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Vermont Passes New Legislation limiting Lead, Phthalates and Mercury!
2008-05-07 17:00:00
As Vermont 's legislative session closed, I held my breath and hoped that all or most of the environmental health bills would pass. And happily, most of them did. The bill that I had been most involved in, S.152, the Lead in Consumer Products bill, passed both the House and the Senate. Some of the provisions were weakened over the process, but the bill is one of the strongest lead product safety bills in the country. The bill sets new standards to be phased in on lead in children's products. No, the levels are not zero, but they are a good start in protecting our kids from lead exposures from children's products such as toys, bibs, diaper bags and pads. It also phases out lead in wheel weights and non-residential paints and primers and according to VPRIG, "Sets a standard on lead in plumbing fixtures and related supplies (we will be the 2nd state in the nation to have this protective standard on plumbing)". In a most helpful provision, it requires warnings to be posted for jewelry...
More About: Legislation , Mercury

Freecycle It-
2008-05-06 07:32:00
In an effort to simplify before we start a renovation on our house, and to get rid of chemically laden products we had deep in various closets, I made a pile of stuff. It contained old sunscreens, lotions and body washes that were gifts, old shampoos and conditioners, and random products that were obviously not in use.The box sat in the living room for quite some time, being moved around periodically so no toddler's hands would reach it.I stared at it often, thinking about my options. I bought some of the products before I knew anything about the chemicals they contain. It seemed like such a waste to my frugal self to simply pour them down the drain and recycle the containers. I mean, some of them were brand new!But to give them away to friends seemed odd too, because I certainly didn't want my friends to be slathering on phthalates, parabens, and other chemicals. So what to do? People are buying these same goods at Walmart this very minute. And if they want the products, and I ha...

Check out Down to Earth Toys-
2008-05-03 17:00:00
I was recently tipped off about an online store called Down to Earth Toys that features natural wood (with non-toxic finishes) toys, books, musical instruments, craft supplies, and baby items. Most of their products are U.S. made, and Fair Traded, and all of them were selected with an eye towards simplicity and creative play. Ah, joy, there's no plastic to be found on this site. And here's the clincher- the prices are not outlandish, as is the case for many small, specialty toy stores. Here are a few of my favorites, seeing how my girls love jamming out the tunes. There is a beautiful Djembe Drum for $34.99, and a nice small wood child's guitar for $21.95. This might actually let me play my guitar, instead of my girl coming over while I'm mid-song and sticking her fingers in the strings. Down to Earth Toys is focused on toys made in the U.S., Europe (with those higher standards!) and products that are Fairly Traded. This is truly a family business you can feel good about suppor...
More About: Check

New Bill Proposed to Ban BPA in Plastic, and the FDA forms "BPA Task Force"
2008-05-02 19:00:00
The good BPA news keeps coming, and it's about time.As promised, Senator Charles Schumer of New York proposed a ban on BPA in all products for kids under the age of 7 and require that the CDC study the chemical further. The Washington Post reports that Hilary Clinton is among several of the bill's co-sponsors. And as reported here before, the FDA is being investigated by the House Energy and Commerce Committee about a BPA study citing the chemical as harmless (and oh yeah, funded by major chemical companies). Read the full article here. In this article also from the Washington Post, we learn that the FDA is re-evaluating its stance on BPA, including creating a task force to study and make recommendations about BPA in products.
More About: Force , Plastic , Forms , Bill , Task

Education.com shares a Green Gift Guide for Kids-
2008-05-01 02:58:00
Education.com recently scoured the web to discover the best new green toys on the market, for kids aged preschool to high school. They awarded these toys based on their environmental consciousness, their educational value and of course, how fun they are. I'm loving any puzzle that is not plastic (see the tree puzzle by ImagaPLAY)and the cool color filled blocks made from recycled rubberwood. Check out the award winning list here. The site also has lots of interesting parenting and education articles that are worth checking out on a regular basis.
More About: Education , Kids , Green , Gift , Guide

