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"Products that contain these ingredients should be labeled very prominently," argues the Environmental Working Group's Walker. The government is singling out six phthalates, three for a permanent ban and three for a temporary ban, pending further study. But Walker thinks all should be nixed. "If you find a class of chemicals in which harm is shown in one variation of the chemical, in most cases I think you're going to find the other variation of the chemical is harmful also," he says.

For now, parents need to sift through conflicting research on their own. "Beyond trying to shop your way out of exposure to toxics, people should realize that they should support efforts at their community, state and national level to address toxic reform overall," says Walker. "Parents are bombarded with too much information about the child poison of the week."

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Posted By: dgeejr @ 08/06/2008 1:42:11 PM

There has been proof that Endocrine Disruptors, of which phthalates are one of many produced in mass quantities, cause serious harm to mammals' reproductive systems in-utero for 12 years now. See "Our Stolen Future" (http://www.ourstolenfuture.com/) for more information. Since then the evidence has grown stronger and stronger.

However, that is not the point. The point should be that chemical and all product manufacturers should be the ones responsible to prove their products safe, using a precautionary approach, not just merely abiding by the minimal laws in place at the time the product in introduced.

In addition, manufacturers must not use their considerable economic power to obfuscate, delay and otherwise impede the investigation of potential issues that are discovered after a product is in production merely to protect their income streams. The chemical industry has damaged consumers and the environment for long periods after issues were discovered in the past 75 years simply to maintain profits. See Bill Moyers instigative report titled "Trade Secrets" for just a few examples. There are countless products in the US that use chemicals that are banned in Europe due to known or strongly suspected health impacts, simply because the alternatives would cost a few pennies more to produce.

If a chemical is found to be an Endocrine Disruptor, have cancer causing or mutagenic effects, it should not be produced, PERIOD. The ridiculous argument that a little poison isn't bad for anybody is merely an excuse to make money at the expense of everyone but the producer. It has also been proven incorrect in the case of endocrine disruptors. I also suspect that it is also the reason why practically everyone should plan to get at least one form of cancer in their lifetimes.

I'm sick of having to sound like a nut job because our government refuses to regulate the corporations who abuse their economic power to the detriment of everyone but themselves via the corruption of the regulatory process. I should not have to worry about the chemicals that could slowly damage my young child because those chemicals should not be in production at all.

Back in the day we used to hear the expression "Godless Communists" because we in the west allow our populace to participate in the religion of their choice. I contend that "Godless Corporations", who only have the single objective of making the most profit possible, have done more damage to the world than the communists ever did.

Member Comments

Posted By: NUMBerger @ 08/08/2008 8:23:25 AM

All toys are evil, I assume you mean.
Posted By: NUMBerger @ 08/08/2008 8:22:27 AM

This ban of proven-to-be-safe chemicals is likely to hurt the very health of the children that the eco-terrorists pretend to care about. The bill was sponsored by a socialist-leaning Senator who hopes to invoke the very dangerous "precuationary principle," which is neither.
Posted By: dgeejr @ 08/06/2008 1:42:11 PM

There has been proof that Endocrine Disruptors, of which phthalates are one of many produced in mass quantities, cause serious harm to mammals' reproductive systems in-utero for 12 years now. See "Our Stolen Future" (http://www.ourstolenfuture.com/) for more information. Since then the evidence has grown stronger and stronger.

However, that is not the point. The point should be that chemical and all product manufacturers should be the ones responsible to prove their products safe, using a precautionary approach, not just merely abiding by the minimal laws in place at the time the product in introduced.

In addition, manufacturers must not use their considerable economic power to obfuscate, delay and otherwise impede the investigation of potential issues that are discovered after a product is in production merely to protect their income streams. The chemical industry has damaged consumers and the environment for long periods after issues were discovered in the past 75 years simply to maintain profits. See Bill Moyers instigative report titled "Trade Secrets" for just a few examples. There are countless products in the US that use chemicals that are banned in Europe due to known or strongly suspected health impacts, simply because the alternatives would cost a few pennies more to produce.

If a chemical is found to be an Endocrine Disruptor, have cancer causing or mutagenic effects, it should not be produced, PERIOD. The ridiculous argument that a little poison isn't bad for anybody is merely an excuse to make money at the expense of everyone but the producer. It has also been proven incorrect in the case of endocrine disruptors. I also suspect that it is also the reason why practically everyone should plan to get at least one form of cancer in their lifetimes.

I'm sick of having to sound like a nut job because our government refuses to regulate the corporations who abuse their economic power to the detriment of everyone but themselves via the corruption of the regulatory process. I should not have to worry about the chemicals that could slowly damage my young child because those chemicals should not be in production at all.

Back in the day we used to hear the expression "Godless Communists" because we in the west allow our populace to participate in the religion of their choice. I contend that "Godless Corporations", who only have the single objective of making the most profit possible, have done more damage to the world than the communists ever did.