The Weekly Toxic Times

From the Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health

News highlights from the week of December 21, 2007

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

Michigan News

 

Lawmakers take steps to eliminate toxic toys

Bay City Times, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007

“That's the message the state Legislature wants to send to outlets that sell children's products. The Senate signed off Thursday on an anti-lead legislative initiative that would ban the sale of toys and other goods with a certain lead content. Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm's office has pledged her signature to make the bills law…”

http://www.mlive.com/baycity/stories/index.ssf?/base/
news-10/119799460424030.xml&coll=4

 

Newsmakers: Kolke Creek battle continues

Traverse City Record Eagle, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007

Article discusses disposal options in Northern Michigan for wastewater that was generated as a result of a project to clean up a toxic groundwater plume.

http://www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_352094654.html

 

Beet juice turns ice-fighters

Detroit Free Press, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007

Article discusses a new product for de-icing streets that contains beet juice (which is from a Bay City facility) and requires less salt. The product is made by a Seattle-based company and is being tried in multiple Michigan municipalities this year.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071217/
NEWS05/712170318

 

Spotlight on HealthyToys.org:

Back on store shelves, toys highlight debate over U.S. safety standard

Detroit Free Press, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007

“Toys "R" Us says it has returned to store shelves a set of toys it previously pulled, saying independent tests have verified the toys' safety. The company removed the 85-piece Just Like Home tub of play food last week after testing conducted on behalf of the Free Press found that one piece, a plastic ice cream cone, contained high levels of lead and other chemicals. The testing was conducted by the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center, which made headlines across the country for its part in a national HealthyToys.org study of more than 1,200 toys…

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007712150366

 

Missing URL from last week’s Toxic Times:

Tests find toxins under toys’ surface

Detroit Free Press, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007712050414

 

Testing toys for toxins

Detroit News, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071205/BIZ/712050398

National News

 

Biomonitoring: Has pollution spread to body?

Star Tribune, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007

Article discusses the Minnesota legislature’s approval of a biomonitoring study to test Minnesota children for industrial chemicals. Article also indicates the study will be based on volunteers and discusses potential concerns with studies involving human subjects.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/12534756.html

 

State to expand lead jewelry probe

Los Angeles Times, Friday, Dec. 14, 2007

“State toxics regulators Thursday said secret shoppers would be expanding their search in 2008 for lead contamination in children's and adult jewelry as well as metal studs used in body piercing…”

http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-lead14dec14,1,4861439.story

 

Chinese kids get foreign-born toys

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Friday, Dec. 14, 2007

“SHANGHAI, China – When freelance writer Wang Jian shops for toys for her 5-year-old son, she's happy to pay extra for Legos blocks and Japanese-brand train sets. The reason, she and other parents say: Foreign brands enjoy a reputation for higher quality - a perception reinforced by the product scares of recent months…”

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1104ap_chinas_toys.html

 

Toy story

WCF Courier, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007

Article discusses efforts in Cedar Valley, Iowa regarding lead in toys.

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2007/12/16/news/metro/
eb57ef0140828ec3862573b3001c8ebb.txt

 

Fighting for air

Fresno’s Bee, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007

Article is the introduction to a long string of stories that are part of a report on air quality in California by the Fresno Bee.

http://www.fresnobee.com/868/story/263215.html

 

Holiday shoppers weigh in on toy safety service

National Public Radio, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2007

“This Christmas season, after scandals over the safety of Chinese imports, many parents worry about buying toys contaminated with lead. The nonprofit group Moms Rising has started a new text-message service that allows shoppers to check a database with information about the safety of specific products…”

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17300617

 

Lawmakers spar on product safety

Wall Street Journal (subscription required), Monday, Dec. 17, 2007

“Efforts to overhaul the federal agency charged with protecting consumers from harmful products have hit a roadblock, even after this year's recalls of toys and other merchandise…”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119794157439335459.html

 

Keeping an eye on Chinese toymakers

CBS News, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007

Article discusses some Chinese toy manufacturers’ willingness for their plants to be broadcast over the internet.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/18/eveningnews/main3630073.shtml

 

Schools are graduating to “green”

Chicago Sun Tribune, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007

Article discusses a Illinois law to green cleaning products in schools.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/news/
701575,5_1_WA18_GREENSCHOOLS_S1.article

 

From last week:

Plastic toys contain lead, too

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007

Article points out that federal lead standards are only for lead paint, not for plastic toys with lead.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/343504_toxictoys14.html

 

Sears, Kmart to remove products with polyvinyl chloride

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007

“Sears and Kmart will reduce or eliminate a popular plastic linked to serious health problems from packaging and merchandise in their 3,800 stores - an action announced Wednesday after more than a year of talks with environmental and shareholder groups…”

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=696350

 

Spotlight on HealthyToys.org:

Text-messaging system tells whether toys are safe to buy

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007

Article discusses text messaging service from MomsRising.org.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07353/842672-51.stm

 

International News

 

Lululemon to stop selling bottles with bisphenol A

National Post (Canada), Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007

Article discusses actions by a second large Canadian retail company to stop selling bottles with bisphenol A.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=180510

 

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

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