Green Parenting Links (and awards!)-
2008-04-29 20:35:00
This just in, Non-Toxic Kids has been awarded a Blog of Distinction award from Amanda, who blogs for the Environmental Working Group at Enviroblog. Here's what she had to say about us:"I'm tagging Katy, whose blog Non-Toxic Kids tirelessly analyzes, sorts and distills the most important information on environmental health into a format that even tired parents can handle. And let me tell you -- that's no easy task! So thanks, Katy, for your wit and your wisdom and for helping to spread the word about toxic chemicals in our everyday lives."I couldn't be more honored, especially coming from Amanda, whose blog keeps us informed not only about toxins in our world, but the constant and important work of the Environmental Working Group to study, educate and publicize dangerous chemicals and their effects on us. Thanks, Amanda.And now I get to pass it along. I would like to send the Blog of Distinction Award out to Kathy at SafeMama. She and Statia are constantly unearthing (pun intende...
More About: Parenting , Awards , Links , Green

A Truly Beautiful Mother's Day Gift (Changing the Present)-
2008-04-29 04:03:00
If you are racking your brain for what you get your mother, thinking she doesn't need any toxic laced bath sets, any pesticide laden flowers, or another piece of jewelry, you might be interested in a website called Changing the Present . This incredible non-profit is "changing the world, one gift at a time." They offer gifts of services, products, donations in a variety of categories including basic needs, community, health and safety, and opportunity. For Mother's Day, you can help train a midwife, for $25, and help stop the more than 500,000 woman who die each year because they did not have access to proper prenatal care. Or you can Educate a Girl, Feed a Family, or Ensure Safe Labor (by delivering two safe birthing kits to refugee women.) These gracious acts move beyond our consumerist world to spread love and care where it is needed and can make a difference. Visit the site for more creative and meaningful gift ideas for your mom. And don't stop there. If you need to buy prese...
More About: Beautiful , Gift

Non- Toxic Pets (not so much)-
2008-04-26 03:45:00
The good folks at the Environmental Working Group recently launched Pets for the Environment, a website devoted to keeping pets (and people) safe from toxic chemicals. The website is a fun place for pet owners, is very cute, and has meaningful tips for lessening your pet's chemical exposure. This is also a helpful read for the parents of young children, who contact many of the same chemicals in many of the same ways (on the floor, in their mouths). The site includes ways to take action, a detailed body burden report of "Eddie" the spokesdog, and a blog devoted to Eddie. This poor mutt's chemical load was significantly higher than his human counterparts. Visit the site to learn more about how you can protect your pet from toxic chemicals in our environment.Photo: Zuby dog from EWG
More About: Toxic

Body Burden Tests: Dateline Explores Toxic Chemicals in Two Families-
2008-04-24 04:26:00
Thanks to a friend, I learned that Dateline ran a story about the chemical load of two families with starkly different lifestyle choices, and the results were very telling.The two families' food choices couldn't have been more different. One family (the Greens) buy mostly organic food, uses non-toxic cleaners, and lives in a home that was build in a green and chemically conscious fashion. The other family (the Browns) tested was a more typical American family, eating mostly processed and convenience foods, eating lots of fast food, and using conventional (and chemically laden) products. They tested many of the chemicals we are concerned about and I write about here, including phthalates, fire retardants, perfluorochemicals/PFCs, tricolsan, BPA, lead, mercury and parabens. The results were suprising. In the end, their total chemical loads were very similar, with only a one point difference. But the message is in the details. The Browns tested significantly higher for phthalates, wh...
More About: Body , Chemicals , Tests , Families

BPA Post Roundup (a tired parent's summary of helpful BPA posts)--
2008-04-22 03:08:00
The environmental health blogs and mainstream news outlets are buzzing with lots of BPA news. It certainly looks like the tides are changing, but until the U.S. bans BPA in all products for all people, its important for everyone to limit their exposure to this toxic chemical. In light of this, I am recapping some of the previous posts on Non-Toxic Kids that might be helpful to parents as they decide what to use, what to pitch (Ugh! Piles of BPA laden water bottles in landfills-), and what to buy. For sleep deprived, busy parents who are concerned about BPA but don't have the time for gobs of research, I offer:*A list of links for BPA free sippy cups, teethers, pacifiers, and feeding gear (this is a great place to start)* BPA in Canned Goods (this is a serious concern for parents, as the BPA used in the can linings is higher than exposure from bottles)* Q and A about BPA from Enviroblog*BPA in Infant Formula* And my very first post, about BPA free baby bottles* Breastfeeding? Which...
More About: Post , Roundup , Posts , Summary , Tired

