The Endocrine Society.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
The World Health Organization.
As columnist Nicholas Kristoff wrote on Sunday for The New York Times, warnings about exposure to toxics from everyday products and their harm to reproductive health “now represents the medical mainstream.” Virtually every pregnant woman in America has at least 43 different chemical contaminants in her body. Babies are born “pre-polluted.”
Kristof signs off with a sobering conclusion:
“The chemical lobby spent the equivalent of $121,000 per member of Congress last year, so expect chemical companies to enjoy strong quarterly profits, more boys to be born with hypospadias and more women to die unnecessarily of breast cancer.”
But Kristof might not know that here in Oregon, we’re not letting the strong opposition stop us. We have an amazing coalition of parents, businesses, health professionals and individuals. And together, we:
Passed the Toxic Free Kids Act in 2015, requiring manufacturers to first reveal, and then replace, toxics in children’s products.
Lead a “healthy purchasing coalition” of governments, universities and other major purchasers to choose safer alternatives.
Spread the word about reducing toxics in your home with a free Healthy Homes Checkup Kit and monthly “green living” tips with the latest news and science.
Team up with Safer States to insist that reform of federal law not only fixes serious problems, but works in partnership with state governments for the best possible health protections.
There is no doubt that industry is investing huge amounts of money to influence politics and protect the status quo. But we have parents, doctors, ethical businesses—and the future—on our side.
With support from Oregonians, we will one day have an Oregon in which all kids get a chance to reach their full potential, unhampered by toxics in everyday products.
Do you ever wonder what’s in your water?
The water in our rivers and groundwater isn’t pure H2O. Every water source has different minerals and compounds. Many are harmless or even healthful, but others can be toxic to humans or aquatic life.
Some harmful toxics are naturally occurring, like bacteria, arsenic and algae. Some aren’t supposed to be in the river but get washed off our streets and farms, like brake fluid, mercury, fertilizers and pesticides. And some are man-made syn
It’s not this lotion or that shampoo. It’s not just one can or package of food. It’s the toxic chemicals in thousands of products we encounter every day that undermine our health. So: who is responsible?
One could argue that Albertson’s store brand of bubb
Can you name a thousand cleaning and beauty products? Can you name a hundred? It’s hard to even imagine 90,000 products made by 700 manufacturers. Yet that’s the number of products that will have to change if manufacturers want to sell on Walmart shelves. See details in a Bloomberg News story.
Three years ago, Walmart told manufacturers that they would have un
This week, Congress reformed the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act, changing the way our nation manages toxic chemicals. It’s a major overhaul of the only bedrock environmental law that has never been amended. Champions like Senator Merkley are to be commended for standing up to industry interests to defend public health provisions.
We still need to address flaws in the new law that undermine its effectiveness. And it will take vigilance and funding to ensure that the this
Governor Kate Brown took strong and decisive action to shut down toxics at the source within hours after she learned about high lead levels in the air near Bullseye Glass on May 19, 2016. The decision shows not only bold leadership to protect health, but a clear understanding of the risks at hand.
Shutting down business practices is not a decision to take lightly. But unpredictable
We all deserve to live, work and play in healthy, safe environments. That’s why Oregon Environmental Council brings Oregonians together to reduce harmful chemicals in our air, water, food and in our homes and buildings. We promote policies to protect Oregonians from unnecessary toxics and unite health experts and caregivers to create safer places to learn and grow.
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), one of the main federal laws that regulates chemical safety in the U.S., is w
For Immediate Release: Oregon Passes Historic Toxics Protections
Oregon Legislature Acts to Phase Out Known Hazardous Chemicals
from Children’s Products
Salem, OR – July 3, 2015: Today, the Oregon House cas
“Do you know what chemicals you’re exposed to on a daily basis? Pollutants we encounter every day come from any number of sources – cars, factories, shampoos, lotions, carpets and more. Some chemicals are benign but others could be hazardous to your health…” So begins an article about the toxics around us.
This week,
This is a recap for the 2013 legislative session. To learn about current efforts on the Toxic Free Kids Act, SB 487, click here.
In a fast-moving 35-day legislative session, hearings come and go so quickly that it’s hard to stay in
