5000 Products Contain Toxic Chemicals Of Concern To Kids’ Health

Walmart, Gap, J.C. Penny Among Companies Reporting; Advocates Call For Companies To Stop Using Harmful Chemicals, Find Safer Alternatives

May 01, 2013
Seattle, WA –Over 5000 children’s products contain toxic chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and reproductive problems according to reports filed with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). An analysis of the reports by the Washington Toxics Coalition and Safer States found that makers of kids’ products reported using a total of 41 chemicals identified by Ecology as a concern for children’s health, including toxic metals such as cadmium, mercury, and antimony, and organic compounds such as phthalates. Major manufacturers who reported using the chemicals in their products include Walmart, Gap, Gymboree, Hallmark, and H & M.

Examples of product categories reported to contain toxic chemicals include:

Hallmark party hats containing cancer-causing arsenic.
Graco car seats containing the toxic flame retardant TBBPA (tetrabromobisphenol A)

Claire’s cosmetics containing cancer-causing formaldehyde.

Walmart dolls containing hormone-disrupting bisphenol A.

“The data shows store shelves remain full of toxic chemicals that we know are a concern for children’s health,” said Erika Schreder, science director for the Washington Toxics Coalition. “These reports are critical for understanding the presence of toxic chemicals in our homes and the marketplace.”

The chemical reports are required under Washington State’s Children’s Safe Products Act of 2008, which requires major companies making children’s products to report the presence of toxic chemicals in their products. The reports cover certain children’s products sold in Washington State from June 1, 2012 to March 1, 2013.

Major findings from the reports include:

More than 5,000 products have been reported to date as containing a chemical on Washington State’s list of 66 Chemicals of High Concern to Children.

Products reported so far include children’s clothing and footwear, personal care products, baby products, toys, car seats, and arts and craft supplies.
Toxic metals such as mercury, cadmium, cobalt, antimony, and molybdenum were reported, with cobalt being the metal most often reported.

Manufacturers reported using phthalates in clothing, toys, bedding, and baby products.

Other chemicals reported include solvents like ethylene glycol and methyl ethyl ketone, and a compound used in silicone known as octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane.

“Too many products contain chemicals that do not belong in items we give our kids. To truly protect children, manufacturers need to identify safer ways to make their products and stop using harmful chemicals,” said Schreder.

A Washington state bill that would have required manufacturers to stop using toxic flame retardants in children’s products and to identify safer ways to make their products failed to pass the legislature before the end of the regular session on April 28th. The Toxic-Free Kids and Families Act (HB 1294) was opposed by a coalition led by the American Chemistry Council, Walmart, and the Association of Washington Business.

Walmart, a major opponent of the Toxic-Free Kids and Families Act, reported a total of 459 instances of products containing chemicals including arsenic, cadmium, phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and mercury.

“It is particularly disturbing to see the large numbers of products reported by Walmart at the same time the company has been working to defeat Washington’s bill that would address some of the most problematic uses,” said Schreder. “Companies like Walmart need to show they’re serious about children’s health by getting toxic chemicals out of their products and supporting common-sense legislation.”

Washington State is the first state to have a comprehensive chemical reporting program. It is considered a model for other states.

“The Washington experience shows these reporting programs can work without being too burdensome on business,” said Sarah Doll, Director of Safer States. “At least seven additional states are considering implementing similar programs on the extent of chemical use in children’s products in their state. Critical in these proposals are requirements that companies begin looking at safer ways to make their products and an eventual phase-out of the use of harmful chemicals.”

A full analysis of Washington State’s chemical use reports are available at http://www.watoxics.org/chemicalsrevealed

A searchable database of chemical use reports filed with the Washington State Department of Ecology is available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/cspa/search.html

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The Washington Toxics Coalition is nonprofit organization that works to protect public health and the environment from toxic chemicals in Washington state. www.watoxics.org, www.facebook.com/watoxics or @WA_Toxics

Safer States (The State Alliance for Federal Reform (SAFER) of Chemical Policy) is a coalition of state-based organizations championing solutions to protect public health and communities from toxic chemicals. www.saferstates.org, www.facebook.com/saferstates or @SaferStates

 

"The scary truth is that there are well over 80,000 chemicals approved for use in everyday products and very few have been tested to see if they are harmful. Many are linked to reproductive disorders, learning disabilities, diabetes, and cancer."

We need strong legislation that ensures new chemicals are tested for safety before Americans are exposed to them, not legislation that keeps Americans vulnerable to toxic chemicals and only benefits the chemical industry!

Senators Frank Lautenberg (NJ) and Kristen Gillibrand (NY) recently introduced the Safe Chemicals Act, which will overhaul the decades-old law. The crucial proposal would overhaul the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976, by strengthening the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to learn more about the safety of chemicals and limit their use if they pose a threat to public health and the environment.

“From Maine to Florida, Oregon to Minnesota, 29 Senators are standing with the 77 percent of Americans who support reform that will protect us from toxic chemicals before they enter our homes and workplaces,” said Andrea Delgado, Legislative Representative for Earthjustice. “We applaud Senator Lautenberg and Senator Gillibrand for leading the charge to safeguard the health and safety of all families in America and urge their colleagues in Congress to follow suit.”

Please make your voice heard https://secure.earthjustice.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1457&autologin=true#startform