Canada Bans BPA in Baby Bottles-
2008-04-21 02:19:00
Oh, Canada ! How you act so quickly. While it takes our congress years to reform the CPSC, you move in one week to ban BPA from all baby bottles. You have the honor of being the first country to ban BPA (I thought the EU would win on this one). And look what you have started--I learned from this article in the Washington Post that:*Walmart will stop selling products with BPA by next year.*Playtex will offer BPA free alternatives and stop selling BPA products by the end of the year.*And in a reversal of policy from even a week ago (see my post about the confusing marketing of Nalgene's new BPA free line), Nalgene said it will stop production of water bottles containing BPA and recall water bottles currently in stores. *And according to the Post article, "Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he will file a bill to ban BPA from all baby products as well as dental sealants and any bottle or container that holds food and drink." Bravo!It just keeps getting better. More action on this, p...
More About: Baby , Bottles

National Geographic Kids Show, Mama Mirabelle, Airs Earth Day Show this wee
2008-04-18 21:00:00
We don't have cable. We are weak and get sucked into whatever pumped up drama is on TV, especially my husband. It is a problem for our productivity and creativity, and we weren't interested in exposing our preschooler to all those ads for things we don't need, are bad for her, the earth, but good for mega-corporations. In light of that, she's seen a few movies, some shows, and whatever is on at friend's houses. But if I could buy a few channels ala cart (could someone make that happen, please?) I would buy access to PBS in a heartbeat. So I was excited to get an email from someone at PBS promoting an Earth Day episode of a show called Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies. She sent me two shows for my daughter's viewing pleasure, which corresponded nicely with her having a cold. For days now, too many times than I'd like to admit, she has watched the shows. They feature colorful cartoon African animals and real video clips of animals from all over the world. This is my favorite part....
More About: Kids , National , National Geographic , Earth Day

U.S. Report issues "Warnings and Concerns" about BPA-
2008-04-18 06:00:00
Finally! The National Toxicology Program, in its draft report, labeled BPA as a chemical of concern (shocking, I know, to anyone who has been reading anything about parenting lately, especially this blog and many others-). The National Toxicology Program's findings are used by the FDA and the EPA to regulate certain chemicals. These findings are much different than an expert panel found just last year, but those studies have been widely disputed because of much of the study done by scientists hired by the chemical industry (no conflict of interest there!). In this article from today's Washington Post, I learned that 3 states are considering outright bans of BPA: California (ah, the sunshine state may do it again), Maine, and New Jersey. Where is Vermont?Now it looks like some politicians are paying attention, too, and calling on the FDA to regulate the use of BPA. It's heating up folks. And everyone thought we were overreacting. Take action to tell baby bottle manufacturers to st...
More About: Issues , Report , Warnings , Concerns

Canada moves on BPA, Labels it a "Dangerous Substance"-
2008-04-18 04:10:00
Great news from north of the border. Two readers alerted me to the fact that Health Canada has labeled BPA (bisphenol A) as a dangerous substance, essentially paving the way for potential bans, action, or regulation of the hormone mimicking chemical. This forward thinking move could have international implications. Turns out as a result many major Canadian retailers are pulling BPA containing bottles off the shelves to protect consumers. Check out a news video clip about this, here. And you can read more about it here. Yet another area that the U.S. lags behind in. And I shudder to think where all those bottles will end up. Landfills, likely. But at least the many good folks in Canada (especially the wee ones) will not be exposed to this chemical anymore. Thanks to John for these links and to chemicalsouplynne for the heads up!New here? You can learn lots more by reading the posts labeled BPA in the right column of this blog. Strapped for time? Visit the Quick Tips for Busy...
More About: Labels , Moves , Dangerous

Celebrate Earth Day with your Little Ones-
2008-04-17 03:48:00
In the coming days before Earth Day, I thought I would put on my old environmental educator hat and share some ways to discuss, share and learn about the earth with kids, and open up the idea for folks to comment and share any ideas they have as well. For us, the snow is barely melting out there, so we have yet to be fully enveloped in spring. One simple idea is to go outside with your child and have him or her listen, describe and count how many different sounds of spring he or she can identify. They can be something as simple as water dripping, mud squishing, birds calling, you get the idea. You can then discuss what is happening in nature at springtime (birds coming back, frogs and toads waking up and coming out, plants starting to grow, etc). From there encourage your child to tell stories about spring, make up songs, and create art that shares about spring in your area. If you have an older child, and the warmer spring rains have started in your area, you can help frogs, toads ...
More About: Earth Day , Celebrate

