are heated to temperatures between 116 C and 121 C, and the length of time varies according to the type of food.

"The tests we did in the cans are fairly conservative," said Julia Taylor, the lab technician that conducted the tests.

"We used water, which is less likely to pull out BPA in a can."

Because these findings show that BPA leached out of the cans and into water, it can be assumed that the chemical is leaching into the food itself when the cans are heated during the pasteurization process, Taylor said.

Environmental Defence, an advocacy group that has long called for a ban on BPA, conducted its own study into BPA levels in plastic baby bottles. It found that many of the bottles, manufactured by popular name brand companies, leached from five to eight parts of BPA per billion when heated.

Rick Smith, the executive director of Environmental Defence, finds these new results troubling.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

THE STORY OF "STUFF"

Thanks for sharing this Leonard....worth viewing:

The story of stuff

Pollution in People

This Green Life, March 2008

For years, I thought I could keep my body free of dangerous chemicals by taking just a couple of simple precautions -- using natural cleansers and buying organic food. Wrong.
Biomonitoring tests to check for chemicals in people always find them. It doesn't matter whether the people are old, young, newborn or even fetal, nor what their history is. Contamination is always found. It is therefore a virtual certainty that if I were to be tested, I would learn I was contaminated, too. Not to cause panic, but so would you.
This pollution of our bodies is thought by many scientists to be universal today. It goes by the name of body burden.
Where do the chemicals come from? They are used in a seemingly endless array of industrial applications and consumer products, including baby toys, air freshener, laundry detergent, shampoo, nail polish, food containers, rugs and furniture, to name a few.
And how do they get into our bodies? Through our food, tap and bottled water, indoor and outdoor air and many of the things we touch or put on our skin. Babies get them in the womb from their mothers. Hence, the phenomenon of infants starting life with chemicals already in their systems.
Given how ubiquitous chemicals are, the question is not really how they get into us, but whether there is any way to keep them out. I will get back to that.
Let's first talk about whether and how the chemicals might harm us. The chemical industry predictably claims they are safe. In reality, next to nothing is known about the vast majority of them. That's because our laws allow chemicals to go on the market without prior safety testing.
But we do know quite a bit about a few chemicals, and what we know is not reassuring. For instance:

* Phthalates have been linked to problems with reproductive system development in baby boys and to insulin resistance and obesity in adult men. They are used in a wide variety of cosmetic products, such as moisturizers, nail polish and baby powder; cleaning products; plastic food wraps; and toys, especially those made with PVC plastic. Other uses include medical equipment and building supplies.
* Bisphenol A (also known as BPA) has been linked to breast and prostate cancer, reproductive problems, diabetes and alteration of brain chemistry and behavioral changes. It is used in many household products, including plastic baby bottles, hard plastic sports bottles and metal food cans, which are often lined with plastic to prevent a metallic taste in food.
* PCBs, which were formerly used as electrical insulators, among other things, have been found to affect the immune, reproductive, nervous and endocrine systems. They are also considered a probable carcinogen. Though their production in the U.S. was banned in 1979, these long-lasting chemicals continue to circulate in the environment and in the food chain. New releases also occur when old equipment made with PCBs is damaged or improperly disposed of.
* Dioxins, a byproduct of the manufacture and burning of chlorine products, can affect the cardiovascular, respiratory, immune, reproductive, nervous and endocrine systems and cause cancer.

Other classes of chemicals shown to be toxic include PBDEs (used as flame retardants) and PFCs (used to repel water, stains and grease).
All the chemicals listed above are endocrine disruptors, meaning that they interfere with the workings of the endocrine -- or hormone -- system. Hormones are our bodies' chemical messengers. They tell cells to start or stop carrying out key functions at the proper time. While key to basic body functioning throughout our lives, they are particularly important to fetal development. During the nine months in which a baby takes shape, an exquisitely timed orchestra of these chemical signals ensures that the baby's body develops as it should. Any tampering with the type or timing of the signals can have tragic consequences, from cancers that emerge later in life to missing body parts. They can also affect the brain and behavior. The years directly leading up to puberty, when hormones again play a major role in body development, may be another time when people are particularly sensitive to endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
So, how can you protect yourself, your children and your children-to-be?
Unfortunately, moving somewhere remote is not, in itself, an answer. Many chemicals are highly mobile and resistant to breakdown. Over the last few decades, they have spread on wind and water currents to every corner of the globe, including the most pristine places.

However, your personal practices can make a difference in your LEVEL of exposure, not just to endocrine disruptors but to other toxins that humans are spewing out into the environment. These steps, in particular, can help:

* Buy organic food as much as possible. If cost is an issue, focus on the produce that will make the most difference, along with milk if you have young children.
* Eat less meat and meat products, especially fatty meats and butter, as many toxic chemicals are picked up by animals and stored in their fat (and ours).
* When choosing fish, follow these safety guidelines for avoiding mercury contamination.
* Reduce your use of cosmetics and fragrances and buy less toxic brands.
* Use unscented laundry detergent and cleaning products -- or use natural cleansers.
* Do not use chemical pesticides around your house, on your pets or on your lawn.

At the same time as you take these steps in your own life, keep in mind that the real solutions to body burden, like other forms of pollution, are societal not individual. Without government regulation, safety from chemicals is a losing battle.
—Sheryl Eisenberg

Tests reveal high chemical levels in kids' bodies

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Michelle Hammond and Jeremiah Holland were intrigued when a friend at the Oakland Tribune asked them and their two young children to take part in a cutting-edge study to measure the industrial chemicals in their bodies.

Tests showed Rowan's blood had high levels of a chemical that can cause thyroid dysfunction in rats. "In the beginning, I wasn't worried at all; I was fascinated," Hammond, 37, recalled. But that fascination soon changed to fear, as tests revealed that their children -- Rowan, then 18 months, and Mikaela, then 5 -- had chemical exposure levels up to seven times those of their parents.

"[Rowan's] been on this planet for 18 months, and he's loaded with a chemical I've never heard of," Holland, 37, said. "He had two to three times the level of flame retardants in his body that's been known to cause thyroid dysfunction in lab rats."

The technology to test for these flame retardants -- known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) -- and other industrial chemicals is less than 10 years old. Environmentalists call it "body burden" testing, an allusion to the chemical "burden," or legacy of toxins, running through our bloodstream. Scientists refer to this testing as "biomonitoring." 

Trasande says that industrial toxins could be leading to more childhood disease and disorders.

"We are in an epidemic of environmentally mediated disease among American children today," he said. "Rates of asthma, childhood cancers, birth defects and developmental disorders have exponentially increased, and it can't be explained by changes in the human genome. So what has changed? All the chemicals we're being exposed to."

In 2004, the Hollands became the first intact nuclear family in the United States to undergo body burden testing. Rowan, at just 1½ years old, became the youngest child in the U.S. to be tested for chemical exposure with this method.

Rowan's extraordinarily high levels of PBDEs frightened his parents and left them with a looming question: If PBDEs are causing neurological damage to lab rats, could they be doing the same thing to Rowan? The answer is that no one knows for sure. In the three years since he was tested, no developmental problems have been found in Rowan's neurological system.

Trasande said children up to six years old are most at risk because their vital organs and immune system are still developing and because they depend more heavily on their environments than adults do. "Pound for pound, they eat more food, they drink more water, they breathe in more air," he said. "And so [children] carry a higher body burden than we do."

Studies on the health effects of PBDEs are only just beginning, but many countries have heeded the warning signs they see in animal studies. Sweden banned PBDEs in 1998. The European Union banned most PBDEs in 2004. In the United States, the sole manufacturer of two kinds of PBDEs voluntarily stopped making them in 2004. A third kind, Deca, is still used in the U.S. in electrical equipment, construction material, mattresses and textiles.

Another class of chemicals that showed up in high levels in the Holland children is known as phthalates. These are plasticizers, the softening agents found in many plastic bottles, kitchenware, toys, medical devices, personal care products and cosmetics. In lab animals, phthalates have been associated with reproductive defects, obesity and early puberty. But like PBDEs, little is known about what they do to humans and specifically children. 

The Environmental Protection Agency does not require chemical manufacturers to conduct human toxicity studies before approving their chemicals for use in the market.

In the three years since her family went through body burden testing, Michelle Hammond has become an activist on the issue. She's testified twice in the California legislature to support a statewide body burden testing program, a bill that passed last year. Michelle also speaks to various public health groups about her experience, taking Mikaela, now 8, and Rowan, now 5, with her. So far, her children show no health problems associated with the industrial chemicals in their bodies.

"I'm angry at my government for failing to regulate chemicals that are in mass production and in consumer products." Hammond says. "I don't think it should have to be up to me to worry about what's in my couch."

Parents told to avoid lindane-laced lice shampoo

Sat. Mar. 15 2008

The Canadian Press

Parents are being urged to avoid over-the-counter lice treatments that contain the pesticide lindane, which has been outlawed for agricultural use in dozen of countries, including Canada.

Health Canada hasn't banned lice and scabies treatments that contain lindane, but some environmental groups say Canada should follow California's lead and take the products off the shelves.

They say exposure to lindane can lead to adverse effects on humans, especially children and seniors.

And California sought a ban because the chemical was turning up in water testing.

Kevin Mercer of the environmental group Riversides says parents often go to the extreme to kill lice because they're disturbed by the thought of their kids harbouring bugs, and the stigma of becoming infected.

The Canadian Paediatric Society is reviewing its position on lindane products and currently recommends that they not be used on infants and children under 17. The society advises that other lice-fighting products that don't contain lindane are considered safe.

Prescription drugs found in drinking water across U.S.

March 10, 2008 Associated Press:

A vast array of pharmaceuticals -- including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones -- have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.
How do the drugs get into the water?

People take pills. Their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest of it passes through and is flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is treated before it is discharged into reservoirs, rivers or lakes. Then, some of the water is cleansed again at drinking water treatment plants and piped to consumers. But most treatments do not remove all drug residue.

A 'growing concern'

"We recognize it is a growing concern and we're taking it very seriously," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, assistant administrator for water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Here are some of the key test results obtained by the AP:

• Officials in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said testing there discovered 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts in treated drinking water, including medicines for pain, infection, high cholesterol, asthma, epilepsy, mental illness and heart problems. Sixty-three pharmaceuticals or byproducts were found in the city's watersheds.

• Anti-epileptic and anti-anxiety medications were detected in a portion of the treated drinking water for 18.5 million people in Southern California.

• Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey analyzed a Passaic Valley Water Commission drinking water treatment plant, which serves 850,000 people in Northern New Jersey, and found a metabolized angina medicine and the mood-stabilizing carbamazepine in drinking water.

• A sex hormone was detected in the drinking water of San Francisco, California.

• The drinking water for Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas tested positive for six pharmaceuticals.

The situation is undoubtedly worse than suggested by the positive test results in the major population centers documented by the AP.

Rural, bottled water also unchecked

Rural consumers who draw water from their own wells aren't in the clear either, experts say.

Even users of bottled water and home filtration systems don't necessarily avoid exposure. Bottlers, some of which simply repackage tap water, do not typically treat or test for pharmaceuticals, according to the industry's main trade group. The same goes for the makers of home filtration systems.

CANADA: Contamination is not confined to the United States. More than 100 different pharmaceuticals have been detected in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and streams throughout the world. Studies have detected pharmaceuticals in waters throughout Asia, Australia, Canada and Europe -- even in Swiss lakes and the North Sea.

Read Full Article Here

MAP: See the cities where drugs were found in drinking water

New Legislation on Lead, Cadmium, and Phthalates in Toys

Washington State Legislation Will Protect Children’s Health By Eliminating Lead, Cadmium, and Phthalates From Toys!

Olympia, WA
February 19, 2008

Parents, consumer advocates, and environmental groups cheered last night’s passage of the Children’s Safe Products Act of 2008 (HB 2647) by the House of Representatives. The bill passed with bipartisan support on a vote of 95-0. “Earlier generations got the lead out of paint and gasoline, it is time we got the lead and other toxics out of toys,” said Representative Dickerson, D-Seattle, the prime sponsor of the measure.

The bill will eliminate three toxic chemicals, lead, cadmium, and phthalates, from toys and other children’s products. It will also require manufacturers to report whether their products contain other chemicals found to be of a concern for children’s health.
“Toys should be the only things in a child’s toy box, not harmful toxic chemicals. The passage of this bill means children and parents are one step closer to having safer toys and other products,” said Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, environmental health advocate for the Washington Toxics Coalition.

Health professionals applauded the House’s action today. They are concerned because children are especially vulnerable to exposures from toxic chemicals. Even low levels of chemicals are linked to harm to reproductive development, learning, and health. “The House’s passage of this bill brings us closer to implementing pivotal steps to protect children’s health,” said Dr. Laura Hart, President, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, “We have a responsibility to protect children, our most vulnerable population, from chemical exposures. Health professionals throughout the state urge continued action to pass this legislation and create a healthier, safer world in which our children learn, grow and play.”

The legislation passed on the same day that Toys R Us, the national retail chain, announced new lower lead and phthalate standards for toys it sells. Wal-Mart, Target, and Sears are just a few of the retailers who have already announced plans to phase out toxic chemicals in toys and other children’s products.

The Children’s Safe Products Act takes immediate action to ban lead, cadmium, and phthalates from toys, starts the process of identifying other hazards in toys, and gives parents the information they need to make safer choices. If the legislation becomes law, Washington would join California, Michigan, and Illinois, as having taken action on toxic toys.

SO WHERE ARE THE OTHER STATES?

Toxic Plastics: Videos on Bisphenol A

Part 1:


Part 2:

NDP calls for ban on bisphenol A - Go Canada!

February, 2008:
OTTAWA - In light of new research confirming the dangers of BPA exposure for children, NDP Health Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis renewed her call to Health Minister Tony Clement today, demanding urgent action to ban the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in children’s food and beverage containers. Wasylycia-Leis sent a letter to the minister in early January calling for a BPA ban.

“The government must act urgently to protect Canadian children exposed to bisphenol A,” said Wasylycia-Leis. “The hazards of this product have been known for some time, yet, despite its promises to boost Canada’s health protection system, the government keeps dragging its feet. Waiting until May to even consider action is unacceptable.”

A new peer-reviewed study by respected BPA authority, Dr. Frederick vom Saal, has underlined the dangers of bisphenol A consumption, particularly for infants and children. The potential long-term health impacts from early exposure to BPA, which mimics estrogen, include an increased chance of hormonal problems and breast and prostate cancers.

