Press/Media
*ATTN TV Reporters: B-Roll and Interviews in Spanish Available Upon Request*
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE until 12:01 a.m. EST, Wed. Dec. 3, 2008
CONTACT: Sarah Uhl, 860.232.6232 or suhl@cleanwater.org
Toy Testing and Press Conference Details:
When: December 3rd, 2008 at 3:30pm
Where: Our Children's Center Daycare, 90 North Main St., West Hartford (In the First Baptist Church)
Who: Parents and toddlers, local legislators, health professionals, and advocates
Second Annual Consumer Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Toys to be Released for 2008 Holiday Shopping Season
Leading Environmental Health Groups Tested More than 1,500 Toys for Lead, PVC, Cadmium, and Other Harmful Chemicals - Results to be Released on Wednesday, December 3 at www.HealthyToys.org
Groups Call for Fundamental Overhaul of Toxic Product Laws
In response to the overwhelming demand for information about toxic chemicals in toys, environmental health groups are releasing the second annual guide to help parents make informed decisions this holiday season. In addition to listing the toxic chemicals found in some children's toys, the newly redesigned site -- www.HealthyToys.org -- will contain features such as a personalized holiday wish list that can be sent to family and friends, and a blog-friendly widget to quickly search for toy ratings. The Coalition for a Safe & Healthy CT will release the results during a toy testing event and press conference:
What: Toy Testing and Press Conference
When: December, 3rd, 3:30pm (with toy testing to follow the press event)
Where: Our Children's Center Daycare, 90 North Main St., West Hartford (In the First Baptist Church)
Who: Parents and toddlers, local legislators, health professionals, and advocates
"This website was so popular last year that we realized parents are hungry for more information about the chemicals used to make their children's toys," said Sarah Uhl of Clean Water Action, one of the organizations that tested toys for the on-line guide. "With consumers paying more attention, toy manufacturers and lawmakers are being forced to respond."
Last year the massive public attention to the issue of toxic chemicals in children's toys prompted Connecticut to become one of the first states to ban lead and asbestos in children's products. On the heels of Connecticut's victory, the U.S. Congress overhauled the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and restricted lead and phthalates in toys beginning in early 2009.
"While these reforms are a step in the right direction, they do not go nearly far enough," said Polly Barey of the CT Nurses' Association. "When it comes to protecting the health of our children, we shouldn't take any chances, and we will be pushing for more progress at the state and federal levels this year."
At www.HealthyToys.org parents are able to easily check how products rank from highest to lowest in terms of lead, cadmium and other chemicals that are associated with developmental and learning disabilities, reproductive disorders, and cancer. Toys made with PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, were also tested because they often contain phthalates and other hazardous chemical additives. Babies and young children are the most vulnerable to toxic chemicals since their brains and bodies are still developing and because they commonly put toys into their mouths.
To sample the toys experts used a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer that identifies the elemental composition of materials. This accurate device has been used by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to screen packaging; the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to screen food; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for planetary exploration; and many State and County Health Departments to screen for residential lead paint.
In conjunction with the national release of HealthyToys.org media events will be taking place in several states around the country on Wednesday Dec. 3 including New York, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Minnesota, California, Michigan, and Oregon.
***ATTENTION JOURNALISTS: Advance access to toy rankings on an embargoed basis and interviews with experts are available upon request. Please call Sarah Uhl at 860-232-6232 for more information. ***