Updates (Vermont's Lead Bill, and Nalgene and BPA)-
2008-04-15 04:27:00
Thanks to a reader, Maria, I learned that Nalgene, that maker of the popular hiking/outdoor enthusiast type water bottle, has launched a new website touting their new BPA and phthalate free water bottles. She first read about it over at Z recommends. Now this is strange. Is this the same company that I posted about a month or so ago, who on their website, staunchly advocated that BPA is harmless?Clearly, they've been working on this for awhile. I noticed (as did the folks at Z recs) that the timing was very...interesting. They released the site the same week the Today show doctor told viewers not to by #7 plastics and held up a Nalgene bottle. On the new website, they list their old bottles, and then the new bottles with the words "BPA and phthalate free". No discussion, just bottles available with toxic chemicals or not. Wouldn't it have been nice if they made some public statement, saying just to be safe, they switched their whole product line over to BPA and phthalate free bott...
More About: Updates , Bill , Lead

BPA (Bisphenol A) in plastic hits the mainstream media (again!)-
2008-04-11 03:35:00
We've been talking about BPA in plastic bottles and sippy cups for a very long time, and the mainstream press has brought this issue to the forefront again. On the Today show yesterday morning, there was a clip and an interview with a doctor who called BPA a major health threat for families. They reported that this month a large government study on BPA will be released.The short of it? What we've been saying now for a long time. Avoid plastics with the number #3, #6 and #7. All the new Nalgene bottles are made with #7, hence my past post on being betrayed by Nalgene. For more information on finding baby products (sippy cups, pacifers, feeding gear) without BPA, please visit the labels section of this blog, and look for BPA, BPA free, and Bisphenol A articles (or click here to see all the BPA articles). Here is the video I referenced. I can't help but notice the doctor said to throw away #1 bottles after one use. Ahem, didn't he mean to recycle them? And bottled water has its o...
More About: Media , Plastic , Hits , Mainstream Media

Avoid Chemicals in Sunscreens this Spring and Summer-
2008-04-10 02:13:00
The FDA hasn't reviewed or updated sunscreen safety standards for nearly 30 years, longer than some of you younger parents have been around. Why the delay? Oh, let's just say a little industry pressure. That's because a main ingredient in most sunscreens is oxybenzone, a chemical that according to the Environmental Working Group, is linked to cell damage, hormone disruption, and allergies. And a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control states that 97% of Americans have oxybenzone in their blood. Read the full story from the Environmental Working Group, here. The tireless folks at the EWG released this extensive study of sunscreens, in which they tested 920 sunscreens and found many have questionable safety and effectiveness. Read about the study here. Tired? Baby crying? Need to go? No problem. Here are a few of EWG's top picks for the safest, most effective sunscreens on the market (see the whole list here). California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion Natural Bug Ble...
More About: Summer , Spring , Chemicals , Avoid

Chemicals in Your Bed-
2008-04-08 01:38:00
The Washington Post published an article yesterday about the chemicals in conventional mattresses. Flame retardants and stain repellents are made from chemicals that release into the air as we sleep. Here is an uplifting quote from the article: "A 2006 Consumer Product Safety Commission study estimated that the average adult sleeping on a conventional mattress will be exposed to 0.802 milligrams of antimony and 0.081 milligrams of boric acid -- which is commonly used to kill cockroaches -- every night."The organic and chemical free mattress has been way out of reach for most of us, economically, and still is to a large degree. But thankfully, as more people are caring about chemicals in our homes, there are now more options. They certainly aren't as cheap as the old chemically laden kind, but there are more out there if you are in the market for a new mattress for you or your kids. I just did a quick search on the sites recommended in the Washington Post article and the cheapest op...
More About: Chemicals

Folllow up on Vaccine Post: Is Thimerosal really gone?
2008-04-06 20:32:00
Today I was reading this post on Mom's Speak Up, about one mom's struggle with her daughter's serious reactions to vaccines, and an awful doctor who threatened, belittled and bullied her into a chickenpox vaccination on her child. You can read the post here. This mama ultimately decided to vaccinate her child, but with some thoughtful adjustments to the regular schedule (and other ideas to decrease her child's chance of a reaction). One thing she did say in the article that made me pause was this: "Thimerosal (mercury) is not 100% removed from vaccines. Even doctors in the American Academy of Pediatrics admit it is usually 90% removed, not 100%." And she cited this article from Reuters, which explains that Thimerosal has been phased out of most vaccines, but is still in flu vaccines (along with many other potentially toxic substances such as aluminum). That certainly got my attention since I have been assured that there is no thimerosal in the vaccines given in my pediatrician'...
More About: Vaccine , Post