“Scientific concerns for children’s health are very serious and require immediate action,” said Wasylycia-Leis. “Children are developing and do not have the same capacity to deal with chemical hazards as adults. They require special protection and that’s why the NDP is demanding immediate action from the government starting with children’s products. To prevent more situations like this, the government must increase its capacity to evaluate products’ specific impacts on children’s health.”

Letter to Health Minister

Safe Toys for Your Kids

Found this excellent website with an incredible array of European non-toxic toys that are available in the U.S.! Click here to browse!

America's bluff is being called: The world's other major economy is showing that safety and financial success are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, at a time of rising environmental sensitivity in the marketplace, many of these 'greener' businesses are now posing a competitive challenge to U.S. producers. The first candidate to realize that this issue strikes directly at American's sense of safety and security will reap the benefits.
Hillary Clinton has called for greater vigilance of our imports from China. At least that's a start.

Recommended reading: "Exposed, Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's at Stake for American Power" by Mark Schapiro.

MADE TOXIC IN CHINA -- FOR USA ONLY

Wed., 2/6/08, From Jim Hightower's Lowdown

"Made in China" has become a warning label. Look out toxics in toothpaste, arsenic in shrimp, lead in toys!

The shocker is not that Chinese-made toys are laden with lead, but that America's Consumer Product Safety Commission employs exactly one inspector to oversee the safety of all toys sold in the U.S. Likewise, the Food and Drug Administration has licensed 714 Chinese plants to manufacture the key ingredients for a growing percentage of the antibiotics, painkillers, and other drugs we buy, but provides practically no oversight of these plants.

An even bigger shock is that our consumer-protection laws are so riddled with loopholes that unsafe products can legally come into our country. Take phthalates, chemical additives in plastics that are suspected by scientists here and in Europe of inhibiting testosterone production in infant boys. Yet, Mark Shapiro, author of Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products, reports that while the European Union has banned the use of phthalates in products for children under three years of age, our government has refused to act.

Thus, China has factories that manufacture two lines of toys one without phthalates for European countries, and one with phthalates for export to our children.

The problem is not with the Chinese, but with our own corporate chieftains. They've moved their manufacturing to China specifically to get these kinds of low-cost shortcuts in production, while simultaneously demanding that Washington cut back on regulations that protect us consumers."

Europeans responded to a growing body of evidence suggesting that a plastic additive called phthalates may contribute to decreased production of testosterone in infant boys by banning the substance from use in products aimed at children under the age of three. Much of the evidence used by the Europeans to make that decision came from American scientists, some of whom have been supported in their research by our own EPA. But there has been no one in the US government willing to listen. The result: toys are manufactured in China without phthalates for export to the European Union, and with phthalates for export to the United States. European manufacturers have found far less toxic alternatives and European kids have as many plastic animals and other goofy playthings as their American counterparts.

PVC: The Poison Plastic VIDEO

Recycle # 3.
PVC (Polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl), poses risks to both the environment and human health. PVC is also the least recyclable plastic.

Vinyl chloride manufacturing creates air and water pollution near the factories, often located in low-income neighborhoods.

PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it useable. LEAD is often added for strength, while plasticizers are added for flexibility. These toxic additives contribute to further pollution and human exposure.

DIOXIN in air emissions from PVC manufacturing and disposal or from incineration of PVC products settles on grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products and ultimately in human tissue. Dioxin is a known carcinogen.

Low-level exposures are associated with decreased birth weight, learning and behavioral problems in children, suppressed immune function and disruption of hormones in the body.

VISIT:
Center for Health, Environment and Justice
The Campaign for Safe, Healthy Consumer Products

New Study Warning Dangers of Bisphenol A

CTV.ca News: 2/8/08 Release:

A new report is warning about the dangers of popular plastic baby bottle brands sold in Canada, noting that when heated, the bottles can release potentially harmful chemicals.

The study, commissioned by the Canadian group Environmental Defence, found that the bottles ooze bisphenol A (BPA) into the beverage inside in levels that surprised even the researchers.

Researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia were asked to test nine polycarbonate bottles from three manufacturers -- Playtex, Avent and Gerber. The bottles were filled with water and heated in an oven at 80 degress Celsius, to simulate how the plastic would react to dozens of washings.

The laboratory tests detected 5-8 nanograms per milliliter (parts per billion) of bisphenol A leached out of all the bottles when they were heated -- a level that Environmental Defence calls "very significant."

All the Playtex products leaked BPA, regardless of whether they were heated or not. All three of the Gerber bottles and one of the Avent bottles had no detectible levels of BPA in fluids stored at room temperature.

Researcher Julia Taylor, a professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia, says the results disturbed her. "They were a little scary. You don't like to think that that amount of chemical would leech out into milk contained in a bottle, but clearly that's a potential problem," she told CTV News.

Taylor notes that the study represented how many parents typically use the bottles, heating them to sterilize them and then adding heated liquids, such as breast milk, formula or cow's milk. "That tells us that with repeated use and repeated heating and increased damage to the bottles that would come through washing, we would see increased amount of bisphenol leaching out as the bottles age," she says.

Industry calls study 'scare tactics'

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, the industry group representing the bottle manufacturers says the levels detected in the study are still considered "safe," and says it "stands by the scientific research indicating that plastic baby bottles are safe and reassures consumers not to fall victim to scare tactics."

"There is irrefutable data available on the safety of Bisphenol-A," the group said in a statement. "In spite of this strong scientific support, misinformation about polycarbonate baby bottles continues to circulate and as a result is needlessly scaring parents and caregivers away from a trusted and safe product."

Rick Smith, the executive director of Environmental Defence, disagrees, saying that recent research suggests that even lower levels of BPA exposure can alter cell function. "What the results show is that babies are being contaminated by the very bottles that are supposed to be giving them life and nutrition," he says.

Environmental Defence says while the testing focused on nine brands, they believe the results can be considered indicative of almost all polycarbonate plastic baby bottles sold in North America.

CTV News asked for comment on the study from each of the three manufacturers. Gerber and Avent have not yet provided responses; Playtex referred us to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association statement.

Bisphenol A has been the focus of much scrutiny in recent years, with worries that the chemical mimics estrogen. There are fears it can cause earlier onset of puberty in girls, declining sperm counts, and raise the risk of breast and prostate cancer.

But most of the scientific evidence demonstrating the effects of BPA have been conducted on laboratory animals such as mice, so there is little clinical evidence of the chemical's effect on humans.

While BPA is not bioaccumulative (meaning it doesn't persist in the environment or build up in fat stores), the European Commission recently classified the chemical for reproductive toxicity.

Health Canada is conducting 'high priority' evaluation.

For its part, Health Canada says it's currently conducting a "high priority" evaluation of the safety of bisphenol A, with a report due this May. In a statement released this week to CTV News, it noted: "Health Canada is conducting several different studies on the leaching rate of bisphenol A. One of these studies does look at bottles first filled with boiling water. These results will be considered in the risk assessment as well as other potential consumer use scenarios.

"Health Canada is aware that bisphenol A (BPA) migration from polycarbonate bottles is temperature dependent and in its assessment of BPA is reviewing the results of other Canadian and international studies."

Last week, a report in the journal Toxicology Letters found that polycarbonate plastic drinking bottles release BPA 55 times more rapidly and in higher amounts than when they were filled with room temperature water. When the bottles were filled with cool water, the rate of BPA release ranged from 0.2 to 0.8 nanograms per hour. After the bottles were exposed to boiling water, rates increased to 8 to 32 nanograms per hour.

Smith says precautionary action should be taken now.

"The federal and provincial governments should immediately ban this chemical from food and beverage containers," he says. "And if any parents have these bottles at home, they should get rid of them immediately."

Environmental Defence is also encouraging retailers to stop selling products that contain BPA. Both Mountain Equipment Co-op and Lululemon recently chose to take polycarbonate plactic drinking bottles off their shelves.

Worried parents can switch back to traditional glass bottles, though the bottles do carry the risk of breakage. There is also a new generation of BPA-free plastic bottles now being sold in North America and Europe, mostly in health food stores and specialty baby stores.

ALERT! January 2008 Recalls

10 January recalls:


1. Shims Bargain Recalls Pacifiers Due to Choking Hazard
Name of Product: “BabyTown” Pacifiers"
Hazard: These pacifiers fail to meet federal safety standards for pacifiers. The pacifier shield is too small and could easily enter the mouth of an infant. Also, ventilation holes are too small and not placed to allow for the insertion of a tool to remove the pacifier when lodged in the mouth of a child. Finally, the package fails to display the required warning instructing consumers not to tie a pacifier around a child’s neck, which would present a strangulation hazard.
Description: The recalled pacifiers were sold in a 4-pack of assorted colors. “BabyTown” and model #39864 are written on the product’s packaging.
Sold at: Dollar stores nationwide from March 2004 through December 2007 for $1. Made in China.


2. Coin Banks Recalled by TJ Promotions Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
Name of Product: “Fish Coin Banks"
Hazard: Surface paint on the coin banks contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.
Description: This recall involves coin banks made of plaster that are shaped as a fish. The coin banks are orange with white stripes. Made in China.


3. Toy Wrestler Figures Recalled by A.A. of America Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
Name of Product: “Toy Wrestler Figures"
Hazard:The surface paint contains high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.
Description: The recalled toy is a package of four action figures. Each figure is about 5 3/4 inches high. The UPC number 604111230003 is printed on the product’s packaging.
Sold at: Dollar stores and discount stores nationwide from January 2007 through December 2007 for about $1. Made in China.


4. Sears and Kmart Recall Play Stoves Due to Tip-over Hazard
Name of Product: “My First Kenmore” Play Stoves"
Hazard: A metal bracket connecting the door to the stove can cause a tip-over when the door is opened. This poses a risk of injury to young children.
Description: The self-assembled, wooden play stove is painted pink with six white knobs and a timer. The dimensions of the stove when assembled are 11 1/2” W x 13 3/4” D x 32 7/8” H.
Sold at: Sears and Kmart stores nationwide from September 2007 through November 2007 for about $100. Made in Taiwan.


5. Cranium Cadoo Board Games Recalled Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
Name of Product: “Cranium Cadoo Board Games"
Hazard: The surface paint on the die contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.
Description: Only the die found in Cranium Cadoo board games with lot numbers 2007195 through 2007244 are included in the recall. The Cranium Cadoo game is packaged in a square cardboard box with an orange background. The seven digit lot number is printed under the plastic tray on the bottom half of the box. Made in China.


6. Toy Racing Cars Recalled by OKK Trading Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
Name of Product: “Toy Racing Cars"
Hazard: Surface paint on the toy cars contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.
Description: This recall involves toy racing cars that are operated with a remote control. The toy racing car comes with four additional tires and one remote control. “Formula 1” is printed on the packaging.
Sold at: Retail dollar and discount stores nationwide from October 2007 through November 2007 for about $1. Made in China.


7. Battat Recalls Magnetic Construction Sets; Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards
Name of Product: “Battat Magnabild Magnetic Building Systems"
Hazard: Small magnets inside the building pieces can fall out. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.
Description: This recall involves the 293-piece (item number BB1502H) and the 180-piece (item number BB1431H) Magnabild Magnetic Building System sets. Both sets come in rotating display cases that contain 1-inch and 4-inch rods with magnets, curved 1-inch rods, triangle and square pieces with magnets, square-shaped plastic building pieces, triangles and 5-sided pieces, and metal balls. The pieces come in different colors. All of the plastic building pieces, except the 4-inch flexible rods, have the word “Magnabild” in raised lettering on them. The item number is found on a hang tag attached to the set. The product is designed for children older than three years.
Sold at: Various retailers nationwide and online sellers from 2005 through 2007 for between $30 and $40. Made in China.

 
8. Toy Wooden Block and Train Sets Recalled By Christmas Tree Shops Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
Name of Product: “Big Wooden Blocks and Jumbo Wooden Train Sets"
Hazard: Surface paint on some pieces of the toys contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.
Description: The Big Wooden Blocks contain 30 or 60 colorful block pieces in 11 geometric shapes. The Jumbo Wooden Train Sets contain 70 wooden pieces including trees, stop and railroad crossing signs, a red wooden engine and green train cars. The following style numbers and UPC numbers are printed on the packaging of13275A 7211, UPC# 14217340).
Sold at: Christmas Tree Shops from October 2006 through November 2007 for between $4 and $20. Made in China.

9. Kids II Inc. Recalls Crib Toys Due to Choking Hazard
Name of Product: “Baby Einstein Baby Neptune™ Soothing Seascape Crib Toys"
Hazard: The anchors that hold the straps to the back of the turtle can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Description: The Baby Einstein Baby Neptune Soothing Seascape crib toy is a plastic molded turtle with a toy aquarium body that has woven fabric straps that attach to the side rails of a crib. The toy turtle has a stuffed fabric head and feet. Model number 30858 is printed on the label on the leg of the turtle. Only crib toys manufactured in October 2007 with date code BJ7 printed on the back of the battery compartment, are included in the recall.
Sold at: Discount department stores and on-line retailers nationwide from November 2007 through January 2008 for between $25 and $30. Made in China.


10. Baby Sterling Silver Teethers Recalled by Elegant Baby Due to Choking Hazard
Name of Product: “Heart and Car Sterling Silver Teethers"
Hazard: The hearts and cars on the teethers can break off, posing a choking hazard to infants.
Description: The sterling silver teethers are circle shaped with either a heart or car in the center. The teethers have beads inside. The teethers measure two inches in diameter.
Sold at: Independent infant clothing boutiques nationwide from February 2005 through September 2006 for about $50. Made in Mexico.

BACK IN THE LOOP!

Hello all,
January - a month to remember as one that made it impossible for me to find time to keep up on all the latest recalls and important issues related to child care! Hopefully I can get back on track with a posting of all recalls in the past month. I also want to share an email I received from a friend of ours, Jim Barry, retired chemistry teacher and advocate on the benefits of modern technology. I asked Jim to review the lengthy "Official Report on the Toxicity of Bisphenol A" released by the National Toxicology Program (see last blog entry in December 07), which he was generous enough to do (a 400 pg document!), and his welcome response was thus,

"Basically when you put any liquid in a container some of the chemicals in its walls will dissolve into the liquid. What dissolves and how much is obviously your concern. Probably the safest container would be glass. However, having glass around youngsters can also be a potential problem with broken glass containers. Even using metal cups could be a problem if an acidic liquid, such as OJ, are put in them.

