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Have you heard lately that the city of San Francisco in California passed legislation in June prohibiting the sale of toys containing six toxic chemicals called phthalates and another toxic substance called bisphenol-A? I was elated to hear of this law since European countries have embraced similiar laws to protect their babies against these substances but here in the US we are always a day late it seems. Well, my elation may be short lived because this new law is being challenged. The chemical corporations behind these toxic toys are suing the city of San Francisco claiming that they have no right to pass such a law. I mean imagine the audacity - a city trying to protect babies! Can you tell how angry this makes me?
The chemical companies are claiming that Federal law preempts the city’s right to protect children from toxic toys, specifically that the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and the Consumer Product Safety Commission make it illegal for municipalities to regulate toxic materials in toys.
So just who are the sleazy corporate money mongers behind this lawsuit? Citikids Baby News, The American Chemistry Council, The California Retailers Association, The California Grocers Association and The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. In a press release, Richard Woo, owner of Citikids Baby News said, “The volume of our sales will drop and so will the number of our employees, since we won’t be able to keep them.” Well of course profit is more important than human safety right?!
This just goes to show how powerful corporations are and how greed takes precedence over human life. They actually assert that they have a right to expose children to toxic chemicals and feel that there should be nothing we can do about it. Unfortunately it appears that at this present time governmental regulation does nothing more than protect the profit of greedy corporations. I hope, hope, hope that this lawsuit is thrown out of court and our babies get some of the protection they deserve.
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gaelle said,
December 5, 2006 at 1:56 pm:
Hi,
I discover your blog today and I am delighted because I just arrived in the country (I am from France by the way) and I am sure it will help me to know everything about natural life in the US. So thanks a lot and keep up the good work !
(I work for a french magazine regarding natural birth and life with children).
Regards.
Tiffany said,
December 5, 2006 at 8:06 pm:
Welcome Gaelle!
gaelle said,
December 6, 2006 at 9:08 am:
Nature Moms Blog » Blog Archive » What Chemical Companies Don’t Want You To Know said,
December 6, 2006 at 3:29 pm:
[...] In a recent post I talked about how one city has recognized the harmful effects of a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) and is tyring to ban it. Well, actually they HAVE banned it but chemical companies are now filing lawsuits to reverse this legislation. [...]
Riley said,
December 12, 2006 at 2:11 pm:
I am bookmarking your blog and truly glad to have stumbled up on it. I hope govt. continues to make strides to ban the things that can hurt our children. I know of two necklaces that were just recalled for lead and our kids were wearing them!
Baby Gear » Blog Archive » Wooden Toys for Baby said,
February 18, 2007 at 12:42 pm:
[...] Wooden Toys for Baby February 18th, 2007 by Tiffany Washko There are tons of cool baby toys out there that are colorful, clever, and…plastic. I have become increasingly concerned about the dangers associated with plastic baby toys as I read more and more about them in the media everyday. [...]
Natural Mom Products » Wood Toys said,
February 18, 2007 at 8:17 pm:
[...] There are tons of cool baby toys out there that are colorful, clever, and…plastic. I have become increasingly concerned about the dangers associated with plastic baby toys as I read more and more about them in the media everyday. This is one reason I make it a point to buy wooden toys whenever possible. Not only are they a healthier alternative to plastic toys (they do not contain dangerous levels of PVC which could be ingested by children), they last longer too. While plastic toys are frequently and easily destroyed, wooden toys are designed to withstand damage and last far longer than their plastic counterparts. Without high-tech, plastic toys with all the imagineable bells and whistles, children will have the opportunity to enjoy a more value-driven type of imaginative play with traditional wooden toys. They will be able to engage in meaningful play, developing cognitive and problem-solving skills that will carry throughout the rest of their lives. [...]
Glass Baby Bottles » Natural Family Living Blog said,
October 12, 2007 at 3:07 pm:
[...] newspaper about glass baby bottles making a big comeback. Now remember it was San Francisco that I blogged about awhile back and their ban of six toxic chemicals called phthalates and another toxic substance called [...]