Free BPA Teether with your order from The Soft Landing-
2008-04-05 05:14:00
Here is a sweet deal just for Non-Toxic Kids readers from the great folks over at The Soft Landing , an online store devoted to BPA free products for your kids. If you order anything, in any amount, during the next week (starting Saturday, April 5th), you will get a free Nuby Bug-a-loop teether with your order. Simply add the BPA free teether to your cart and type "nontoxickids" into the discount window to receive the deal. There's more! The Soft Landing is running another giveaway on their blog. This one is for two BPA Free feeding kits. Alicia has done lots of research on the safest BPA free gear for kids, and she shares her wisdom, product information, and details for how to enter, here. And don't forget- only two more days to enter the giveaway of The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide books by Heather Maclean. See the details here.
More About: Order

See the Business of Being Born-
2008-04-03 02:54:00
The Green Mountain Film festival comes to Montpelier, Vermont every year. And every year I say I'll go. I want to support this local film festival centered around our independent movie theatre. But, for the last 3 years I have been either taking care of a new baby or eminently going to give birth. Not so good for movie viewing outside of the home. So I was thrilled when a mama from an online listserv I am part of shared that I could get this movie on Netflix, which I did last night. The Business of Being Born is an extremely well done documentary about the crisis of maternal care in America (our rates of maternal and infant mortality are among the highest in the developed world), but it is also a beautiful story of many women's journey into motherhood. When I was in childbirth classes, what was the most helpful to me was the movies showing women in labor. While intense and a bit intimidating, it gave me the idea that all women do what they need to do, and that can look very differ...

Parents Opting Out of Vaccines for their Children in the news--
2008-04-02 01:44:00
Last week this article came out in the New York times about the growing health concerns of parents not vaccinating their children. I am not a doctor (read the disclaimer at the bottom right of this blog) and I am not here to judge. Which is why this is a topic that is so difficult to write about. Here is a news clip from the Today show from last week as well. I think it is important for parents to look at the serious risks to our own children from these diseases (which most of us have no real experience with), the potential risk from vaccines themselves, and the risks to other children by choosing to not vaccinate your child. In this clip, I found the the comments of a doctor who works with children who have these preventable diseases to be very compelling. I was also glad to hear the doctor in this clip say that thimerosal (a preservative that contained small amounts of mercury) is no longer in any vaccines. Previously, this was something that you had to ask for at the doctor's of...
More About: News , Children , In the News , The News , Vaccines

Green, Chemically Conscious Parenting gaining Momentum-
2008-04-01 02:03:00
The good folks over at Kai Kids were interviewed for this story in the Toronto Star about the growing trend of green parenting. And Non-Toxic Kids was mentioned as a good online resource!The article touches on a topic I often describe here-- the great economical, chemical and green divide. All parents want to do what is right for their kids, no matter what their economic status, and we all know the increased price of organic food, wood toys, non-toxic water bottles, organic crib mattresses (the list goes on) can make this difficult or impossible for many parents.Since these articles about green parenting, chemical concerns, and more sustainable choices during parenthood are appearing more and more in the mainstream press, I am hopeful that awareness will keep growing, and finally, prices will level out a bit.
More About: Parenting , Green , Gaining , Momentum

BPA (bisphenol A) in Canned Goods (the horror, even Annie's)-
2008-03-30 03:52:00
Today as I looked in my pantry, and saw the Annie's Spaghettios and the soups, I wondered again how much BPA I am feeding my family. I picked up the phone, and called Annie's, Inc., a company who I support endlessly by buying their macaroni and cheese, other pastas, and yes, canned foods. I try, I really do, but there are days with two kids, and not much of an affection for cooking (to say the least), where I just need to open a can. I think, at least it is organic. So I called and a cheerful woman told me that their cans do have BPA, and that they do not exceed the FDA's standards on BPA in cans. After some thought, this statement didn't impress me too much. The FDA's limits don't take into account research about low doses of BPA that came out in the 1990s, which are discussed in this article on the Organic Consumers Association website, first printed in Terrain Magazine. She did tell me, however, that they are working hard to find an alternative to BPA linings. Okay. So we ...
More About: Horror , Goods