I read the summary on BPA. Conclusion: this is a very heavily used chemical. It has a multitude of uses. In addition, I think the studies are inconclusive and incomplete in their analysis of the effects of BPA. Even if you decide not to use containers made from it youngsters will still be exposed to this chemical from many different sources (including coated water pipes). Hence, you have a dilemma in trying to find a different container. If you chose another plastic who is to say it would be a safer one?"
 
At this point I can not recommend any action for you to take. However, if I come across new data I will share it with you."

Thank you for your valuable feedback Jim. Please do let me know if you come across any new data that would impact negatively on the health of young children!

I'd like to thank the person who provided the Study on Bisphenol A. Although it is nearly 400 pgs long I weeded through it in search of points that would be relevant to daycare centers (in particular) and parents of young children. I have copied the Summaries and Conclusions here, along with several studies that stand out. Should anyone be patient enough to read through the study (a chemist perhaps?) and want to comment on any items of significance your contribution is more than welcome! Please send your opinions via email and I will add them to the bottom of this posting- info@cantondaycare.org

National Toxicology Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

SUMMARIES & CONCLUSIONS
From the Expert Panel Report
On the Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Bisphenol A

5.1 Developmental Toxicity
No data on the effects of human developmental exposure to Bisphenol A are available. There is a large literature describing studies in rodents and some work in other species. A large experimental animal literature was reviewed, assessed for its utility, and weighed based on the criteria established by this panel.
From the rodent studies we can conclude that Bisphenol A:
• Does not cause malformations or birth defects in rats or mice at levels up to the highest doses evaluated: 640 mg/kg/d (rats) and 1250 mg/kg/d (mice).
• Does not alter male or female fertility after gestational exposure up to doses of 450 mg/kg bw/d in the rat and 600 mg/kg bw/d in the mouse (highest dose levels evaluated).
• Does not permanently affect prostate weight at doses up to 475 mg/kg/d in adult rats or 600 mg/kg/d in mice.
• Does not cause prostate cancer in rats or mice after adult exposure at up to 148 or 600 mg/kg/d, respectively.
• Does change the age of puberty in male or female rats at high doses (ca. 475 mg/kg/d).
Rodent studies suggest that Bisphenol A:
• Causes neural and behavioral alterations related to disruptions in normal sex differences in rats and mice (0.01-0.2 mg/kg/d).
The data on bisphenol A are insufficient to reach a firm conclusion about:
• A change in the onset of puberty in male rats or mice at doses up to 475 – 600 mg/kg/d.
• An acceleration in the age of onset of puberty at a low dose in female mice at 0.0024 mg/kg/d, that Bisphenol A:
• Causes neural and behavioral alterations related to disruptions in normal sex differences in rats and mice. (0.01-0.2 mg/kg/d).
The data on bisphenol A are insufficient to reach a firm conclusion about:
• A change in the onset of puberty in male rats or mice at doses up to 475 – 600 mg/kg/d.
• An acceleration in the age of onset of puberty at a low dose in female mice at 0.0024 mg/kg/d, the only dose tested.
• Whether Bisphenol A predisposes rats toward prostate cancer or mice towards urinary tract deformations.

5.2 Reproductive Toxicity
There are insufficient data to evaluate whether bisphenol A causes male or female reproductive toxicity in humans. A large experimental animal literature was reviewed, assessed for its utility, and weighted based upon the criteria established by this expert panel, including an evaluation of experimental design and statistical procedures. These animal data are assumed relevant for the assessment of human hazard.
Female effects:
There is sufficient evidence in rats and mice that bisphenol A causes female reproductive toxicity with subchronic or chronic oral exposures with a NOAEL of 47.5 mg/kg bw/day and a LOAEL of ≥475 mg/kg bw/day.
Male effects:
There is sufficient evidence in rats and mice that bisphenol A causes male reproductive toxicity with subchronic or chronic oral exposures with a NOAEL of 4.75 mg/kg bw/day and a LOAEL of .47.5 mg/kg bw/day.

Human Exposures
Bisphenol A is FDA-approved for use in polycarbonate and epoxy resins that are used in consumer products such as food containers (e.g., milk, water, and infant bottles) food can linings. Resins, polycarbonate plastics, and other products manufactured from bisphenol A can contain trace amounts of residual monomer and additional monomer may be generated during breakdown of the polymer.

Environmental Exposures
Bisphenol A emitted from manufacturing operations is unlikely to be present in the atmosphere in high concentrations. However, it was found in 31-44% of outdoor air samples with concentrations of <>Exposures through Food
The highest potential for human exposure to bisphenol A is through products that directly contact food such as food and beverage containers with internal epoxy resin coatings and through the use of polycarbonate tableware and bottles, such as those used to feed infants. Studies examining the extraction of bisphenol A from polycarbonate infant bottles in the U.S. found concentrations < 5 ug/L. Canned infant formulas in the U.S. had a maximum level of 13 ug/L in the concentrate that produced a maximum of 6.6 ug/L when mixed with water. Breast milk studies in the U.S. have found up to 6.3 ug/L free bisphenol A in samples. Measured bisphenol A concentrations in canned foods in the U.S are less than 39 ug/kg. Limited drinking water sampling in the U.S. indicates that bisphenol A concentrations were all below the limit of detection (<0.1 ng/L).

Biological Measures of Bisphenol A in Humans
The panel finds the greatest utility in studies of biological samples that use sensitive and specific analytical methods (LC-MS or GC-MS) and report quality control measures for sample handling and analysis. The panel further focused on biological monitoring done in U.S. populations. In the U.S, adult urine concentrations of free bisphenol A are less than 0.6 ug/L and total bisphenol A concentrations are <19.8 ug/L. The 95th percentile total bisphenol A concentration for 394 adult volunteers (males and females; 20–59 years old) from the NHANES III survey was 5.18 ug/L. Girls age 6-9 in the U.S. have concentrations of total bisphenol A < 54.3 ug/L, with median concentrations ranging from 1.8-2.4 analytical methods (LC-MS or GC-MS) and report quality control measures for sample handling and analysis. The panel further focused on biological monitoring done in U.S. populations. In the U.S, adult urine concentrations of free bisphenol A are less than 0.6 ug/L and total bisphenol A concentrations are <19.8 ug/L. The 95th percentile total bisphenol A concentration for 394 adult volunteers (males and females; 20–59 years old) from the NHANES III survey was 5.18 ug/L. Girls age 6-9 in the U.S. have concentrations of total bisphenol A < 54.3 ug/L, with median concentrations ranging from 1.8-2.4 ug/L (86, 97). No U.S. studies have examined blood or semen concentrations of bisphenol A. Amniotic fluid total bisphenol A concentrations in the U.S are less than 1.96 ug/L. Dental sealant exposure to bisphenol A occurs primarily with use of the dental sealant bisphenol dimethylacylate. This exposure is considered an acute and infrequent event with little relevance to estimating general population exposures.

Bisphenol A Intake Estimates:
The panel found that previous oral intake estimates for infants fed formula and breast milk did not use levels reported for the U.S. population, so the panel estimated intake based on typically-used parameters.
The panel found the food intake estimates made by the European Commission used concentrations of bisphenol A comparable to U.S. food concentrations in their intake estimates, so have included these estimates as well. Estimates from duplicate diets in U.S. children found lower bisphenol A concentrations in foods than those estimated by the European Commission, therefore the aggregate estimates of intake by Wilson were somewhat lower than those estimated by the European Commission. However, the aggregate intake estimates by Wilson et al. are in line with the estimates based on urinary metabolite measurements for children described above.

Overall Conclusions
The panel spent a considerable amount of time attempting to interpret and understand the inconsistent findings reported in the “low dose” literature for bisphenol A. Conducting low dose studies can be challenging because the effects may be subtle and small in magnitude and therefore more difficult to statistically distinguish from background variability. The inherent challenge of conducting these types of studies may be exacerbated with bisphenol A because the endpoints of concern are endocrine-mediated and potentially impacted by factors that include phytoestrogen content of the animal feed, extent of bisphenol A exposure from caging or water bottles, and the alleged sensitivity of the animal model to estrogens. The panel believed that high dose studies are less susceptible to these types of influences because the toxicologic response should be more robust and less variable. While the panel did not necessarily expect a specific effect to display a monotonic dose response (e.g., consistently increasing organ size), many members of the panel expected the high dose studies with bisphenol A to detect some manifestation of toxicity (e.g., altered weight, histopathology) in tissues reported to be affected at low doses even if the study could not replicate the reported low dose effect. There are several large, robust, well designed studies with multiple dose groups using several strains of rats and mice and none of these detected any adverse reproductive effects at low to moderate dosage levels of BPA administered via the relevant route of human exposures. Further, none of these studies detected changes in prostate weight, age at puberty (rat), pathology or tumors in any tissue, or reproductive tract malformations. For this reason, panel members gave more weight to studies that evaluated both low and high doses of bisphenol A compared to low-dose-only studies in cases where the target tissues were comparably assessed.

Every chemical that produces low dose cellular and molecular alterations of endocrine function also produces a cascade of effects increasing in severity resulting in clearly adverse alterations at higher doses, albeit the effects can be different from those seen at low doses. With these endocrine disrupters, but not BPA, the low dose effects are often causally linked to the high dose adverse effects of the chemical. This is true for androgens like testosterone and trenbolone, estrogens like DES, 17β-estradiol and ethinyl estradiol, xenoestrogens like methoxychlor and genistein, and antiandrogens like vinclozolin, for example.
Hence, the failure of BPA to produce reproducible adverse effects via a relevant route of exposure, coupled with the lack of robustness of the many of the low dose studies (sample size, dose range, statistical analyses and experimental design, GLP) and the inability to reproduce many of these effects of any adverse effect strains the credibility of some of these study results. They need to be replicated using appropriate routes of exposures, adequate experimental designs and statistical analyses and linked to higher dose adverse effects if they are to elevate our concerns about the effects of BPA on human health.
The lack of reproducibility of the low dose effects, the absence of toxicity in those low-dose-affected tissues at high doses, and the uncertain adversity of the reported effects led the panel to express “minimal” concern for reproductive effects.
In contrast, the literature on bisphenol A effects on neural and behavioral response is more consistent with respect to the number of “positive” studies although it should be noted that the high dose studies that proved to be the most useful for evaluating reproductive effects did not adequately assess neural and behavioral responses. In addition, even though different investigators assessed different neural and behavioral endpoints, the panel concluded that the overall findings suggest that bisphenol A may be associated with neural changes in the brain and behavioral alterations related to sexual dimorphism in rodents. For this reason, the panel expressed “some” concern for these effects even though it is not clear the reported effects constitute an adverse toxicological response.

CONCERNS are expressed relative to current estimates of general population exposure levels in the U.S.
1. For pregnant women and fetuses, the Expert Panel has different levels of concern for the different developmental endpoints that may be susceptible to bisphenol A disruption, as follows:
• For neural and behavioral effects, the Expert Panel has some concern
• For prostate effects, the Expert Panel has minimal concern
• For the potential effect of accelerated puberty, the Expert Panel has minimal concern
• For prostate effects, the Expert Panel has minimal concern
• For the potential effect of accelerated puberty, the Expert Panel has minimal concern
• For birth defects and malformations, the Expert Panel has negligible concern

2. For infants and children, the Expert Panel has the following levels of concern for biological processes that might be altered by Bisphenol A, as follows:
• some concern for neural and behavioral effects
• minimal concern for the effect of accelerated puberty

3. For adults, the Expert Panel has negligible concern for adverse reproductive effects following exposures in the general population to Bisphenol A. For highly exposed subgroups, such as occupationally exposed populations, the level of concern is elevated to minimal.

The findings and conclusions of this report are those of the Expert Panel and should not be construed to represent the views of the National Toxicology Program.

END OF REPORT

POINTS WORTH NOTING:

1. Current manufacturers of bisphenol A in the US are Bayer MaterialScience, Dow Chemical Company, General Electric, Hexion Specialty Chemicals, and Sunoco Chemicals. 2003 consumption patterns included 619,000 metric tons [~1.4 billion pounds] used in polycarbonate resins, 184,000 metric tons [~406 million pounds] used in epoxy resins, and 53,000 metric tons [~117 million pounds] used in other applications. The production of bisphenol A is increasing annually in the U.S., while the European Union is phasing out bisphenol A production.

2. Bisphenol A in daycares and home environments:
Two studies examining aggregate exposures in preschool age children in the US used GC/MS to measure bisphenol A concentrations in environmental media. In the first study, bisphenol A concentrations were measured in air outside 2 day care centers and the homes of 9 children. Bisphenol A was detected in 9 of 13 outdoor air samples at daycare centers and at homes. In indoor air from day care centers and homes, bisphenol A was detected in 12 of 13 samples. At those same locations, bisphenol A was detected in all of 13 samples of floor dust and play area soils (25-70% of indoor dust samples). In the second study, bisphenol A concentrations were measured inside and outside at least 222 homes and 29 daycare centers. Bisphenol A was detected in 31–44% of outdoor air samples from each location, and 45% to 73% of indoor air samples contained detectable concentrations of bisphenol A.

3. Potential exposures from food and water:
The European Union noted that the highest potential for human exposure to bisphenol A is through products that directly contact food. Examples of food contact materials that can contain bisphenol A include food and beverage containers with internal epoxy resin coatings and polycarbonate tableware and bottles, such as those used to feed infants.

4. Exposure of Bisphenol A in daycare and home food:
The highest potential for human exposure to bisphenol A is through products that directly contact food such as food and beverage containers with internal epoxy resin coatings and polycarbonate tableware and bottles, such as those used to feed infants. Dietary sources account for 99% of exposure.
A study examining aggregate exposures of US preschool age children measured bisphenol A concentrations in liquid food and solid food served to the children at home and at child care centers. Duplicate plates of food served to 9 children were collected over a 48-hour period. GC/MS analyses were conducted on 4 liquid food samples and 4 solid food samples from the child care center and 9 liquid food samples and 9 solid food samples from home. Bisphenol A was detected in all solid food samples, 3 liquid food samples from the child care center, and 2 liquid food samples from the home. Concentrations of bisphenol A were found in liquid and solid food.
The study examining aggregate exposures of US preschool age children was repeated with a larger sample and again measured bisphenol A concentrations in liquid food and solid food served to the children at home and at child care centers. Bisphenol A concentrations were measured by GC/MS in food served over a 48 hour period to at least 238 children at home and 49 children at daycare centers. Bisphenol A was detected in 83–100% of solid food samples and 61% to 80% of liquid food contained detectable concentrations of bisphenol A. Data were also collected for hand wipes of 193 children at daycare centers and 60 children at home. Bisphenol A was detected in 94–100% of handwipe samples, and food preparation surface wipes. Bisphenol A was detected in 85–89% of food preparation surface wipes from homes.

