President, Congress: "Later" to Phthalates
Monday, August 11, 2008
Washington, D.C. - Their name may be tough to pronounce, but it's easy to understand why something needed to be done about phthalates. Children's safety watchdogs are pleased that lawmakers in Washington, D.C., have overwhelmingly passed a ban on certain types of phthalates, which are chemicals used in making plastic. Phthalates are commonly found in children's toys, among other household products, and have been linked to a variety of health problems.
President Bush is expected to sign the bill as soon as this week. Andy Igrejas, manager of the Environmental Health campaign for the Pew Charitable Trusts, says the reform is long overdue - although, he cautions, it won't keep families completely safe.
"Children are exposed to phthalates from other products, like shower curtains and vinyl flooring, and they're also exposed to other chemicals, some of which have toxic properties."
The bill also adopts one of Colorado Representative Diana Degette's pet projects, strengthening the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Igrejas says he agrees with Degette that the federal system designed to protect consumers has been broken for a while.
"This kind of thing isn't an aberration. The policy that is supposed to make sure chemicals are safe, really doesn't work."
Critics of the ban contend not all phthalates are unsafe for children, and that this class of chemicals has been more thoroughly tested than the alternatives. Currently, the chemical is banned in three U.S. states, as well as in Europe.
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