Ban On Chemicals In Toys Praised, But Called Just Toxic 'Tip Of Iceberg'

Advocates praised the ban on the chemicals known as phthalates in children's toys and childcare articles that was included in the conference agreement on the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act, but at least one feels more work needs to be done.

The Breast Cancer Fund says that the legislative action validates the concerns of scientists and parents who have been urging a ban, and will bring federal regulation in line with several states and leading retailers that have already taken action to remove phthalates from toys.

Phthalates are chemical substances used to make plastic toys like rubber ducks and bath books soft and flexible. When children put these toys in their mouths, the phthalates can easily leach from toy to child. Phthalates have been linked to serious health concerns including birth defects, early puberty in girls (a risk factor for breast cancer) and liver cancer, the Breast Cancer Fund says in a statement.

Retailers and manufacturers including Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, Lego, Evenflo and Gerber have announced plans to phase out phthalates, the breast cancer organization says. California, Washington and Vermont have passed laws restricting phthalate use in children's products. Phthalates are also banned or restricted in the European Union and more than a dozen countries around the world.

"This legislation is a victory for children's health and safety," says Janet Nudelman, director of program and policy at the Breast Cancer Fund, "and a major blow to the chemical industry, which spent millions of dollars trying to defeat it. Congress took a first, important step toward reforming the way chemicals are regulated in this country. It's a great start and an indication that our lawmakers are ready to consider the kind of sweeping reform that's needed."

The broad-based national effort that convinced Congress to consider the phthalates ban points to a growing movement of parents, health care professionals, and environmental health and breast cancer prevention advocates calling for major chemical policy reform, advocates for the ban say.

"A year ago, most people had never even heard of phthalates. But in the last few months, our members sent nearly 100,000 letters to legislators to let them know they wanted phthalates out of toys," says Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director of MomsRising.org. "Parents have been at the forefront of efforts to call for safer, non-toxic products, and it doesn't end with phthalates."

Andy Igrejas, manager of the Pew Charitable Trusts' Environmental Health campaign, supports the phthalates ban, but wants Congress to go further in the future.

"Chemicals are allowed on the market without having to undergo a thorough safety review," Igrejas says. "Even after health problems become apparent, our consumer and environmental agencies are virtually paralyzed. The delay in addressing the health hazards of phthalates is unfortunately the rule, rather than the exception. And children will still be affected by phthalates in other consumer products like flooring, shower curtains, and cosmetics.

"That Congress responded to this health threat in lieu of federal agencies is yet another illustration of the broken regulatory system," Igrejas adds. "A better approach is to require chemical manufacturers to prove their products are safe before exposing consumers to them. The Kid-Safe Chemical Act, introduced in May by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and
Representatives Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) would do just that by overhauling how the EPA handles the 80,000+ chemicals in consumer products. Phthalates in toys are just the tip of the iceberg."

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