5. Bisphenol A and chlorine use:
When exposed to chlorine disinfectant, bisphenol A disappears within 4 hours, but the chlorinated bisphenol A congeners that are formed can remain in solution up to 20 hours when low chlorine doses are used. The toxicity of these chlorinated bisphenol A congeners is unknown; however, there is some evidence that estrogenic activity and receptor binding remains after chlorination.

6. Bisphenol A in fetuses:
Schönfelder et al. examined bisphenol A concentrations in maternal and fetal blood and compared bisphenol A concentrations in blood of male and female fetuses. In a study conducted at a German medical center, blood samples were obtained from 37 Caucasian women between 32 and 41 weeks gestation. Bisphenol A was detected in all samples tested. Mean bisphenol A concentrations were higher in maternal than fetal blood. Study authors noted that in 14 cases fetal bisphenol A plasma concentrations exceeded those detected in maternal plasma. Among those 14 cases, 12 fetuses were male, revealing significantly higher mean bisphenol A concentrations in the blood of male than female fetuses.

7. General toxicity:
Gross signs of toxicity observed in rats acutely exposed to bisphenol A included pale livers and gastrointestinal hemorrhage [reviewed by the European Union]. Acute effects of inhalation exposure in rats included transient and slight inflammation of nasal epithelium and ulceration of the oronasal duct. Based on LD50s observed in animals, the European Union concluded that bisphenol A is of low acute toxicity through all exposure routes relevant to humans, however there is evidence that bisphenol A is irritating and damaging to the eye and is irritating to the respiratory tract and possibly the skin.

8. Human developmental effects:
No studies were located on possible human developmental effects of bisphenol A.

Teether & Slipcover recalls

Amber, our preschool teacher, just shared these important recalls! Thanks Amber.


1. Slipcovers Used With Boppy Pillows Recalled Due to Choking Hazard and Risk of Lead Exposure
Name of Product: Boppy® Slipcovers
Hazard: The zipper pull on the slipcovers can break, posing a choking hazard to young children. In addition, paint on the zippers contains excess levels of lead.
Description: This recall involves velvet and boa slipcovers intended for use with the Boppy® Bare Naked nursing and support pillow.
All Colors: Blue/Green Velvet; Pink/ Orange Velvet; Pastel Blue Velvet


2. Infantino® Recalls Infant Teethers Due to Choking Hazard
Name of Product: Infantino® Lion Teethers
Hazard: The plastic nose can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.Description: This recall involves Infantino® lion teethers. The yellow and orange plastic teethers have date codes 6116, 6129, 6158, 6137, 0606, 0806, 0906, and 1006. The date codes are located on the back of the lion’s head, above the Infantino® logo. Lion teethers with other date codes are not included in this recall.

Canadian News: Rage over 2007 Recalls

Rage over recalls topped 2007 headlines

Thu. Dec. 27 2007 10:04, CTV News, Nicole Tomlinson

Recalls galore made headlines in 2007, as companies scrambled to get products deemed to be dangerous off the shelves and away from consumers -- especially children. Parents worried as lead and "date rape" drug precursors showed up in toys, and over-the-counter kids' medicines came under scrutiny.

Toys
More than 20 million Mattel products were affected by three major recalls of Chinese-made toys within about a month. The items, which were found to contain either excessive amounts of lead paint or small magnets that could easily be swallowed by children, included well-known toys such as Barbie accessories, Fisher-Price Geotrax toys, and Dora the Explorer. Due to the massive recalls, Mattel vowed to tighten its controls at its Chinese factories, where about 65 per cent of the company's toys are made - 95 per cent all toy recalls in 2007, prior to the report's release, involved Chinese-made toys.

A U.S.-based coalition of environmental health groups released a report in December revealing 35 per cent of 1,200 toys they tested contained lead. Also, 17 per cent of the products tests had levels of lead above the 600 parts per million U.S. federal standard that would trigger a recall of lead paint.

Health Canada launched a new centralized website database in October to allow parents to search for recalled children's products dating back to 1995.

MORE TOY RECALLS DUE TO EXCESSIVE LEAD

IF YOU SEE ANY OF THESE TOYS ON STORE SHELVES PLEASE ASK THE STORE MANAGER TO REMOVE THEM IMMEDIATELY AS THEY HAVE BEEN RECALLED!

1. Fishing Game Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard:
Fishing Games Sold at Grocery Stores Recalled by Far East Brokers
Hazard: The recalled game has parts that contain excessive levels of lead.
Description: The recalled Fishing Game contains a fishing pole, one large battery operated fish, and three small wind-up fish. The UPC #011546208270 and product #25741 are printed on the product’s packaging.


2. “Soldier Bear” Wooden Pull Along Learning Blocks & Wagon Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard.
Hazard: The surface paint on the toys contains excessive levels of lead.
Description: Wooden Pull-Along Learning Blocks Wagon (alphabet blocks in a wooden wagon)


3. “Soldier Bear” Time Teacher Clock Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard:
Hazard: The surface paint on the toys contains excessive levels of lead.
Description: Time Teacher (magnetic shapes & clock in pull cart)


4. “Soldier Bear” Wooden Riding Horse Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard:
Hazard: The surface paint on the toys contains excessive levels of lead.
Description: Wooden Riding Horse


5. “Soldier Bear” Vehicle Play Set Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard:
Hazard: The surface paint on the toys contains excessive levels of lead.
Description: Vehicle Play Set (blue military vehicle with action figures)


6. Discount Supply Store "Measuring Chart" Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard:
Hazard: The paint on the grow chart contains excess levels of lead.
Description: The Giant Grow Chart measures a child’s growth with a giant yellow ruler-shaped plastic chart. The grow chart also has a picture of a bean stalk painted on it from top to bottom.


7. Curious George Plush Dolls Recalled By Marvel Toys Due to Risk of Lead Exposure
Hazard: Surface paint on the toy’s plastic face and construction hat contain excessive levels of lead.
Description: This recall involves Curious George 12-inch plush dolls with a plastic face. The dolls are dressed to represent five various themes: birthday, fireman, sweet dreams, tool time and tool time with a soft face. The plush dolls were sold with a Curious George storybook or activity book. The following product and SKU numbers are printed on the packaging.
These include: Birthday, Fireman, Sweet Dreams, Tool Time, Tool Time (soft face).


8. Bell Racing Recalls Collectible Mini Racing Helmets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard:
Hazard: Surface paints on the recalled helmets contain excessive levels of lead.
Description: The recalled products are six-inch tall, collectible, miniature helmets, modeled after helmets worn by several race car drivers. The follow models are included in the recall: Terry Borcheller helmet, part number 2005740; Kurt Busch helmet, part number 2001368; and Vitor Meira helmet, part number 2001381. The part number is located on the product’s packaging with the UPC.


9. Collectable Toy Robot by Schylling Assoc. Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard:
Hazard: Surface paints on the robot contain excessive levels of lead.
Description: The “Robot 2000” is a battery-operated, tin robot standing 12” tall. It has a red light on the head and chest panels that open.


10. Dizzy Ducks Music Box by Schylling Assoc. Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard:
Hazard: Surface paints on the wooden base of the music box contain excessive levels of lead.
Description: The Dizzy Ducks Music Box is a wind-up music box with ducks that spin as music plays.


11. Spinning Top Recalled by Schylling Associates Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard:
Hazard: Surface paint on the wooden handle of the top contains excessive levels of lead.
Description: The recalled spinning top is primarily metal and has wooden handles. The top is printed with Winnie-the-Pooh characters.


12. Toy Cars Recalled by Dollar General Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard:
Hazard: Surface paint on the cars contains excessive levels of lead.
Description: The recall involves two styles of “pull and release” toy cars, including a four pack of Super Wheels (UPC #400016576344) and a two pack of Super Racer cars (UPC # 883788965002).


13. Toy Figures Recalled by Henry Gordy International Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard:
Hazard: Surface paints on the recalled toys contain excessive levels of lead.
Description: The posable spaceman figures are about 4½-inches tall and come with two accessories. They were sold in various colors including yellow, grey, silver, blue, green, gold, black, and red.

TO CHECK ALL TOY RECALLS GO TO: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Christmas Morning with plastics #7, #3 and #6

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

I woke up this Christmas morning thinking about all the children excitedly opening their Santa gifts and remembering the joy I felt as a young mother when my son and daughter were gleaming from ear to ear upon finding the toys they wanted under the tree. It truly is a magical time.

It dawned on me this morning that as a busy mother I wouldn't have had time to think about toxic toys, let alone read, research, advocate, and investigate the toys and products that I hurriedly fill my shopping cart with! I barely had time to sleep! So here I have started this blog at the beginning of December asking mothers to stand up and take notice and to ban together to protect the lives and health of their children, and if there is a single population who doesn't have time for this it surely must be young MOTHERS!

I have been resting uneasy since my Preschool Head Teacher Amber brought in an email response she received from GERBER yesterday. Amber happens to be one of these to-busy-to-breath new mothers, taking tender loving care of her beautiful infant son Logan. Several things stand out in their email...
"We can assure you that all Gerber products are safe and meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements for safety. FDA has established regulations that define the limits for potential interaction between food and plastics." This sounds like a reasonable response, and so I went searching for the FDA guidelines and have yet to find them (I'll continue the search).

My investigation took me an interesting blurb from another concerned mother who says,

"I used to be totally psyched that I could get Gerber Tender Harvest organic baby food in my regular grocery store and I’ve been faithful to them for six years. Until now. Until some asshat decided that putting organic baby food in plastic containers, as well as killing off half of our favorite flavors in one fell swoop, would be a great idea. Hello? Plastics leach dangerous chemicals such as phthalates & Bisphenol A into food, particularly when heated. And guess what I found out when I called Gerber to complain? Their baby food is poured into these plastic containers while it’s still boiling hot. But they insist it’s safe. You know…like the Ford Pinto or lead paint. These containers are polycarbonate, as noted by the #7 on the bottom. Nice, eh? If you’d like to thank Gerber for this disappointing decision, call them at 1-800-4-GERBER. So now my choices are to continue buying it and pretend that I don’t know any of this, go somewhere out of my way to buy organic baby food in glass jars OR buy the non-organic stuff and contend with pesticides and fertilizer chemicals instead of pthalates and Bisphenol A. Mmmmm. Yummy." (Izzy)

For a few minutes yesterday I doubted myself, especially when reading Gerber's further response to the question of Bisphenol A, which states, "other leading scientific and regulatory authorities in Europe have concluded that the use of food contact polycarbonate plastics is safe" and "it sees no reason to ban or otherwise restrict currently authorized food contact applications." That sounds reasonable, doesn't it? Gerber is only following the established regulations and FDA's strict guidelines, right? So why is it that every single Environmental and Health group is warning parents to stay away from Bisphenol A and polycarbonate plastics (soft plastics and vinyl) #7, #3 and #6? Are they all just reactionaries who have something against the plastics industry? Do they simply have nothing better to do then to scare the public about things they know nothing about? Is GreenPeace, National Geographic (Green Guide), Children's Health Environmental Coalition, HealthyToys.org, The Ecology Center, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Environment Working Group (EWG), Consumers Union, World Health Organization, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency just trying to stir us up??

Some might think so. My gut instinct as a mother tells me otherwise. It tells me that the plastics industry, worth billions of dollars annually, (11.5 billion in NY State alone in 2005), accounting for 341 billion dollars in annual shipments and direct employment of 1.1 million people in 2005. The industries Free Trade Agreement with China and Central America means yet another 16 billion in the purchase of U.S. manufactured plastics, while in 2003 China became the third the third largest export market for U.S. plastics industry goods, with exports valued at 1.32 billion.

California, Maryland and Minnesota proposed to ban children's products that contained any level of bisphenol A (2006) Each bill would have prohibited the manufacture, sale or distribution in commerce of a wide range of toys or childcare articles intended for use by a child under three years of age.
Each bill has effectively died. The FDA conclusion stated that, "based on all the evidence available to us at this time, FDA sees no reason to change its long-held position that current uses with food are safe"and "considering all the evidence…FDA sees no reason at this time to ban or otherwise restrict the uses now in practice." Eliminating Bisphenol A (California Bill AB 319) would have essentially meant banning life-saving medical devices (e.g., incubators, kidney dialyzers, blood oxygenators, and drug infusion units), sports safety equipment (e.g., bicycle helmets, visors), healthcare products (e.g., eyeglass lenses, dental sealants), shatter-resistant baby bottles, and canned foods and beverages.

Several European Countries have also tried to ban Bisphenol A, but without success as yet. National Geographic's Green Guide website has quoted [Science News, 10/18/97], "A U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) study has shown that bisphenol A (BPA), a component of polycarbonate plastic that mimics the effects of natural estrogen, can migrate into liquids. FDA researchers found that polycarbonate baby bottles, juice cups and other food wares contain unbound BPA, which is released into fatty foods and baby formula at room temperature and when heated." Is this guy totally off the mark? Simply another reactionary?

The Labour Environmental Alliance Society in Canada makes a strong point, "The problem with that assurance is that the FDA and the American Plastic Council have also assured consumers that there is no cause for concern in using the soft plastic teething rings and soothers made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Meanwhile, the European Union moved this year to ban plastic toys "intended to be chewed or sucked by children under three" them because of concern over the phthalates used in the plastic to make it soft and pliable. Apparently, Europe is more concerned about the health of its citizens than U.S. regulators."

