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