Toxic Chemicals – Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow

WBUR: “Report by BC researchers calls for plastic regulation to protect people’s health”

March 27, 2023

WBUR’s Lynn Joliceur reported on a major new report by the Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health. Formed by the United Nations, the Commission states that plastics are harming human health. During production, use, and disposal, plastics harm people and the planet. And, according to WBUR, single-use plastics make up 1/3 of plastics in use today. Joliceur quotes Boston’s Dr. Philip Landrigan of Boston College, who chaired the commission, who said: “I’m a pediatrician, and I trained at Boston…

Major Mount Sinai study links PFAS to significant

March 27, 2023

Laura Spark

PFAS, Toxic Chemicals

Researchers at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital have found that exposure to PFAS reduces female fertility by 30-40%, significantly lessening the chances of pregnancy and birth among women of child-bearing age. Mount Sinai study was published in Science of the Toal Environment and showed a link between higher blood concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and reduced fertility. See full study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36801327/Press release here : https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2023/exposure-to-chemicals-found-in-everyday-products-is-linked-to-significantly-reduced-fertility “

Propublica: “Why the U.S. is losing the fight to ban toxic chemicals”

December 15, 2022

Laura Spark

Flame Retardants, PFAS, Toxic Chemicals, Uncategorized

Why the U.S. is losing the fight to ban toxic chemicals by Nell Bedi, Sharon Lerner, and Kathleen McGrory When ProPublica published stories this fall cataloging new evidence that American chemical workers are being exposed to asbestos, readers reacted with surprise over the most simple fact: Asbestos, the killer mineral whose dangers have been known for over a century, is still legal? Asbestos is only one of many toxic substances that are linked to problems like cancers, genetic mutations and…

Sierra Club: Keep PFAS out of your garden

May 27, 2021

Laura Spark

PFAS, Toxic Chemicals

5-25-21 In a just release report, Sierra Club and the Ecology Center tested fertilizer products made from sewage sludge, and found that all contained toxic PFAS, despite several brands being marketed as “eco” or “natural.” [btn text=”Read More” tcolor=#FFF bcolor=#FF0000 thovercolor=#FFF link=”https://www.sierraclub.org/articles/2021/05/how-avoid-buying-sewage-sludge-your-garden-products” target=”_self”]

The Infuriating Case of Toxic Chemicals in Breast Milk

May 27, 2021

Laura Spark

PFAS, Toxic Chemicals, Uncategorized

Sonya Lunder, Ms Magazine, Last week, pandemic-weary parents were hit with more heavy news: A scientific study reported toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals in milk from 50 Seattle area mothers. While none of the study participants lived in a known hotspot, each of the milk samples contained PFAS—which are known to impact the thyroid, immune system, reproductive system and are linked to several types of cancer.

TJX announces new chemical policy

February 9, 2021

Laura Spark

Mind the Store, Toxic Chemicals

TJX just announced a new chemical policy. The store will eliminate bisphenols from cash register receipts and ensure that all its compostable foodware in its corporate cafeterias is PFAS-free. They are engaging chemical policy experts to help them identify ways to get toxic chemicals out of the products they sell. We applaud TJX for moving forward on safety! https://iehn.org/resources/entry/tjx-announces-new-restrictions-on-toxic-chemicals

CNN: “Toxic Chemical May be in Food Wrapper & Take out Containers, Report Says”

August 6, 2020

Laura Spark

Mind the Store, State Campaigns, Toxic Chemicals

(CNN)What’s the first thing you should worry about when you look at the packaging on your fast food or takeout? No, it’s not Covid-19 — science assures us the risk of catching the novel coronavirus that way is miniscule. Worry instead about the toxic chemicals coating the wrappers of your fast food burger or your molded-fiber container full of salad or veggies, says a new report by environmental advocacy groups Toxic-Free Future and Mind the Store. It’s a campaign run by Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families to…

Senators Comerford and Moore ask AG Healey to take action on PFAS

June 30, 2020

Kadineyse Ramize Pena

Toxic Chemicals, Uncategorized

The cost of cleaning up PFAS contamination is enormous. Massachusetts Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton) and Senator Michael Moore (D-Uxbridge) have sent a letter to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, asking her to do what other state attorney generals have done: Take legal action to require the corporations that made billions polluting our state to take responsibility for PFAS contamination. Letter sent to the Attorney General urging action towards companies that have produced PFAS

Common fire retardants killing firefighters UVic report says

June 11, 2020

Laura Spark

Flame Retardants, State Campaigns, Toxic Chemicals

by Stephen Hume, Vancouver Sun, May 15, 2020 Flame retardants routinely added to common household products are killing firefighters, putting children and pregnant women at risk and contaminating the environment while not significantly improving safety, says a new report.Raising the Alarm: The Case for Better Flame Retardant Regulation in Canada was prepared by the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Centre for Local 730 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, which represents firefighters at the Victoria Fire Department. It surveyed…