No state has effectively banned or limited the use of Bisphenol-A or Phthalates from baby products, however the European Union did move to eliminate Phthalates by unanimously approving a permanent ban on 6 types of Phthalates in September 2004. Other countries that have banned some, or all, use of Phthalates include: Austria, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Spain, and Japan. Canada has issued a national health advisory on Phthalates. SO WHAT'S WRONG WITH AMERICA? In the absence of both state and federal government action and adequate information about the presence of toxic chemicals in consumer products, the Environment California Research and Policy Center recommends that parents and others caring for children do the following:

• Avoid allowing children to put polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastic toys in their mouths;
• Use glass containers for food and drink storage when possible;
• In washing plastic products, avoid harsh dishwashing soap and hot water, both of which speed up the leaching process

There are so many alternatives to making plastics without these potentially harmful chemicals. If Gerber is really interested in "helping parents raise happy, healthy babies" why doesn't the company simply act on the side of caution until further evidence does come forth? In their letter they also state, "Gerber chose the multi-layer #7 plastic package so it ensures the quality of the product by helping ensure freshness of food." PLENTY OF ENSURANCES!

I have a little stack of Gerber's baby foods in #7 plastic containers that I removed from our Infant room immediately after reading that #7 plastics contained polycarbonate. We effectively ended our plastic baby food purchases and we have made a simple switch to glass containers, with little effort whatsoever! At this point is seems Gerber has no intention of taking the lead by stepping up to ensure that safety truly is their "top priority"!!

So here is what I propose we mothers do.

LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE, because I do understand that you are all rightfully busy tending to your precious babies and you shouldn't have to be preoccupied with worries concerning the optimal health of your children. Let's not even bother to second guess the plastics industry. What IF all these health organizations and environmental activist groups ARE right? Do we really have time to kick ourselves several years down the road when the FDA calls a ban on all leaching plastics?

1. When you go to the grocery store just don't buy any baby food in plastic containers! Go back to glass containers, which are still available on most grocery shelves.
2. Share what you know and what you are doing (skipping the #7 plastic baby food containers) with every mother you know.

If every mother stops buying Gerber's *new* plastic baby foods and reaches for glass containers then your local store will begin to get the picture. If EVERY store manager has to throw out expired plastic containers they will have no choice but to stock what mothers are buying! Seems like a small and easy step towards forcing necessary change, doesn't it? Gerber and all the other "safety first" big-money corporations are NOT going to switch to alternative plastics unless it impacts them financially!

If YOU can take just one precautionary measure to ensure your child's safety do it TODAY.
Every mother doing one thing, picking away at eliminating plastics #3-PVC, #6-PS, #7-Polycarbonate, will certainly add up to:
A lot of mothers in a lot of communities making a lot of difference to a lot of children!!

These are my thoughts on this perfectly peaceful Christmas morning. Good will to all....

Are chemicals eliminating boys from our populations?

Man-made chemicals blamed as many more girls than boys are born in Arctic

Paul Brown in Nuuk, Greenland
(excerpts from The Guardian):

Twice as many girls as boys are being born in some Arctic villages because of high levels of man-made chemicals in the blood of pregnant women, according to scientists from the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (Amap).

The scientists, who say the findings could explain the recent excess of girl babies across much of the northern hemisphere, are widening their investigation across the most acutely affected communities in Russia, Greenland and Canada to try to discover the size of the imbalance in Inuit communities of the far north. In the communities of Greenland and eastern Russia monitored so far, the ratio was found to be two girls to one boy.

In one village in Greenland only girls have been born. "Here in the north of Greenland, in the villages near the Thule American base, only girl babies are being born to Inuit families."

The scientists measured the man-made chemicals in women's blood that mimic human hormones (BISPHENOL-A) and concluded that they were capable of triggering changes in the sex of unborn children in the first three weeks of gestation. The chemicals are carried in the mother's bloodstream through the placenta to the fetus, switching hormones to create girl children.

The Arctic scientists have discovered that many of the babies born in Russia are premature and the boys are far smaller than girls. Possible links between the pollutants and high infant mortality in the first year of life is also being investigated.
Aqqaluk Lynge, the former chairman of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference who hails from Greenland, said: "This is a disaster, especially for some 1,500 people who make up the Inuit nations in the far north east of Russia.

Full results for the widening of the survey would not be published until next year but preliminary results for Greenland showed the same 2:1 ratio in the north.

 

DON'T ASSUME TOYS ARE SAFE!

Arlene,
I love you for sharing this August/07 letter from Govenor Spitzer with other's in our field, but by reading this parents and providers are going to think the toys on stores shelves are now safe because the Gov. started addressing this half a year ago. This is clearly NOT happening! The problem with the whole system stems right from the very beginning - the import stage! If these toys weren't being allowed in the country in the first place then they wouldn't be put on shelves. The real problem is the toy industry is big business and it's almost impossible to stop these corporations without a HUGE campaigne, overloading the public with an understanding of the chemicals that are in the toys and products they are buying for their children, and seriously advocating for safe toys on a daily basis.
I just added some interesting info to my forum. Did you know: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a level of 40 parts per million (ppm) of lead as the maximum that should be allowed in children's products. The federal recall standard used for lead paint is 600 ppm! Tests are being done on hundreds of items and the toxic level of lead in most of them is astounding - the Fisher Price Medical Kit we've been providing for our children for years now has 3,410 ppm of lead in some of its parts! That product is still on toy shelves, and I'm sure many children will be receiving it from Santa in a few days.

Lead isn't the only serious problem. What about arsenic? Did you see those lovely little shoes for infants with seriously toxic levels of arsenic on their soles? I just sent an article to our County newspaper about this week's Top 10 Worst Toys. These are NOT toys that have been recalled. They still sit on store shelves. Just last month I went to the Dollar Store in Canton and bought 2 "Baby Bead & Wire Toys" for the toddlers - the other day I received a few new recall notices, and this toy contained "excessive amounts of lead"! Honesty, we just can't keep up. Please continue to send any recall notices my way, but more importantly parents have to do their own homework. They can't trust that the toys on store shelves are safe simply because the Gov. said he would do something about it 6 months ago. Parents need to assume that any painted toy is toxic and before they purchase it they need to know that no law requires or regulates labels, and few products are labeled with chemical contents. They need to be pro-active and can go to www.HealthyToys.org to type in the product and see the tested results before purchasing a toxic toy!

Soft plastic and vinyl toys and products (including all plastic baby bottles except for Evenflo glass or colored, and GreenToGrow) contain potentially harmful chemicals such as DBP (dibutyl phthalate) and BBP (butylbenzyl phthalate), as well as DEHP (Di-Ethylhexyl Phthalate) and DINP (diisononyl phthalate) - which can cause liver and kidney disorders, damage to the reproductive tract, increased incidence of certain forms of cancer and diverse effects on development and metabolism. The effects of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride or vinyl) in plastics is already showing itself in Greenland.....just yesterday it was announced that scientists believe PVC exposure is responsible for the fact that infant boys are no longer being born to mothers in Greenland!! PVC is widely used in toys and other children's products and is one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. The safest way to ensure our children are not being given toxic toys is to completely avoid ALL soft plastic and vinyl products until we have done our homework and know what the product contains! Some toys now contain "PVC free" labels - assume that if the soft toy doesn't have this label it is unhealthy for a child! It is clear that we can not trust the toy industry to protect our children, and it is going to take drastic and ongoing action on the part of our government (both local and federal) to make the necessary changes. We are probably looking at years before we can relax and feel safe about pulling a toy from a store's shelf.

What bothers me the most is that I recently read this information, "When purchased for laboratory use, DINP (chemical that softens toys) is labelled with a number of hazard phrases, including "harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed", "possible risk of irreversible effects" and "may cause cancer". In contrast, toys containing up to 40% by weight DINP in a readily leachable form are frequently labelled "non toxic".

Lead in toys is just the tip of the iceburg, but it's nice that Govenor Spitzer is on our side. Hopefully we will all continue to pester him about lead and all the other harmful chemicals in our children's hands and mouths. Parents and childcare providers need to do some heavy YELLING in order to get heard!!

More December Recalls

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

1. Children’s Toys Recalled by Dollar Tree Stores Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard -
Name of Product: Baby Toys Baby Bead & Wire Toys and Speed Racer Pull Back & Go Action! Cars.
Hazard: The recalled toys contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

2. Children’s Water Globes Recalled Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard; Sold Exclusively at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores -
Name of Product: Children’s Robbie Ducky Holiday Water Globes
Hazard: The painted base of the water globes contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Alright. Time for some personal comments here!
How long are we going to allow the government to continue in this distructive manner?!! I just received the latest "Top 10 Toxic Toys"..... please read this carefully and don't tell me you aren't as angry as I am right now!
Lovely little dinner party set - remember moms, how we used to enjoy playing with these? Set up the tea party and invite all of our animals friends? So let's give our own daughters this same wonderful experience, shall we?! Try this lovely TOXIC LEAD Dinner Party set, made in China, distributed by Almart...... only 12,635 ppm on the small painted side of the ceramic kettle! (remember American Academy of Pediatrics recommended allowance is 40 ppm; federal recall allowance is 600 ppm).
Ask your daughter's friends over for a tea party so they can sip on the tiny tea cups with only 3,740 ppm of lead going directly to their innocent mouths!

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THESE PRODUCTS ARE GETTING PUT ON STORE SHELVES???? 

Who is asleep at the wheel?!
It is seriously way past time for every single parent to stand up and take action
on behalf of our children! Someone has to do it, we ALL have to do it. 
Have you started to advocate for safe toys yet? If not, why not?! 
Who else can we count on to stop this insanity??
Lovely little "Dinner Party"? 
Anyone letting their precious children play with this chemical that
isn't even on the recall list yet?

LATEST TOXIC TOYS LIST

IMPORTANT NOTE:

LEAD:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a level of 40 parts per million (ppm) of lead as the maximum that should be allowed in children's products. The federal recall standard used for lead paint is 600 ppm! Very high levels of lead were found in a number of products. Recent testing by Healthy Toys detected more than 6,700 ppm in animal figurines, 3,056 ppm in a Hannah Montana Pop Star Card Game pack, and 1,700 ppm lead in baby shoes. 

Arsenic, Cadminum, and Mercury: Has also been found in a number of products! These 3 chemicals have been found at levels greater than 100 ppm. The toy industry has established a voluntary migration standard for the amount of arsenic that can migrate from toys of 25 ppm.

Results of some recently tested toys that contain high chemical levels.
Detailed results can be found at Healthy Toys.

1. Medical Kit (Fisher Price): High lead (3,410 ppm); High arsenic (293); med chlorine/PVC

2. Hannah Montana Pop Star Card Game (Disney): High Lead (3,056); High arsenic (250); med chlorine/PVC

3. Kids Slippers: Royal Designs (sizes 3-4) (Max Grey): High Lead (1,363); High arsenic (132); med chlorine/PVC

4. Squeeze Fish (3) (Babyking): High Cadmium (184)

5. My Little Sunshine Mirror (Sassy): High arsenic (859) - especially pink cheeks and yellow fabric

6. My Pasture Play Set (all animals), (Dollar Store): High Lead (6,733); High arsenic (204); med chlorine/PVC

7. Kids Boots: Boot Style 443449; Item 1682 (Circo); on yellow vinyl & blue trim: High Lead (1,687); Med arsenic (204); med chlorine/PVC


8. Infant Shoes (Target) Style 443559 (Circo): High Lead (5,197 white sole); med chlorine/PVC


9. Bath Float Toys (Babyking): High Cadmium (429); med lead; low chlorine/PVC

Urge Your Daycare to Become Bisphenol-A FREE!

Ontario, Canada: Dalton McGuinty, the Premier of Ontario, is considering banning Bisphenol A in the Province of Ontario."Why is it that at the beginning of the 21st century one in four Ontarians are dying of cancer?" "We need to do a better job of understanding the influence of these chemicals toxins and carcinogens in our environment and our quality of life." Rick Smith of Environmental Defense said "It's just ridiculous that we have baby bottles sold that have known hormone-disrupting chemical in it."

Babies and children can be exposed to bisphenol A at their daycare centres.
That’s why the Environmental Defence is urging daycare centres to become bisphenol A-free."

You can help.
Urge your children’s daycare centre to go bisphenol A-free. 
Here is a sample letter composed by the Environmental Defence 
that you can give your childcare provider. 
(CLICK HERE)

Daycare Centers and Providers should send a letter to their suppliers
asking them to eliminate toy, food and beverage products that contain bisphenol A.
(Sample Letter HERE).

NY Consumer Protection Board asking for Public Participation!

Advocacy Key to Month Long Commemoration of National Toy Safety Month Dec 2007

The New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is calling on the public to participate in and advocate for toy safety as part of its month-long commemoration of National Toy Safety Awareness Month. They have provided this information & link. SIMPLY CLICK TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR CHILD'S LIFE!

(CPB): "With your voice, we can try to prevent the distribution of dangerous toys.
Use this letter to urge the Toy Industry Association
to take steps to improve the quality and safety of toys."

GET YOUR CHILDREN INVOLVED!!
Use NY State Consumer Protection Board's
TOY SAFETY INVENTORY CHECKLIST

New York's Safe Children's Products Campaign

PROTECT NEW YORK'S KIDS CAMPAIGN

The JustGreen Partnership (Working for Environmental Health and Justice for New York's People and Communities) is working with legislative champions to develop a Child-safe Products Act to be introduced in and passed through both houses of the New York State Legislature and signed into law in 2008. This bill should contain the following policy elements:

1. Dates certain for phase-out of toxic chemicals from children’s products and by which substitution of safer chemicals or processes is required.
2. Safety labeling for all products stating that they are in compliance with the law (i.e., do not contain the law’s identified chemicals), and warning labels for all products that are not (i.e., contain toxic ingredients). (bilingual)
3. Support for an independent, third-party certification program such as GreenSeal or LEED to verify claims.
4. Regular inspection at the retail and importation level, funded by the Environmental Protection Fund.
5. Penalties for non-compliance.
6. Partial exemption from liability for retailers who require contents disclosure from their product suppliers.
7. Technical Support and compliance assistance for businesses.
8. Requiring the newly funded Pollution Prevention Institute to prioritize solutions for identified toxic chemicals and product categories.
9. Authorization of participation in an Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse, to bring together research and data gathered on chemical hazards, alternatives, and initiatives for implementation of safer chemicals policies by the states into a single location, while establishing new data, research, dialogs and collaborations. Also funded through the Environmental Protection Fund.

Join the New York State "JustGreen Partnership" and take action today!

