Trenton- In the shade of a
giant rubber duck in Mill
Hill Park,
Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein joined New Jersey Public Interest Research Group
(NJPIRG), and groups representing parents and the learning disabled, to call
for action on the Toxic-Free Children’s Products Act (A2332/S1428).
The bill was recently introduced
by Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and Senator Loretta Weinberg, and is
also sponsored
by Teresa Ruiz in the Senate and Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Wayne
DeAngelo in
the Assembly. If adopted, it would ban
dangerous chemicals, including bisphenol-A and phthalates, from in
children’s products and toys. Showing support for the legislation was
NJPIRG, Dr. Dana Marrocco, the
president of a MOMS Club chapter, Phyllis Fantauzzo of Learning
Disabilities
Association of New Jersey and children from a local Trenton day-care
center, the Learning
Depot.
“No one should have to worry
if their child’s rubber ducky is a threat,” said Rebekah Scotland, NJPIRG’s Legislative
Associate. “We need a clear, strong
safety standard that replaces dangerous chemicals with available safer
alternatives.”
That will be the case in New Jersey if this bill
becomes law. Greenstein and Weinberg’s
Toxic-Free Children’s Products Act would specifically prohibit the sale,
distribution and manufacturing of child care products and toys if they contain
bisphenol-A or a combination of 0.1 percent phthalates.
"We have a responsibility to keep our
children safe, and that includes making sure products don’t contain toxic
chemicals,” said Assemblywoman Greenstein. “This legislation would put a ban on two of the worst offenders and
replace them with safer alternatives in order to ensure safe and healthy
products for New Jersey
families.”
The other groups present
echoed this call to action. Dr. Dana Marrocco, a mother from Monmouth County,
described the challenge mothers face in trying to provide safe products for
children, saying, “It’s our job as mothers to worry about everything from
whether or not our children eat enough vegetables to how we’re going to pay for
their college education. We shouldn’t, however, have to be concerned that toys
bought off the store shelf could be harmful.”
The two chemicals covered in
the bill, bisphenol-A and phthalates, are hormone disrupting chemicals that have
been linked to developmental and learning disorders, certain cancers, immune
system impairment, obesity, diabetes, and reproductive defects. The Centers for Disease Control reports that
these chemicals can be found in over 95 percent of the population.
Science experts are seeing
increases in the adverse health effects associated with these chemicals. “The number of hormone-associated diseases
and disorders is on the rise. The risk of developing breast cancer has
increased 3-fold since the 1950s. Almost 12 percent of American women in reproductive
age have problems getting pregnant and/or carrying a baby to term,” stated Maricel
V. Maffini, Ph.D, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy
& Cellular Biology at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Phyllis Fantauzzo of the
Learning Disabilities Association of New Jersey spoke about the increasing occurrence of autism, attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, cognitive disorders and other behavior and
learning disorders that now affect more than 12 million children.
“We are deeply concerned
about the increasing number of learning and other developmental disabilities and
the scientific evidence that environmental contaminants are an important
cause,” explained Fantauzzo. “Children are far more vulnerable to toxins
in the environment than are adults since their brains and bodies are still
developing.”
Phthalates have already been
banned in the European Union and 14 other countries. Washington’s
governor signed a bill to ban phthalates just last week, and California’s governor did the same this past
fall. Similar legislation has also
passed the U.S. Senate and is now in conference committee to work out
differences with the House version. Legislation to ban bisphenol-A and
phthalates is being considered in 8 other states.
“New Jersey
needs to take strong action to protect our state’s children,” said Greenstein. “Several other states and some of the large
toy suppliers like Toys R’ Us have taken action against phthalates, and if New
Jersey acts now, not only will we be ensuring that New Jersey parents don’t
have to worry about bisphenol-A and phthalates when they go to the toy
store, but it could also prompt Congress to ban these chemicals on the
federal level.”
“When it comes to the health of our children, we
simply can’t afford further delay in the removal of these toxic threats,” noted
Scotland.
“We applaud the bill sponsors for their tremendous initiative, and call on the entire
legislature to support their efforts to rid toys and child care products of
toxic chemicals.”
The Center for Health,
Environment and Justice provided its 25-foot tall rubber duck for display.
