Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families

Senator Frank Lautenberg was buried today at Arlington cemetery, closing a week of mourning and remembrance worthy of his long career in public service. I had the privilege of observing the Senator from a distance as a constituent when I was a young man and later to work closely with him and his staff after he returned to the Senate in 2002, mostly on the issue of chemical reform.

It’s just three more days until the first deadline for our new Mind the Store campaign. Since we launched, we’ve been off to a positive start. We’ve had thousands of emails sent to the retailers (over 50,000), bloggers have visited stores asking them to take a lead on getting rid of toxic chemicals in consumer products and we’ve sent letters to all of the CEOs of the retailers asking them to work with us on chemical action plans for their companies.

We’re just 8 days away… We’ve asked the big ten retailers to respond to our new Mind the Store campaign by June 1^st, and I think the initial responses will be telling to see who is willing to sit down with us and work out a plan for addressing toxic chemicals.

Time is a precious commodity for moms. Whenever I try to schedule a get together with one of my mom friends, it can be a month long process to get a happy hour or dinner on the calendar. Moms are busy picking up children from daycare, taking them to a softball game or helping them do homework. Time to do anything outside these daily commitments is rare and why it is important to acknowledge the significant role Minnesota parents played in passing two laws that will protect children from toxic chemicals.

When I sit on my couch to read a book or watch a movie, I’m looking for comfort, not cancer. As we’ve reported in the past, the majority (85%) of couches tested in the U.S. contain one or more toxic flame retardants, some of which are linked to cancer, neurological and hormonal harm. In a new series in Times Square, we’re running several ads to highlight the important role retailers must play in solving this toxic chemical mess.

A visit from the tooth fairy sheds new light on a broken regulatory system

Retailers have the power to make substantial improvements in public health and safety, and with that power comes a moral obligation, a corporate social responsibility. Many of the retailers have gotten started, but they need to do more. And because they care about their customers, you can help them along.

In 2012, HealthyStuff.org tested both the hoses and the water that sat in a hose for a few days. Our test data showed that the plastic additives in PVC hoses, including phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), leach out of the hose and into the water. When we lab tested the water, we found additives at levels many times higher than drinking water.

As a busy mom with two kids under three, my time is limited. Going to the store with one or both of my kids is a challenge, even when they are on their best behavior. When my two year-old is hungry and my infant is overtired, it’s a major accomplishment just to make it to the checkout line. It’s not realistic to think I—or any other busy mother—can sort out which products contain chemicals that put my kids at risk while I’m busy caring for them.