Advocates Continue Battle Against Flame-Retardant Chemicals

After years of failed attempts to regulate flame-retardant chemicals linked to mounting evidence of harm, state legislators and consumer advocates are gearing up to take another look at the risks and benefits. The chemicals have been measured at high levels in some Californians’ bloodstreams and research links some of the firefighting compounds to lower IQ scores among children. While state Sen. Mark Leno, (D-San Francisco), has carried bills that would limit the chemicals’ use in consumer products since 2007, heavily funded chemical companies repeatedly have lobbied against them. Now, a four-part investigation by the Chicago Tribune has exposed disingenuous testimony delivered to California lawmakers and found that the chemicals cause more harm than good.

California Watch [Author Christina Jewett]

Chicago Tribune Investigation

Old Tire Mulch removed from Boston playgrounds

JAMAICA PLAIN GAZETTE, MA   DECEMBER 3, 2010

Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR ) in MA removes tire mulch from local playgrounds

By David Taber December 3, 2010

SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR-Citing maintenance concerns, the state Department of Conservation has decided to replace the controversial "recycled rubber mulch" ground-cover-made from old tires-with woodchips at three Jamaica Plain, MA playgrounds along the Southwest Corridor Park.

"They were actually out there taking the mulch out this morning," Abigail Hykin, a member of JP Moms, an advocacy group that launched a campaign against the rubber mulch last summer, told the Gazette Nov. 16. New playgrounds at Amory Street, New Minton Street and Williams Street along the corridor were installed last spring and the rubber mulch groundcover was put in at that time.

The JP Moms group's efforts to get rid of the rubber mulch were based on fears that regular exposure to volatile organic compounds in the tires might have long-term negative health impacts. Some also said that exposure to the tires caused them to have respiratory issues, and complained that the light-weight material is easily spread throughout the park and carried home in children's' clothes.

"We're thrilled that DCR listened to the community and did the right thing. Now everyone can enjoy these playgrounds, including those of us with asthma, latex allergies, chemical sensitivities and everyone who just wants to limit their children's exposure to environmental toxins," Audrey White, another member of JP Moms, told the Gazette in an e-mail.

 

Read more.

ACT FOR A HEALTHY TOMORROW: A Valentine

A Valentine v. 11/2010
to raise awareness of the intimate connection between our health and the quality of our environment and the need to work for public integrity, health security and human rights. 

Act for a Healthy Tomorrow

Watch our children grow

Ensure each child a healthy start

Safe and happy, strong and smart

Act for a Healthy Tomorrow

 Act for a Healthy Tomorrow 
Help our children grow

Protect their water, soil, food and air

Show the kids how much you care

Act for a Healthy Tomorrow

Act for a Healthy Tomorrow

We always reap what we sow

Stop lead, perc, hexavalent chromium, and TCE,

dioxins and furans, and PBDEs,

DEHP, formaldehyde, and 2,4-D

Think safe kids, safe food, safe air, safe bees!

Act for a Healthy Tomorrow

Act for a Healthy Tomorrow 
Protect every family you know

Stop asthma, brain damage, and cancer

Pollution prevention is the answer:

Act for a Healthy Tomorrow
by Ellie Goldberg, M.Ed., www.healthy-kids.info

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

www.healthytomorrow.org 
http://www.saferstates.com/  

www.chej.org

www.grassrootsinfo.org
http://www.saferchemicals.org/ 

www.toxicsaction.org
http://www.eatwellguide.org 

www.cleanwateraction.org/ma
healthychild.org  
http://www.ewg.org/childrenshealth

www.healthlink.org

www.artscraftstheatersafety.org

http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/ 
www.PesticideWatch.org 
www.PesticideReform.org. 

www.noharm.org

www.checnet.org
http://www.aaidd.org/ehi
http://www.healthandenvironment.org/ 

www.beyondpesticides.org
http://www.safecosmetics.org/
www.greencape.org 
www.greendecade.org

www.healthy-kids.info 

Updated US EPA IAQ Resources

The Indoor Air Quality Scientific Findings Resource Bank (IAQ-SFRB) Web site has been updated.

The IAQ-SFRB Web site, developed by the EPA in cooperation with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is an unparalleled resource for anyone who seeks scientific information about the effects of IAQ on people's health and work performance.

The updates included:
Major expansion of the section of web site entitled "Indoor Dampness, Biological Contaminants, and Health."
Expansion of text on "Ventilation Rates and Sick Building Syndrome Symptoms" in the web site section entitled "Health and Economic Impacts of Building Ventilation."

The IAQ-SFRB Web site is easy to navigate and is updated regularly; go to http://www.iaqscience.lbl.gov/

The case against BPA

Massachusetts State PTA, P.O. Box 421, Rehoboth, MA 02769 508.347.7055 www.masspta.org

Ellie Goldberg, M.Ed., VP Legislation, MassPTA, May 29, 2008
for the
Boston City Council Committee on Environment and Health

My name is Ellie Goldberg. I am an advocate for healthy children, healthy schools and environmental health and safety. I am also a board member and Vice-president of Legislation for the Massachusetts PTA. I thank you for the opportunity to testify today.

Massachusetts PTA is part of the largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the United States. It is a not-for-profit organization of parents, educators, students, and other citizens active in their schools and communities. First organized in 1910, MassPTA now has approximately 19,000 members in 119 local units carrying on almost one hundred years of advocacy for children, families and schools.