Email your Senator (click here)
Email your Assembly Member (click here)
Email Judith Anck, Deputy Secretary of the Environment (click here)

Hospital & Health Care Use of PVC - Report

Health Care Without Harm Report:
International coalition of hospitals, health care systems and medical professionals

In October, 2005, The National Toxicology Program (NTP) re-affirmed that diethylhexyl-phthalate (DEHP) poses a risk to human development and fertility. DEHP is widely used as a plasticizer to make vinyl plastic soft and flexible. The NTP’s second Expert Panel evaluated the last five years of science on DEHP exposure and toxicity relevant to human reproduction. Despite claims from DEHP manufacturers that the chemical is not of concern to humans, the Expert Panel concluded otherwise.

The panel re-affirmed its previous conclusions:
- DEHP is a reproductive and development toxicant in animal studies that are relevant to humans
- health care is a significant source of DEHP exposure
- levels of DEHP exposure in sick infants receiving medical care are of serious concern
- because DEHP crosses the placenta, pregnant women receiving medical treatments are also of concern

The panel slightly reduced their levels of concern in children 1-6 years of age and the general population of pregnant and nursing women because of better data on exposure levels.
To read full report click here

Several relevant links for Health Care Workers:
Health Care Institutions Reducing PVC & DEHP
List of PVC-Free Health Care Alternatives
Why Healthcare is moving away from PVC
PVC/DEHP Hospital Audit Tool

TOYS WITHOUT PVC

Greenpeace Report from Toy Manufacturers:

Discovery Toys, US - does not use PVC in toys for children under three

Early Start, US - Does not use PVC, soft plastic is EVA. Has confirmed that
products continue to be PVC free

Evenflo, US - no longer makes any toys with PVC or phthalates

First Years, US - in 1999 began labeling their teethers PVC Free: contains no polyvinyl chloride or phthalates. No PVC is used for products intended for the mouth

Gerber US - claims that all of its products manufactured from 2000 are PVC-free, and that it will continue to be PVC-free. (Gerber continues to use #7 plastic containers for baby food products)

Lamaze Infant Development/Learning Curve - My First Fish Bowl, Fill & Spill, and Tub Frogs toys are still PVC. In 2003 it confirmed that three products do include small amounts of PVC but there is no PVC in any other products at Learning Curve

Playmobil (Germany) - Letter January 1999: ‘Since summer 1992 we totally stopped to use any PVC and softeners in our products – The only item still including PVC is the jumping net of our fire brigade item number 3881, due to the fact that there is no material alternative.’

Safety First (US) - (October 2000) claims to have eliminated PVC from all of its teethers, using EVA instead.

Sassy Products (US) - December 20 1998. Statement ‘Our plan is to find PVC alternatives for all our products by the end of the 2nd quarter. The 2 "in the mouth" products which contain PVC will be PVC free before the end of the 1st quarter.’ As of February 2003, Sassy says their only toy containing PVC (phthalate free) is ‘Who Loves Baby Photo Book’

Turner Toys (US) - July 1998. This independent toy manufacturer (wooden toys) has incorporated information about the problems of soft PVC toys into their website. They will use this information in an outreach to 1,500 toy buyers, manufacturers, and distributors.

ALWAYS CHECK YOUR TOY LABELS! ASK for "PVC-free" products!

THIS VIDEO SAYS IT ALL!!

PART 1:


cont...
PART 2:

GOVERNOR SPITZER ANNOUNCES NEW STATEWIDE RECALL OF UNSAFE TOYS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 10, 2007
GOVERNOR SPITZER ANNOUNCES NEW STATEWIDE RECALL OF UNSAFE TOYS
Toy Safety Campaign Reveals Improved Compliance but Some Toys Remain on the Shelves Calls on Federal Government to Issue National Recall

Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced that the state Consumer Protection Board’s (CPB) Safe Toys NY Campaign found that toys with unsafe lead levels remain on store shelves across the state. The findings resulted from the Governor’s call for a statewide investigation of toys being sold in New York and revealed retail practices are in need of improvement in order to protect consumers. While inspections found increased compliance with recall requirements, toys with unsafe lead levels were still being sold. The Governor is also calling on the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to immediately issue a national recall of newly identified products found during investigations and is calling for the CPB to draft legislation to create and improve standards in the industry and better inform and protect consumers.

EMAIL: toytesting@consumer.state.ny.us to advocate for toy testing by manufacturers, retailers and others. in our State. Copy & Paste this sample letter:

Dear Governor Eliot Spitzer,
The recent revelations of toxic chemicals in children's toys points to a broader government failure to ensure that the industrial chemicals used in consumer products are safe for children. We urge you to hold government oversight hearings on this regulatory failure, and to move forward to update the nation's 30 year old chemical law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
Our nation's chemical law should be overhauled to:
* Require complete health and safety testing on chemicals used in products and industry before they are put on the market, and make the information publicly available in order to protect the public and workers who handle these chemicals.
* Phase out the most dangerous chemicals, especially those that are showing up in newborn babies. The use of chemicals that can cause cancer, hormone disruption, nervous system problems, reproductive problems or other serious hazards should be prohibited. When a safer alternative exists, companies should be required to use it.
* Expand the public right-to-know on toxic chemicals. Consumers and workers should have easy access to information on the chemical content of products.
* Promote innovation for safer alternatives. The federal government should provide resources to businesses and researchers to make products safer.

We thank you for your leadership on public health and environmental issues and hope you address the regulatory failure that currently leaves children exposed to toxic chemicals.

Sincerely, "Your Name"

Information about recalls for providers & parents

From: Dee Burlingame
Early Childhood Professional Development
St. Lawrence Child Care Council (in Ogdensburg, NY) 315-393-6474
A website for the SLCCC is currently in production and should be available in early 2008. When it is up, a recall section is a good idea or at least a link to the Consumer Product Safety Council that providers and parents can turn to. What we have been doing in regards to recalls, is e-mailing any recall information to all of our providers that have given us their e-mail address. I subscribe to the Consumer Product Safety Commission recall listserve. (To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.)
All New York child care providers/programs will soon be receiving a letter from NYS-OCFS that includes checklists for inventorying their toys and equipment that will make it easier to check for recalled items. It is also being recommended that providers keep recall information on file and check their toy inventories whenever a new recall alert is sent.
We offer Intensive Technical Assistance to individual providers/programs as well as the email alerts. Because the listing of recalled toys/equipment seems to change daily a one-time training may not be accurate the very next day.
Registrars from our office and licensors from Syracuse also pass on recall information during inspections as does the NYS Infant Toddler Network. I have had several providers contact me after our recall alerts, that they have the item and have removed it!
Providers and parents can always call our office with questions and we will assist them in any way we can.

Health Affects of PVC - The Poison Plastic

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC, or Vinyl) is one of the most commonly used materials in the consumer marketplace. PVC (polyvinyl chloride or vinyl) is widely used in toys and other children's products and is one of the most hazardous consumer products ever created. Our bodies are contaminated with poisonous chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle, such as mercury, dioxins, and phthalates, which may pose irreversible life-long health threats.

For soft applications, such as toys designed for chewing ("teethers"), softeners or plasticisers are added to give the desired flexibility. Although a range of chemicals are used as softeners, phthalate esters (phthalates) are by far the most commonly used. These added plasticizers allow the chains to slide against each other. DEHP (Di-Ethylhexyl Phthalate) and DINP (diisononyl phthalate) are the most commonly used Phthalates, and are still used as a plasticizer. DEHP and DINP do not vaporize easily at room temperature, but do migrate out of the plastic as a vapor over 30° C (86° F). Under relatively slight pressure, phthalates will exude from PVC. As little as 1/10 kilogram per square centimeter (1.4 lb/sq. inch) can result in loss of 30% of the plasticizer. (from: PVC Handbook by C. P. Hall, plasticizer manufacturer). The livers of very young infants do not metabolize DEHP and DINP as efficiently as those of adults, placing infants at higher risk.

Phthalates do not bind to the PVC, remaining present as a freely mobile and leachable phase in the plastic. As a consequence, phthalates are continuously lost from soft PVC over time. Contact and pressure, such as that applied during teething or play, can increase the rates at which these chemicals leach from the plastic. Phthalates accumulate in body tissues, and can damage liver, lungs, and have been shown in lower mammals to damage reproductive organs. Phthalates are freely given off by plastics in which they occur. This is caused by mechanical stress (bending, pressure, chewing) and temperatures over 85° F, which causes it to migrate in gas form.

Children in contact with soft PVC toys may, therefore, ingest substantial quantities of phthalates during normal play, especially from toys specifically designed to be chewed. This is of concern as phthalates are known to present a number of hazards. The limited research available to date on the composition of phthalates in PVC toys has raised concerns over the potential for exposure of children to these chemicals. Despite this, manufacturers do not provide information on the types or quantities of additives present in toys. Effects recorded include liver and kidney disorders, damage to the reproductive tract, increased incidence of certain forms of cancer and diverse effects on development and metabolism. More recently, research has revealed that DINP and DEHP show weak activity as a mimic of the hormone estrogen in human cell lines.

When purchased for laboratory use, DINP is labelled with a number of hazard phrases, including "harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed", "possible risk of irreversible effects" and "may cause cancer". In contrast, toys containing up to 40% by weight DINP in a readily leachable form are frequently labelled "non toxic".

A number of other compounds were identified in some of the toys, generally at lower but significant concentrations. DBP (dibutyl phthalate) and BBP (butylbenzyl phthalate), found in several toys, are known to be particularly hazardous. The estrogenic chemical nonylphenol was isolated from 13 toys, while 2 toys were found to contain the fungicide Fungitrol 11 (Folpet). The Danish EPA has recently demonstrated that the leaching of phthalates, particularly DINP, from teething toys can be substantial. This has been supported by similar studies in other countries and has led, in some cases, to recommendations that certain toys be withdrawn or even that the use of soft PVC in toys for young children should be discontinued.

A study carried out by Greenpeace has demonstrated that phthalates, particularly DINP and DEHP, are widely and abundantly used in high contact children's toys. Their use represents a significant potential for exposure of children to chemical hazards, of particular concern during sensitive periods of development. Although it is practically impossible to make accurate predictions of dose, exposure to such hazards is clearly unacceptable. The only way to avoid direct intake of phthalates is to eliminate the use of PVC in all soft toy applications.

The "Center for Health, Environment & Justice" has the following information:

Sears/Kmart Become Latest Retail Giants To Phase Out Toxic PVC Plastic, Major Source Of Lead, Phthalates, And Dioxin Exposure (read news release here)

VICTORY! Target to Systematically Reduce PVC in Infant Products, Children's Toys, Shower Curtains, Packaging (read news release here)

Ask Wal-Mart to Declare Independence from PVC Today! Send a message to Wal-Mart's CEO and ask them to phase out the poison plastic. (Sign the petetion here)

Local stores carrying Evenflo glass bottles!

Viki Christensen, owner of "The Green House" in Potsdam has responded to my email about stocking Biphenal A (BPA)-free glass baby bottles!
"We have heard that plastic baby bottles are not healthy. Nate did sell Born Free baby bottles at The Green House, but we haven't had any demand for bottles of any sort. I have ordered Evenflo glass bottles so we will have a stock of 6 sets of 3 in 4 oz. and 8 oz. size, along with 6 sets of 3 medium flow nipples. I will also remove the Phillips Avent bottles (#7 plastic) from our website as soon as possible!" The Green House also carries several other eco-friendly baby supplies - check them out online!

Our local Walgreens is also stocking BTA-free Enenflo glass bottles for only $2.49 a bottle!

GreentoGrow is selling Biphenal A free and Phthalate-free baby bottles and is also an excellent website for the latest information on toxic plastics.

Plastic children's products at a glance

Amber, our Preschool Head Teacher, is sharing this wonderful website with loads of valuable information for parents! - greentogrow.com

Here is their 'Green Guide' on Plastic Products at a Glance:

By choosing NOT to buy plastics, you send a message to food processors and manufacturers, as well as retailers. Make changes wherever and whenever you can!

Plastic Code Quick Guide:

Avoid:
#3-PVC
#6-PS
#7-Polycarbonate

Choose instead:
#1-PETE
#2-HDPE
#4-LDPE
#5-PP

Cups/Plates/Utensils Containers

Avoid:
#3 Arrow Clearview Pitcher
#6 Arrow Measuring Cups
#3 Arrow Sip-a-Mug (body is PVC, cap is PP)
#3 Arrow Sip-n-Stor cups
#6 Chip'n Dip bowl (Ullman)
#7 Intellivent containers with blue lids
#6 Kingsman Plastic Cutlery (Maryland Plastic)
#3 Marvin the Martian large squeezebottle (Betras USA)
#7 Rubbermaid Clear Classics container bases*
#6 All Styrofoam cups and containers
#6 Sweetheart Plastic Cutlery
#7 Tupperware Meals-in-Minutes Microsteamer base
#7 Tupperware Rock N' Serve containers

Choose instead:
#5 Bodum brand plastic cutlery (thick, colored)*
#5 Gladware containers
#5 Playtex Spill-Proof Cups
#5 Playtex Straw Cups
#2 Rubbermaid Pitchers (in colors)
#5 Rubbermaid EZ Topps
#5 Rubbermaid Cereal Keeper
#5 Rubbermaid Servin' Saver
#5 Rubbermaid Ice Cube bins
#5 Rubbermaid Grip 'n Mix Bowls
#5 Rubbermaid Bowl Sets
#5 Rubbermaid Push 'n Pour Decanters
#5 Tupperware bowls (all)
#5 Tupperware children's feeding lines
#5 Tupperware Crystal Wave Microwave Container
#2 Tupperware Freeze-N-Save container
#2 Tupperware ice cube tray
#2 Tupperware Ice Tups Set
#5 Tupperware Impressions line
#2 Tupperware Jel-Ring mold
#5 Tupperware Modular Mates
#5 Tupperware One Touch Canisters
#5 Tupperware refrigerator and freezer products (except those specified here as another plastic)
#5 Ziploc containers

Baby / Kids' Items

Caution: Many baby bottles are polycarbonate; however, they are typically not labeled as such and can only be identified by calling the manufacturer.

