The Weekly Toxic Times

From the Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health

News highlights from the week of January 11, 2008

A recap of the top stories on toxins in Michigan, National, and International news.

This week’s edition covers news since December 21, 2007

Michigan News

Coal scuttle

Lansing’s City Pulse, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008

“A broad coalition of environmental groups wants to stop seven proposed coal-fired generating plants from firing up in Michigan…”

http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=
view&id=1538&Itemid=29

EPA quits dioxin talks

Saginaw News, Friday, Jan. 5, 2008

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cut off cleanup talks with Dow Chemical Co. over decades-old dioxin and furan contamination in the Tittabawassee River system.

Neither the EPA nor Dow would release details about the impasse because of a confidentiality agreement that covers the closed-door negotiations…”

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginawnews/index.ssf?/base/news-
25/1199514018152520.xml&coll=9

Articles on lead laws:

State sets fines for lead in toys

Detroit Free Press, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071222/NEWS06/
712220337/1008/NEWS06&theme=TOXICTOYS122007

Legislation limits toxic lead in children’s products

Flint Journal, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007

http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/newsnow/2007/12/legislation_limits_
toxic_lead.html

New state law adds restrictions to lead in toys

Grand Rapids Press, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008

http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/01/new_state_law_adds_restriction.html

Strict lead law targets toys

Muskegon Chronicle, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008

http://www.mlive.com/news/chronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-13/11995317
14283310.xml&coll=8

Strict lead law targets toys

Grand Rapids Press, Friday, Jan. 4, 2008

http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-39/119945794
4187510.xml&coll=6

Allegan County pushing for phosphorous ban

Holland Sentinel, Friday, Dec. 28, 2007

“As a residential phosphorus ban is about to take effect in Ottawa County, officials to the south are working on a ban of their own. Allegan County Commissioner Terry Burns is pushing for a phosphorus ban that parallels those in Muskegon and Ottawa counties…”

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/stories/122807/local_20071228015.shtml

Opinion: ‘Going green’ means gasping for air

Detroit News, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2009

“Saving the environment must be good for your health, right? But when you're one of 20 million Americans with asthma -- including many thousands of Michigan residents -- that might not be true. That's because the most basic medicines for asthma -- newly designed to be safer for the environment -- have abruptly become much less affordable..”

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080109/OPINION01/
801090336/1007/OPINION

National News

Safety chief defends record on toys

Washington Post, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2009

Article discusses the opinions of CSCP Chairman Nancy Nord on the safety of toys and on anticipated regulatory changes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/09/
AR2008010903176.html

Everyday items, complex chemistry

New York Times, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007

“Holiday shoppers this season may still worry if the toys they buy contain lead after more than 10 million children’s products were recalled this year for that reason. But some scientists are urging consumers to focus on a different problem: the lack of hazard information on the thousands of chemicals in everyday products…”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/22/business/22chemicals.html?_r=
1&ref=science&oref=slogin

Mattel’s Wake-Up Call

New York Times, Multimedia

Recording discusses Mattel’s recalls and problems with its vendors.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/08/28/business/worldbusiness/
20070829_MATTEL_AUDIOSLIDESHOW.html#

Toy makers mount drive to salvage China’s safety reputation

New York Times, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008

“HONG KONG – Jay Horowitz, owner of American Classic Toy, started putting a prominent notice last October on all his products, most of them made in China, stating that they contained no lead-based paint…”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/business/worldbusiness/10toys.html
?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1200086690-GJbNNXgjf5mbuHkTPTkSTA

Antibacterial acts as endocrine disruptor

Environmental Science and Technology, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008

“Triclocarban, an antibacterial compound widely used for about 45 years in personal-care and cleaning products such as soaps, lotions, and sanitizing wipes, exacerbates the effects of natural testosterone, according to a study published online November 29 in Endocrinology…”

http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2008/jan/science/bw_
triclocarban.html

New lead danger found

Rhode Island News, Friday, Jan. 22, 2008

Article discusses a new study linking lead to Alzheimer’s.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/alzheimers_01-11-08_1Q8IOVJ_v8.
2963490.html

Peril in plastic?

Baltimore Sun, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007

“There is a roaring battle these days over whether a chemical called Bisphenol A is dangerous to humans…”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/ideas/bal-id.bpa23dec23,
0,894641.story

The (possible) perils of being thirsty while being green

New York Times, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2008

Article discusses one woman’s thought process about what type of water bottle to use.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/business/smallbusiness/
05shortcuts.html?ref=business

Hazardous homes part II: Household products that may be harmful

Wisconsin State Journal, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008

Article discusses chemicals in, chemical exposure from, and the labeling of chemicals in household products.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/index.php?ntid=265938

Hazardous homes part III: The plastic problem

Wisconsin State Journal, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008

Article discusses concerns over plastic baby bottles and water bottles.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/index.php?ntid=266128&ntpid=1

Experts war against using air fresheners

KVUE.com, Monday, Dec. 31, 2007

“SEATTLE – Public health and environmental groups say it's time to clear the air of air fresheners. Experts warn that some popular air fresheners may contain dangerous chemicals…”

http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/123107kvueairfresheners-cb
.6d875dd3.html

This year resolve to update cosmetics to eco-friendly brands

Willamette Live.com, Monday, Dec. 31, 2007

Article discusses chemicals in cosmetics and beauty products.

http://willamettelive.com/story/This_year_resolve_to_update_cosmetics
_to_ecofriendly_brands148.html

Integrative way: What’s gotten into our genes

Sacramento Bee, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007

Article discusses a field called “epigenetics,” or “the science of how the expression of some of our genes can be changed even if our basic DNA does not change,” in relation to recent findings about our exposure to toxic chemicals

http://www.sacbee.com/107/story/583232.html

He sounds alarm on polluted oceans

Boston Globe, Monday, Jan. 7, 2008

Article discusses a study by researcher Roger Payne of the Ocean Alliance on pollution in the world’s oceans.

http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2008/01/07/he_sounds_alarm
_on_polluted_oceans/

International News

Spanish patients test positive for potentially toxic compounds: study

CBC News (Canada), Friday, Jan. 4, 2008

“Every single person of the 387 examined in a Spanish study had at least one potentially toxic compound, the authors reported Friday…”

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/01/04/grenada-organic.html

The plastic killing fields

Sydney Morning Herald (Australia), Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007

Article discusses plastics polluting the ocean and current efforts to reduce our use of plastics.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/the-plastic-killing-fields/
2007/12/28/1198778702627.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2

View Archives

Articles were researched and compiled by Diane Sherman, MNCEH Intern.

Subscribe to Toxic Times

Unsubscribe to Toxic Times – send an email to melissa@ecocenter.org with UNSUBSCRIBE TOXIC TIMES in the subject line.