Massachusetts products contain high levels of lead, other toxic chemicals
Groups call for Overhaul of State Federal Chemical Laws

(Boston, MA) – The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and the Ecology Center today released new research on toxic chemicals in low-cost children’s and adult jewelry at www.HealthyStuff.org.  Researchers tested for chemicals -- including lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, bromine and chlorine (PVC) – which have been linked in animal and some human studies to acute allergies and to long-term health impacts such as birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, and cancer.  The study included jewelry purchased in Massachusetts from stores in Holyoke, Worcester, Fall River and Falmouth.

Over half (57%) of the products tested had a “high” level of concern due to the presence of one or more hazardous chemicals detected at high levels.  Four products contained over 10% cadmium, a known carcinogen.  Fifty percent contained lead, with over half of these containing more than 300 ppm of lead in one or more components, exceeding the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) limit of lead in children’s products.

BOSTON—Toxic chemicals linked to the rising rates of endocrine disruption related disease on the rise were found in a broad array of consumer products and reported in a peer reviewed article in Environmental Health Perspectives today. The Newton based Silent Spring Institute tested 213 consumer products, including cleaning products, cosmetics, sunscreens, shower curtains, air fresheners, drier sheets, and other household goods made by Colgate, Unilever, S.C. Johnson, Johnson and Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Seventh Generation, and Ecover among other manufacturers.

Silent Spring tested 66 different chemicals, finding 55 of them in the products.  All of the 42 conventional product samples contained at least 2 and as many as 22 of the tested toxic chemicals.  Of the 43 alternative products tested, 32 contained at least one toxic chemical.

Lack Of Federal Reform Makes State Laws More Urgent

(Boston, MA) - In 2012, Massachusetts and 27 other state legislatures will consider bills that address concerns over toxic chemicals in consumer products, according to a new analysis by Safer States, a national coalition of state-based environmental organizations which Clean Water Action participates in. Bills to be introduced this year will cover a broad list of topics, including safer alternatives to toxic chemicals to bans on toxic chlorinated Tris flame retardants and cadmium, and requirements that makers of consumer products publicly disclose chemicals in products.