Avoid:
#7 Avent Baby Bottles
#7 Avent Soft Spout Training Cups
#7 Evenflo Baby Bottles (clear, untinted)
#3 Evenflo Soft Bite Spoon
#7Gerber Baby Bottles (clear only)
#3 Gerber Clear and Soft Baby Bottle Nipples*
#7 Gerber Looney Toons spill-proof cups
#7 Gerber Suzy's Zoo spill-proof cups
#7 Playtex Cherub, Juice and Trainer Cups
#7 Playtex Baby Bottles
#7 Sassy MAM 3-Step Baby Bottles
#7 The First Years Baby Bottles
#7 The First Years Peek-a-Boo Cups
#7 Tuppercare Baby Bottles

Choose instead:
Evenflo Glass Baby Bottles (clear)
#5 Evenflo Baby Bottles (opaque, pastel)
#5 Evenflo colored Baby Bottles
#5 Gerber Baby Bottles (colored)
#5 Gerber's Fun Grips Spill Proof Cups
#5 Gerber 'Lil Sport Bottles Spill Proof Cups
#5 Ideal Temp Feeding Spoons
#5 Less Mess Toddler Bowls
#5 Less Mess Toddler Spoons
#5 Stroll 'N Snack Cups
#5 Medela Baby Cups
#5 Medela Baby Bottles and feeders
#5 Sassy E-Z Grip Cups
#5 Sassy E-Z Grip First Feeding Bowls
#5 Sassy MAM Spill-Proof Cups
#5 Sip-a-Bowl by Arrow Plastic
#5 Temperature Sensitive Forks and Spoons
#5 The First Years Sesame Street Trainer Cups
#5 The First Years Tumble Mates (Spill-Proof and Trainer Cups)
#5 The First Years Winnie the Pooh Trainer Cups

Water Bottles

Avoid:
#7 Most 5 Gallon Bottles for water coolers
#3 Appalachian Mountain (gallon size)

Choose instead:
#4 Bell Brand Athletic Squeeze Bottles (colors)
#5 Bell Brand Athletic Squeeze Bottles (clear)
#5 Rubbermaid Chuggables bottles
#5 Rubbermaid Sipp 'N Sport bottles
Most 1-, 1.5-, 2-liter (and smaller) beverage bottles are made from #1 or #2

Food Packaging and Storage

Caution: Most cling-wrapped meats, cheeses, and other commercially-wrapped foods in delis and grocery stores are wrapped in PVC.

Avoid:
PVDC Glad Microwave Wrap*
#3 Polyvinyl Films All-Purpose Food Wrap
#3 Polyvinyl Films Freeze-tite
#3 Polyvinyl Films Stretch-tite
#3 Reynolds Wrap
PVDC Saran Classic (formerly Saran Wrap)

Choose instead:
#4 Glad Cling Wrap
#4 Glad-Lock bags
#4 Hefty Baggies
#4 Hefty OneZip Slider Bags
#4 Saran with Cling-Plus (formerly Handi-Wrap)
#4 Ziploc bags

*These items have been discontinued, but may still be found on store shelves.

Update: Our center's "Chemical-Free" mission

The staff and I have been spending every free moment (and there aren't too many 'free moments' at daycare!) sifting through our toys and equipment for BPA laden plastics with the dreaded #7 or #3 codes. On Monday when I first announced the news that we were going on this adventure several were a bit daunted by the task at hand, but they have all wholeheartedly come on board since reading this blog and doing their own research. Each time one of us discovers a #7 she excitely runs to show everyone - like we are on a treasure hunt! In the process Amber also found a plastic toy ring that was on the recall list!
Yesterday, while going through our kitchenware I was shocked to find that half of our dinner plates had code "7" on the bottom - these dishes have been heated and washed for at least 10 years - they are now in our growing "toxic pile". Becky added about a dozen vinyl baby books that contain phthalate, diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and/or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), several soft plastic toys and balls, and her rubber duckie that she was a bit hesitant to give up. Most upsetting was our discovery that the plastic containers of pre-made infant fruits & vegetables I purchased from our local grocery store (used when our kitchen menu is too hardy for the babies) is stored in #7 containers!
Mostly though, this week has been a period of learning about chemicals; searching the extensive online recall list (or Healthytoys.org's easy-to-use toy search), and furthering our "team" spirit, as we work together to ensure that the children in our care have as little exposure to toxins as possible.
We hope to have our 'toxic pile' completed by the end of next week, with photos to follow. Our biggest challenge will be finding non-toxic plastic toys to replace the ones we've eliminated, but we'll deal with that when the time comes. Quality verses quantity I always say!

Bisphenol-A (BPA) - Know Your Plastics! What to buy & what to avoid

The Chemical Encyclopedia at 'Healthy Child Healthy World' has some good information on how exposure to BPA occurs, products to avoid and some products you can buy that do not contain Bisphenol-A. A few statistics that I also found interesting are:

• On average, humans ingest approximately 6.3 micrograms per day of bisphenol-A from the linings of food cans.
• Bisphenol-A is one of the top 50 chemicals produced in the U.S. Over 1.6 billion pounds of this hormone disruptor were produced in 1995.
• If SWALLOWED, bisphenol-A (BPA) is Very Highly Toxic
  If ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN, bisphenol-A (BPA) is Very Highly Toxic
  If INHALED (SNIFFED OR BREATHED IN), bisphenol-A (BPA) is Highly Toxic
• This is considered an Unclassifiable Carcinogen by the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Bisphenol-A was originally developed by the pharmaceutical industry as an Endocrine Disruptor to interfere with, mimic or block hormones (more on this later)
• In mice, exposure to low levels of bisphenol-A has also induced aneuploidy, an error in cell division that causes miscarriages and birth defects, including Down Syndrome, in humans.
  

How Exposure Occurs

Baby bottles: Bisphenol-A can migrate into infant formula from polycarbonate plastic baby bottles when heated, particularly from older, worn or scratched bottles.
Canned food: Bisphenol-A may leach from the plastic inner lining in some food cans into the food or liquid containing the food.
Some plastic kitchenware: Some clear plastic spill-proof cups and cutlery (forks, knives, and spoons) are made of polycarbonate. Hot and fatty foods or liquids may dissolve traces of bisphenol-A into the food.
Water bottles: Five-gallon polycarbonate plastic water jugs, used in dispensers, may leach traces of bisphenol-A into stored water.

Solutions
How to detect bisphenol-A (BPA)

Clear, untinted plastic baby bottles and children's training cups are usually polycarbonate. These included

AVOID:
Avent bottles and cups
Evenflo clear, untinted bottles
Gerber clear bottles
Looney Tunes' and Suzie's Zoo' spill-proof cups
Playtex bottles
Cherub' juice and trainer cups Sassy MAM'
3-step bottles The First Years' bottles and Peek-a-Boo cups
Tupperware bottles

For other brands, contact the manufacturer to ask if the cup is polycarbonate.

REMEMBER the #7 and #3 recycling code on the bottom of some plastic containers, such as large water bottles used in water dispensers, indicate that they are made of polycarbonate. Not all plastics have a code!

A Few Alternatives

Choose baby bottles and spill-proof cups made of glass or polyethylene (#1,#2,#4 recycling symbols), or polypropylene (#5).

Evenflo makes glass bottles which should be available at large chain stores. Ask your local store to stock them!! (a few online sellers are: amazon.com; natural baby; babysupermall; or search google for "Evenflo Glass Bottles".

Some non-polycarbonate plastic cups include:
Fun Grips and ‘Lil Sportspill-proof cups
Stroll ‘n Snack cups

Testing Toys At Home For Lead

From Dee Burlingame, Early Childhood Professional Development, St. Lawrence Child Care Council, Ogdensburg NY. - thanks Dee!

(Morning Edition) December 6, 2007 · Consumer Reports tested five home lead-test kits. Sales of do-it-yourself lead-test kits are up this season. Dozens of toys contaminated with lead have been recalled over the past year, so it's not a surprise that parents want to know whether their holiday toys are tainted. There are at least five home test kits on the market. One, called Abotex Lead Inspector, was developed by Dave Lachance. He gives a demonstration of the product using a toy car he picked up from a dollar store. He dips a Q-tip-like swab into a small vial of clear solution, and then rubs it on the car."You'll do this for 30 seconds, and then you'll start to see a color develop when the lead reacts," Lachance says. It can take up to 10 minutes for the color to turn if there's a low concentration of lead. But in Lachance's demonstration, the color began appearing pretty quickly. "You can start to see it's turning to a very dark black color, indicating that this particular car has a high concentration of lead," he says. The toy car carried no brand name, and other than a "Made in China" sticker, it wasn't labeled. Given the volume of recalls this year, Lachance says it's not a surprise at all to find lead in this toy.

Test Kit Accuracy
Consumers Union ran tests to determine the accuracy of the lead-test kits. They approved three of five products tested. The Abotex Lead Inspector kit was among those approved. The product is sold via the company's Web site for $13. But Consumers Union recommends only two kits: the Homax Lead Check, $8, and the Lead Check Household Lead Test Kit, $18.45.

The concern with lead is hand-to-mouth activity that allows a child to swallow the toxic metal. So, Mays says, determining whether a toy has surface lead is significant. "If you get a positive result," says Mays, "you should take it away from a child."

Guide to Baby-Safe Bottles & Formula

Nipple: Start with a clear silicone nipple.
Latex rubber nipples can cause allergic reactions and can contain impurities linked to cancer.

Bottle: Use glass.
Plastic bottles can leach a toxic chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) into formula. Avoid clear, hard plastic bottles marked with a 7 or “PC.”

Plastic bottle liners: Don’t use them.
The soft plastic liners may leach chemicals into formula, especially when heated.

Water: Use filtered tap water.
If your water is fluoridated, use a reverse osmosis filter to remove fluoride, which the American Dental Association recommends avoiding when reconstituting formula. If your water is not fluoridated use a carbon filter. If you choose bottled water make sure it’s fluoride-free.

Formula: Choose powdered.
A toxic chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) can leach from the lining of metal cans and lids. Liquid formulas have higher levels. Powdered formula is a better bet.

If you're concerned about BPA, click here to tell infant formula manufacturers to remove it from their product packaging.

Dec. 6: Toxic Chemical Found In Most Baby Formula

CBS News, Deborah Garcia
Published December 6, 2007

NEW YORK (CBS) ― A recent study shows that babies are being exposed to a potentially harmful chemical every time they ingest liquid formula, and that all major U.S. baby formula manufacturers have admitted to use of the plastic's chemical in their cans.

The investigation by the Environment Working Group (EWG) has revealed that the toxic chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) is used to line nearly all infant formula cans, and can even be found in many plastic baby bottles as well.

"Formula fed infants are particularly at risk, especially infants that are fed ready-to-eat formula," says Jane Houlihan, Vice President of Research for the EWG. "Everyone is exposed by canned foods, but infants are exposed at an even greater level, because pound-for-pound, they get a greater dose of the BPA chemical."
Researchers say BPA acts like the hormone estrogen and can affect a developing brain and reproductive system. The study shows that all major U.S. manufacturers of formula use the chemical, including Nestlé, Ross-Abbot (Similac), MeadJohnson (Enfamil), Hain-Celestial (Earth's Best), and PBM (sold under various names at Walmart, Kroger, Target and other stores).
"There is mounting scientific evidence that BPA is toxic, especially to children," Aaron Freeman, Policy Director with Environmental Defence, says in a statement. "Governments should be acting quickly, starting with a ban on BPA in food and beverage containers."

"Powdered formula contains 10 to 20 times less BPA than the concentrated liquid formulas," Houlihan says.

"Our modeling suggests that powdered formulas are a better choice for babies," the report says. The group calculated three factors that determine bisphenol A's leaching potential from different types of formula containers, and concluded that liquid formulas have eight to 20 times higher potential to leach than the most common powdered formulas because of smaller can sizes and because the product is less diluted with water.

Questions Posed to County Child Care Professionals

I began this blog/ community forum (very unfamiliar territory) on December 7th, hours after reading the Canadian Press Article about bisphenol A (BTA) being contained in most infant bottles (see below). The image of our precious infants laying contentedly in our arms, drinking milk from bottles that are potentially leaching a toxin that can ultimately cause cancer, hormonal problems, hyperactivity (and we have been wondering why 3 out of 4 children are being diagnosed with ADHD?), and goodness knows what else, has been driving me to take immediate action and ask as many possible questions of as many possible people in my small circle of child care and community professionals.
I humbly beg your forgiveness if I am being so bold as to ask specific questions of my fellow “Infancy Movement” members, but I believe that if we can start to address these questions and this issue we may be well on our way to meeting our goal of ‘networking’ and filling the gaps that are lacking in our ability to effectively meet many of the needs of families and children in our County. I realize this is just ONE ISSUE of many, and some of you may not feel as driven as I obviously am to tackle the problem of chemicals we are exposing our children to – I completely respect that. However, to this end I have several questions for each of you that I hope are relevant to your field of expertise. I am sending them directly to you via email and will post your answers on this forum. Your answers could be helpful to many parents, educators and members of our community who are being directed to this online forum. Thank you in advance for your participation!
With Much Respect,
Deborah

Other Professionals
Your comments and valuable links are most welcome. I am definitely a ‘newbie’ to the subject of chemicals and toxins that our children are being exposed to and any help you can offer is appreciated!

UPCOMING “CHEMICAL FREE” PLANS
In the next few weeks we at CDCC will be building a “Toxic Pile” containing all toys and materials that are unsafe for the children in our daycare environment. It is my hope that CDCC can become “Chemical Free” within the next few months. Perhaps an impossible task, but the ‘act’ of being accountable means that once you are made aware of something that poses a threat to others you must take whatever steps are necessary to eliminate the threat! In my role as a protector of children building our ‘toxic pile’ and starting this forum are simply the only responsible things I can do (it’s a start anyway!)

Other Daycare Centers & Home Care Providers
Please share your plans, tips and activities towards ensuring the children in your care can play and develop in “Chemical Free” environments!

Toys and Childhood Lead Exposure - Safety Tips

Children may be exposed to lead - a well known health hazard. Toys that have been made in other countries and then imported into the U.S. or antique toys and collectibles passed down through generations put children at risk for such exposure. To reduce these risks, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issues recalls of toys that could potentially expose children to lead.

Lead may be used in two aspects of toy manufacturing.

Paint: Lead may be found in the paint on toys. It was banned in house paint, on products marketed to children, and in dishes or cookware in the United States in 1978; however, it is still widely used in other countries and therefore can still be found on imported toys. It may also be found on older toys made in the United States before the ban.

Plastic: The use of lead in plastics has not been banned. It softens the plastic and makes it more flexible so that it can go back to its original shape. It may also be used in plastic toys to stabilize molecules from heat. When the plastic is exposed to substances such as sunlight, air, and detergents the chemical bond between the lead and plastics breaks down and forms a dust.