PTA is a leader in reminding our nation of its obligations to children. The MassPTA position statement on Safe and Nurturing Environments dedicates us to support, expand, and improve efforts to protect children from toxic exposures that cause preventable illnesses and disabilities.

Just as MassPTA urges the passage of An Act to Promote Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals as the safe choice and the smart choice for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we urge the City of Boston to set a high standard for children's health and safety, public health and corporate accountability.

We know BPA is toxic and that it can sabotage children's healthy development. Indeed, our children are the hit and run victims of the thousands of health damaging and life altering "stealth" substances that are ubiquitous in our water, air and food and in the consumer products we use in our daily lives.

We see the evidence of harm with our own eyes… in our families, in our schools, in our communities, and in the daily newspapers. We need to stop the crisis of chronic disease and disability that leads to the rising health care and health insurance costs that are the budget busters of every family, school, business and municipality in the state. We cannot afford to wait for the federal system or for the marketplace to address the gaps in protection from toxic chemicals.

In the 1962 book Silent Spring, Rachel Carson (whose 101^st birthday was this week) described the link between the contamination of the environment and our health. In Chapter 14: One in Four, Carson pointed out that the most dangerous type of exposure was the "minute exposures, repeated over and over throughout the years." Carson explained that unlike diseases and injuries caused by germs, we have put the vast majority of chemicals into the environment and, if we wish, we can eliminate many of them to lessen or mitigate their horrible impact. Her most basic legacy is the message that "prevention is the imperative."

We need to always remember that the wealth of our communities is the health of our children. The public has the right to expect that our elected and appointed government officials at every level will act to safeguard the long term economic and health security of our families.

We cannot undo the contamination and continuous malignant exposures from BPA and other toxic chemicals already in our environment and in our bodies. But we can stop it from getting worse.

• We can adopt standards that stop the manufacture, distribution and sale of children’s products and all food and beverage containers that contain BPA and other known hormone disrupters, carcinogens, and neurotoxins.

• We can align the use of public funds by our agencies, schools, grantees and contractors with standards and regulations that protect and safeguard children and public health by establishing "purchasing preferences" to allow only the purchase and use of products made without hormone disrupters, carcinogens, and neurotoxins.

• We can eliminate unnecessary hazardous products from our homes, schools, hospitals and workplaces.

PTA membership is open to anyone who is concerned with the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. We urge all health and education professionals, organizations, parent groups, citizens and City of Boston leaders and policy makers to be our partners in prevention. Together we can make wise policies and make sustainability, public health and good government a priority.

I encourage you to join PTA in working for the education, health and safety of your children and mine.

Fulfilling our mission as advocates for children

Ellie Goldberg, VP Legislation, Massachusetts PTA
www.masspta.org www.healthy-kids.info

(Photos: Ellie Goldberg with Rep. Peter Koutoujian, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health and Ellie with Maureen Ferris, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Legislative Children's Caucus.)

If you belong to PTA, I know you believe as I do that PTA members can and must participate in public policy making. We belong to PTA because it supports us in advocacy and lobbying efforts to mold local, state and national programs, policies, and priorities on behalf of children, schools, and communities.

What does the Massachusetts VP of Legislation do? What can PTA members do?

As VP of Legislation for Massachusetts PTA my role is to raise awareness of PTA issues and positions among PTA members, policy makers and the public. At times, I am a spokesperson on national and Massachusetts PTA priority issues, giving testimony at hearings and joining policy making committees on behalf of the PTA.

I keep informed on legislative activities at the state and national level, I attend national meetings and conferences, and I participate in national legislative and policy conference calls. Then I send out the e-newsletter Massachusetts PTA Takes Action to keep you informed about the news and resources you need to play a leadership role in making children a high priority in your community and at the state and national levels.

I also send out Action Alerts. These are usually urgent appeals for action at critical times in the legislation and budget-making process. I hope you will write letters or make phone calls to state and national legislators, legislative committees, and news editors. Usually I can provide a draft, template or script to make it easy for you. These Action Alerts are an important way to make the PTA voice count.

The real key to public advocacy is developing and maintaining relationships with policy makers throughout the year. I encourage you to build strong relationships with your policy makers at the local, state and federal level. Get to know your legislators and their staff. Write letters to the editor about PTA priority issues. Increase the visibility of the PTA and promote PTA's advocacy agenda among the public and policy makers.

Do you have a passion? I am most passionate about environmental health and safety, pollution prevention, health security, asthma and other chronic health conditions, and school indoor air quality issues.

There are many other health promotion, education, nutrition, community safety and parent involvement activities that need your attention and involvement. Consider serving as the PTA liaison to or as a member of public policy committees and groups organized to promote the issues you care about.

Most important, think of yourself as a resource to your local PTA, to your legislators, their staff people, and other community policy makers. You are their eyes and ears at the local level. Let them know your personal, school and community concerns, interests and needs.

Also seek out local community partners and organizations such as the League of Women Voters, your district's Parent Advisory Committee for Special Education, Stand for Children, and other groups working to promote the interests of children and to enhance pride in the schools and community.

There is always plenty of room for new ideas! We are most powerful and effective when we work together. Please contact me at vplegislation@masspta.org.

I look forward to hearing from you.

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