Problem: Children are exposed to toxic chemicals in children’s products.
Shouldn’t you know if toxic chemicals are in the shampoo that you use on your baby? The car seat you use? Or your baby’s mattress? What about the lotion you rub into your child’s skin?
Infants and children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals–in air, water, dust, food, and consumer products. We should be able to keep our children safe, but, in most cases, even the most aware guardians don’t know what is in products their children use every day.
The Solution: Require reporting of toxic chemicals added to children’s products–and ban the most dangerous chemicals.
Require manufacturers to tell the state if they put toxic chemicals in children’s products. Identify a list of most hazardous chemicals–and ban those chemicals from being used in products manufactured, distributed or sold in Massachusetts.
Senator Cindy Friedman (D-Woburn) and Representative James Hawkins (D-Attleboro) have filed An Act for Toxic Free Kids. This bill
Bans per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in children’s products;
Requires manufacturers to disclose to the state if certain toxic chemicals are in children’s products they make or sell in Massachusetts;
Require Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to identify high priority chemicals that are both toxic and known to be exposure risks;
Require DEP to restrict a small number of high priority chemicals every 3 years. Once a chemical is restricted, businesses will have three years to stop using the chemical in their children’s products.
Children’s products include toys, clothing, personal care products, strollers, bedding, and all other products specifically made and marketed to children 12 and under.