How your child may be exposed
Lead is invisible to the naked eye and has no smell. Children may be exposed to it from consumer products through normal hand-to-mouth activity, which is part of their normal development. They often place toys, fingers, and other objects in their mouth, exposing themselves to lead paint or dust.

How to test a toy for lead
Only a certified laboratory can accurately test a toy for lead. Although do-it-yourself kits are available, they do not indicate how much lead is present and their reliability at detecting low levels of lead has not been determined.

What to do if you are concerned about your child’s exposure
If you have any reason to suspect that your child has been exposed to a toy containing lead, remove the toy immediately. Most children with elevated blood lead levels have no symptoms. The only way to tell is to have a blood lead test. Your health care provider can help you decide whether such a test is needed and can also recommend treatment if your child has been exposed.

December 2007 Recalls

1. RC2 Recalls The First Years™ Children's Feeding Seats Due to Fall Hazard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 100,000 The First Years Newborn-to-Toddler Reclining Feeding Seats. The restraining straps can pull out of the waist strap slots, posing a fall hazard to young children.

2. RC2 Recalls Potty Training Seats Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 160,000 The First Years 3-in-1 Flush and Sounds Potty Seats. Decorative plaque inserted into the back of the potty seat could have orange paint that contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

3. Children's Sunglasses Recalled by FGX International Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), FGX International Inc., of Smithfield, R.I., is voluntarily recalling about 260,000 pairs of Children's Sunglasses. Surface paint on the sunglasses can contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.
The following update is now available:

Description: The recall involves 15 styles of children's sunglasses. The style name is printed on the product inside the left temple arm. The name "Foster Grant" may also appear on the temple arm of some styles. The styles included in the recall are:

Balloon
Bond
Boom
Bubble Gum
Bullseye
Buzz
Conqueror Jr.
Curly Q
Encompass Jr. IK
Fade IK
Gadget IK
Iceman
Lily
Outer Space
Pluto

No other styles are included in this recall. Manufactured in China

4. Bell Racing Recalls Collectible Mini Racing Helmets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Bell Racing Co., of Santa Cruz, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 1,400 Collectible Mini Helmets. Surface paints on the recalled helmets contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

5. Planet Toys’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation™ Fingerprint Examination Kits Due to recent test results finding dangerous levels of asbestos in powders contained in some sample kits.

6. Fishing Games Sold at grocery stores recalled by Far East Brokers Due to Violation of lead paint standard. The recalled "Fishing Game" contains a fishing pole, one large battery operated fish, and three small wind-up fish. The UPC #011546208270 and product #25741 are printed on the product's packaging. Sold at P & C stores in our area.

For a complete list of Toy Recalls click here

Sign Federal Petition for healthy toys and products!

Take Action at the federal level! 

Sign the petition to Representative John Dingell and Senator Barbara Boxer! (click here!)

The federal government doesn't require full testing of chemicals before they are added to products, like kids' toys. And once they are on the market, the government almost never restricts their use, even in the face of new scientific evidence suggesting a health threat. The law regulating chemicals in commerce is 30 years old and needs an overhaul. Please sign the petition calling for hearings on this issue.

Lead, Arsenic, Other Harmful Chemicals Found in Popular Toys

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wed. Dec. 5, 2007

Lead, Arsenic, Other Harmful Chemicals Found in Popular Toys;
Michigan-based Ecology Center Releases Testing Results and
Consumer Action Guide at www.HealthyToys.org
Holiday Favorites, Including Hannah Montana & Circo, Contaminated
with High Levels of Toxic Chemicals

( Ann Arbor, MI -- December 5, 2007 ) - The Ecology Center, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization, today released the results of their testing of 1,200 popular children's toys for toxic chemicals at www.HealthyToys.org. Working with environmental health groups across the country, the Ecology Center led the development of the site to inform consumers about products they will be purchasing this holiday season. Parents and other holiday shoppers can now easily search by product name, brand, or toy type to learn how the products rate in terms of harmful chemical content.
"The government is not testing for toxic chemicals in toys, and too many manufacturers are not self-regulating, so we created the nation's first toy database to help inform and empower consumers," said Tracey Easthope, MPH, Director of the Ecology Center's Environmental Health Project. "Ultimately consumers need to compel the federal government and toy manufacturers to eliminate dangerous chemicals from toys."

Researchers chose to test these particular chemicals because they have been identified by regulatory agencies as problematic, and because of their association with reproductive problems, developmental and learning disabilities, hormone problems and cancer and because they are found in children's products. Babies and young children are the most vulnerable since their brains and bodies are still developing and because they frequently put toys in their mouths. The testing was conducted with a screening technology - the X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer - which identifies elemental composition of materials on the surface of products.

"Toxic chemicals have no place in children's toys, period," said Ted Schettler, MD, Science Director at the Science and Environmental Health Network. "Even low-level toxic chemical exposures can have lifelong impacts. Getting toxic chemicals out of children's toys is a moral and medical imperative."

HealthyToys.org tested 1,200 children's products and more than 3,000 components of those products.

To read highlights of the HealthyToys.org findings on Lead, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC / Vinyl), Cadmium, and Arsenic please go to:
http://www.healthytoys.org/press.releases.php

Read the latest report on toxic toys

These past few months we have been greatly concerned about the toys the children in our daycare programs have had at their disposal. We have been busy sifting through our shelves and closets and tossing out the next round of health hazards. It seems an impossible task to keep up with the almost daily news bulletins, alerts and product recalls that I find in my inbox. And now this dreaded news that bisphenol A (BPA - a building block for polycarbonate plastic) is found in the soft & flexible infant and toddler toys we've been readily giving our children makes me simply want to scream, throw every single piece of plastic out and start from scratch!! (wherever that is).
All the wonderful bath books we've shared with our children and our beloved rubber duckie....now known to contain phthalate, diisononyl phthalate (DINP)! How we let this happen is insignificant, as we all know the answer. What we do next matters NOW. If you would like to participate in making legislative changes please join me on this newly developed blog.

To read the latest report on toxic toys go to: www.healthytoys.org

10 TOYS WITH THE MOST LEAD

The 10 toys with the most lead and the companies that produced them:
Brush Your Teeth! RobotTatiti
Dinner Party tea set Starletz
Large ceramic tea set Starletz
Elmo's Take-Along Card Games Cardinal Industries
Bugs backpack/bag Tyrrell Katz
My Pasture Play Set Shuang Ma Toys
Shoe (style 443559) Circo
Go Diego Go Nick Jr.
Fairies backpack/bag Tyrrell Katz
Construction equipment backpack/bag Tyrrell Katz

Please contribute by sending information and links that will help parents and educators sift through the rubble.

VIDEOS YOU NEED TO SEE

BE INFORMED! Several videos you must watch!!!

Safety Recommendations for Parents of Young Children

Recommendations for Parents

A few small, easy changes in the products you buy and use can help reduce your child's exposure to toxic chemicals.

At the store

Choose Safer Toys and Teethers

~Look for "PVC-Free" on the labels or soft plastic toys and teethers. Another class of chemicals shown to disrupt the hormone system- phthalates- is found in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. PVS plastic is used to make different types of children's products. including some teethers and soft plastic toys. Some manufacturers have removed PVC from their children's products, especially products intended to be put into children's mouths.

~Unfortunately, no law requires or regulates these labels, and few products are labeled as such. When parent's have a question about the chemicals in a product, they should call the manufacturer.

~Choose wooden toys. There are countless manufacturers of high quality wooden toys in the market. Everything from baby rattles to kitchen play-sets are now made out of wood. Some commonly available brands include Plan Toys, Baba, Turner Toys, Selecta, and Holztiger.

Choose safer food packaging and serving containers.

Avoid polycarbonate plastic food containers. Check the bottom/underside of the product. If you see "PC" (usually in or near the recycling triangle) signifying polycarbonate plastic, do not purchase it. Often a number "7" on the bottom in the recycling triangle, by itself, also means the material is polycarbonate, but not always. To be safe, avoid #7 plastic. Choose plastics labeled #1, #2, or #5 in the recycling triangle, but do not heat beverages or food in plastic containers of any kind.

Avoid PVC plastic in food containers. Check the bottom/underside of the product. If you find the number "3" in the recycling triangle, it is made from PVC plastic and should be avoided. Choose plastics labeled #1, #2, or #5 in the recycling triangle, but do not heat beverages or food in plastic containers of any kind.

Avoid canned food: Unfortunately, bisphenol A can leach from metal can lining into the food and liquids contained within. Buy baby food in glass containers, avoid feeding your child food from cans as much as possible. You can often find popular children's food, such as tomato sauce, applesauce, and black beans, in glass jars.

Choose safer containers for sippy cups and water bottles. Look for plastics labeled #1, #2, or #5 in the recycling triangle. As an alternative to hard plastic water bottles ( Such as the polycarbonate Nalgene bottles), try a lightweight stainless steel bottle instead.

Choose glass or safer -plastic baby bottles, Almost all plastic baby bottles are made from polycarbonate plastic containing bisphenol A, but they are rarely labeled as such. With as few as 500-100 washings- even before you see wear- significant amounts of bisphenol A can leach into your baby's milk. For the best protection, switch to using glass bottles for all or most of baby's use. Contrary to claims by the plastic industry, glass bottles are extremely durable and safe (and wash well in the dishwasher). And after all, they were good enough for you when you were a baby! Evenflo is one of the only glass bottle makers around (some Babies "R" Us stores carry them and they are available on-line). A couple of manufacturers make their baby bottles from a safer polycarbonate- based plastic (a softer, opaque plastic)<>

Choose metal feeding utensil and enamel or ceramic plates. While many manufacturers have removed phthalates from products intended to be put into young children's mouths, without prohibiting their use, there is no guarantee that these products, such as soft, plastic-coated feeding spoons, are made without phthalates. Look for PVC-Free labels or buy stainless steel, enamel, ceramic, or glass. (Note that enamel cannot be put in the microwave, and you should not use old pottery that could have lead-based glazes).

Avoid foods wrapped in plastic. Almost all commercial grade plastic cling wrap contains PVC plasticized with phthalates, and other plastic food packaging may be made of PVC, as well. Avoid buying foods wrapped in plastic especially cheeses and meats. Buy deli-sliced cheeses and meats and have them wrapped in paper. If you can't avoid buying plastic-wrapped foods, cut off a thin layer of the cheese or meat when you get home and store the remainder in glass or a less-toxic plastic.

At Home

Use glass to heat food or liquid in the microwave. You should not heat food in plastic containers or on plastic dishware, or heat liquids in plastic baby bottles. Heating food and liquids in plastic containers can cause chemicals and additives in the plastics to leach out more readily-right into baby's food and milk. While some plastic containers are marketed as "microwave safe," it is safest to avoid them for heating.

If you do use plastic bottles, containers, or dishware, avoid harsh detergents or hot water when washing them to reduce exposure. Do not put plastic bottles, containers, or dishware in the dishwasher. Also, throw out any plastic bottles, containers, and dishware that start to look scratched or hazy. Do not let milk sit for long periods of time in plastic.

Avoid letting your child put plastic toys in his/her mouth. Toys designed for older children are more likely to contain phthalates or bisphenol A. It i s assumed that young children will not mouth these toys- such as action figures and Barbie dolls. To be safe, keep all plastic toys out of children's mouths. Call the manufacturer if you want to know if a product contains phthalates or bisphenol A.

BTA (Bisphenol-A) in Infant Bottles!

Many clueless about baby bottle dangers Updated Thu. Nov. 22 2007 8:56 AM ET The Canadian Press TORONTO -- When her son was born 21 months ago, Jennifer Whigmore didn't stop to think whether the plastic bottles and baby toys she was buying contained a potentially harmful chemical. Now, however, Whigmore is among those Canadian parents willing to pay a premium for products free of the controversial chemical bisphenol A, which studies have linked to hyperactivity, infertility and cancer. "It's kind of horrifying, really," Whigmore said Wednesday as she carefully checked labels at a baby store in central Toronto."It disturbs me because I wasn't given the information to make a better choice for my child." On Tuesday, concerned Ontario residents, parents and activists descended on the provincial legislature to press the government to impose its own ban on the controversial chemical. Even though Health Canada is currently reviewing bisphenol A, Premier Dalton McGuinty said his government would appoint an expert panel to look at the possibility of a provincial ban. "I feel guilty about it," Whigmore said. "I'm just glad that the issue is front and centre and I hope that the government acts on it." Parents like Whigmore, however, are in the minority, according to consumer experts and retailers, who say most people either aren't aware of the controversy or simply aren't worried. Manny Krybus, owner of the store Marlene's Just Babies in Toronto, recently started importing a brand of baby bottle that's free of bisphenol A. Most customers, however, "aren't aware and don't care," he said. Krybus sells pairs of Israel-made BornFree bottles, which don't contain the chemical, for $28, compared with $16 for a comparable pair of regular baby bottles. Krybus prominently displays his bisphenol-free products at the front of his store in a "green zone," but at least 60 per cent of his customers still go for the cheaper products, he said. Part of the problem is a dearth of information, said Krybus, because manufactures aren't required to list bisphenol A on their packages. "None of them do that. The less they tell you, the better it is for them. They're not going to tell you all the components that go into making a bottle." Dan Carter, a father of two from Edmonton, agreed. "It's pretty scary," he said in a telephone interview. "The baby bottle we use, it has a plastic liner but I don't know if it has bisphenol in it. You just don't know. I don't even think it's on a label." "I'd pay more if I knew something was completely safe," Carter added. "I really wouldn't care if a bottle was $3 instead of $1." Manufacturers of baby bottles, such as England-based Philips Avent, are standing by those products that contain bisphenol A, arguing that tests demonstrate small amounts of the chemical are not harmful. On its website, Philips Avent points to several studies, including a November 2005 report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which "re-confirmed the safety of the use of polycarbonate for food contact including baby feeding bottles." Avent notes that it uses the chemical "because it prevents cracking, shattering and other hazards that can lead to injuries." If a product is available on shelves, many consumers take it for granted that it's safe, said Bruce Cran, President of the Consumers Association of Canada. "We're a very trusting people in Canada and we think that these things are being taken care of, but in many respects, they're not," he said. "I think it's something we've got to shine a lot more light on." Health Canada expects to deliver a verdict on bisphenol A by May of next year.