The Seventh Generation Response to the 1,4 Dioxane Report-
2008-03-28 02:10:00
I have many reasons to trust and love Seventh Generation products. They are a Vermont company. They are active in environmental health and sustainability issues. They are committed to reducing the many environmental problems of harsh chemicals in our waterways with their thoughtful line of products. Did I mention they are a Vermont company? So I was very surprised to learn that they had undisclosed amounts of a carcinogenic contaminant (say that 5 times fast) called 1,4 Dioxane in their dish soap. Dish soap I use everyday. Now, I do have faith in this company, and I knew they would have a thoughtful response to this on their website somewhere. It just seemed fitting that they would discuss this issue openly with their customers. And they did. You'll see in this link a statement from the company about the situation. No, it doesn't make it okay that this ingredient was in their product, and that it took a third party test to discover it. But on the Seventh Generation blog you will ...
More About: Report , Response

Metal Water Bottles Recalled for Lead Paint-
2008-03-27 01:45:00
You try and try to do the right thing as a parent. I've often commented that it feels like being a tiny fish swimming upstream, trying to navigate what to buy and use with your kids, while protecting them from rampant advertising, toxic chemicals and in many cases, themselves (as they dive headfirst of the couch). Many parents are buying aluminum or stainless steel water bottles for their kids, because of all the media attention and studies about the chemical BPA (Bisphenol A)in certain plastics. So you go out and buy one from a seemingly harmless company with a quaint name out of Maine, called Downeast Concepts. They look like the Sigg bottles, but they most definitely are not. These bottles have been recalled for violating the lead paint standards. Here is the recall from the CPSC. See the above picture, and be sure to visit the link above for more detailed information. My daughters use Sigg bottles, and the company seems to have a strong environmental commitment and a pledge to...
More About: Metal , Water , Paint , Recalled , Lead

The Baby Gizmo Buying Guide, by Heather Maclean and Hollie Schultz--
2008-03-25 02:09:00
When I was pregnant with my first daughter, a couple that we were good friends with were also expecting. After talking to folks they knew who had kids, my friend carefully crafted a "must get" list for baby. He promptly sent me a copy of this hand scrawled list, with his researched picks in many categories, and with a minimalist sensibility that we agreed on. This was a good start. Fast forward a few years and now I'm the one being asked what to get when expecting, and I usually feel woefully inadequate when making my list. Sure, it has some good items that worked well for us. But it is lacking in details, and specificity. That's where is new book, called the Baby Gizmo Buying Guide , by Heather Maclean and Hollie Schultz comes in. Keep in mind that I am a proponent of hand me downs, consignment stores and buying less. It doesn't have to be an all out consumer fest as many folks would like you to believe. But there are some things you can't get around when buying for a baby. And...

Compact Florescent Bulb Safety--
2008-03-21 17:26:00
We all know that those curvy florescent light bulbs last way longer than traditional bulbs and are better for the environment (not to mention they can save you serious cash on your electric bill). But did you know that each bulb contains a small amount of mercury? And what do you when they do eventually burn out? Here is a video on the subject from MSNBC.To be sure, the benefits of using these bulbs considerably outweigh the drawbacks. Consider this: In California alone, the use of CFLs has spared more than 1.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into our envionment. It helps to know how to dispose of the bulbs (take them to your local hazardous waste site or collection facility. If you don't know where that is, click here). And here are the steps for what to do if you break one of these in your house (which, if your like me, will happen, it is just a matter of time), again from MSNBC. How to clean up a fluorescent bulb Before cleanup: Vent the room 1. Open a win...
More About: Safety , Compact

Update on Vermont's Lead in Consumer Products Bill (and others state update
2008-03-20 19:36:00
I just received an email from Vermont's Assistant Attorney General, sharing that Vermont's lead in consumer products bill passed out of committee and will move forward to be voted on by the full Senate in the coming week. Yours truly will be called on to testify again, this time in front of the whole senate with their microphones and dark mahogany desks. Gulp. If you are a Vermonter, please consider emailing or calling your senator to express support for this bill, which would set the lowest "acceptable" (I know, there is no acceptable level-- you don't have to convince me) rate of lead (parts per million) in the country. Also, check out what your state has been up to. This link from Healthy Child, Healthy World has updates on ways to take action in specific states that are also considering legislation on toxins in consumer products. The states listed are Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, Maine, New York and Washington. Click on the links to learn more about each state's initiati...
More About: Products , Consumer , Update , State , Bill