The Weekly Toxic Times

From the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health

News highlights from March 22 – March 28, 2008

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

Michigan News

Saginaw county leaders ask EPA to step back into dioxin negotiations with Dow Chemical

MLive Michigan Environmental Issues, Wednesday, March 26, 2008

“Saginaw County leaders have called on a federal agency to resume the lead in dioxin clean-up talks with Midland-based Dow Chemical Co. The County Board of Commissioners voted 10-3 Tuesday to ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to pick up talks with the chemical giant over decades-old contamination in the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers…”

http://www.mlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/03/saginaw_county_leaders
_ask_epa.html

Cleanup next to school delayed

Leelanau Enterprise, Friday, March 28, 2008

Article discusses the success of a request by some parents of children at Norris School in Elmwood Township, Leelanau, to delay the start of soil-removal activities as part of the cleanup of a Superfund site that is very close to the school.

http://www.leelanaunews.com/blog/2008/03/29/cleanup-next-to-school-delayed/

Granholm appoints Frankenmuth resident

Saginaw News, Sunday, March 23, 2008

“Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm appointed Randy R. Barst, director of the Saginaw County Department of Human Services, to serve on the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Commission through 2010…”

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginawnews/index.ssf?/base/news-25/
120624960973130.xml&coll=9

National News

Gregoire weighs veto of toy ban

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Article indicates that, because of implementation concerns, Governor of Washington may veto what was set to be the nation’s strictest toy safety legislation

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/356636_toys27.html

A turn to alternative chemicals

New York Times, Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Article discusses how chemicals are regulated in the U.S. and abroad and how some industry actors are turning to “green chemistry.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/business/businessspecial2/26chemical.html
?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1206734143-vXBFwljNTeMOEK3PtQva2A

States alter rules of game on safety for toy makers

Wall Street Journal, Tuesday, March 25, 2008

“In a move that has alarmed the toy industry, lawmakers in the state of Washington have overwhelmingly passed a bill that would set the toughest restrictions in the nation on the lead content of children's products…”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120640378503760985.html

From the mouths of babes: Ban phthalates in kids’ toys

San Francisco Chronicle, Friday, March 21, 2008

Editorial encourages federal representatives to support phthalate-banning language in a final Consumer Product Safety Commission bill (now in conference committee) that is currently in the Senate version of the bill.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/21/EDT1VNDKA.DTL

Lead found in vinyl diaper bags, changing pads

Daily Herald (Illinois), Tuesday, March 25, 2008

The Illinois attorney general's office said Tuesday it would ask major retailers to pull more baby products off the shelves due to high levels of lead. Various brands of vinyl diaper bags, along with their attached changing pads and other components, had lead levels two to nine times higher than lawfully acceptable…”

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=160107

Baby bottle brouhaha: Parents, scientists question safety of commonly used plastic

Herald (Washington), Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Coverage of the concerns over Bisphenol A in Everett, Washington newspaper.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080325/LIVING/974502396

Suit over limbless boy, 3, settled

Palm Beach Post, Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Article explores the story of a recently-settled lawsuit against Ag-Mart (an agricultural firm which markets products such as Santa Sweets, a brand of grape tomatoes) involving the illegal use of pesticides and the disfigurement of a child.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/
2008/03/25/m1a_carlitos_0325.html

Hampton woman fights children’s exposure to toxins

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Thursday, March 27, 2008

Article discusses a program organized by the California-based Healthy Child, Healthy World group that provide materials to people around the nation to host events to educate others are what chemicals used in homes might post risks and to provide details about alternative products.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/north/s_559166.html

International News

Warning on plastic’s toxic threat

BBC News (UK), Thursday, March 27, 2008

“Plastic waste in the oceans poses a potentially devastating long-term toxic threat to the food chain, according to marine scientists. Studies suggest billions of microscopic plastic fragments drifting underwater are concentrating pollutants like DDT. Most attention has focused on dangers that visible items of plastic waste pose to seabirds and other wildlife. But researchers are warning that the risk of hidden contamination could be more serious…”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7316441.stm

Asthma fears over green fuels

Mirror (UK), Monday, March 24, 2008
“Asthma rates could soar because of green fuels used in school buses, town hall chiefs warned. They fear bio-fuels - made from corn, sugar cane and rapeseed - could do more damage to air quality than normal fuels…”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/03/24/asthma-fears-over-
green-fuels-89520-20361094/

Bears face new toxic threat

Toronto Sun (Canada), Monday, March 24, 2008

Article discusses a study by Danish environmental scientists that found level of industrial chemicals called perfluoroalkyl contaminants (PFCs) in Arctic polar bears. Article indicates that PFCs are used in many everyday products, including windshield washer fluid and fast food wrappers, and can cause toxic effects in animals.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/350087

Pharmaceuticals found in water

Hamilton Spectator (Canada), Friday, March 28, 2008

Article discusses a variety of studies on pharmaceuticals in water.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/343894

Moving reserve discussed

Sarnia Observer (Canada), Friday, March 28, 2008

Article discusses how a tribal group in Canada is considering moving from Sarnia, Ontario where multiple chemical manufacturers are located, to somewhere they would face less risk of chemical exposures.

http://www.theobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=960651

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

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