Two proposed Oregon bills, known together as the “Children’s Safe Products Act,” are slated to identify and ban toxic chemicals in children’s products.
House Bill 2367 would ban from children’s products six different phthalates used as plastic softeners that some studies link to reproductive concerns. The bill also bans the chemical Bisphenol A, or BPA, which some studies link to developmental problems. The chemical is often found in the plastic lining of baby bottles and water bottles and is known to leach into the bottle’s contents. BPA can be found on many plastics imprinted with the recycling number “7” and the letters “PC” for polycarbonate plastic.
House Bill 2792 would require the Oregon Department of Human Services to identify chemicals in consumer products, provide consumers information of unsafe chemicals and give safer alternatives if they exist.
“We need to take a closer look at chemical policy to make sure these chemicals are tested for the welfare of manufacturers and retailers, and so people are fully aware of the consequences before the manufacturing process,” said Jen Coleman, Community Outreach Director of the consumer advocacy group, Oregon Environmental Council, a main supporter of the bills.
On March 12, supporters of the bill plan to visit the state capitol in Salem to advocate for more chemical regulation of children’s products. The Oregon Environmental Council has collected about 250 signatures in a campaign to raise awareness about the bills, Coleman wrote in an email. Other supporters of the bills include Planned Parenthood, Community Health Partnerships and Oregon Toxics Alliance, but lawmakers haven’t reported decision.
Tracking and Reducing Harmful Chemicals
Twenty-thousand new chemicals have been introduced since the passage of the Toxic Substances Control Act in 1976. The average household has 150 different man-made chemicals in products. Coleman points out that the accumulation of exposure to these chemicals can be harmful over time, especially for infants who have smaller bodies and tend to put things in their mouths.
A study conducted by the Michigan-based Ecology Center revealed that over 60 percent of 1,200 popular children's toys contained lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury or phthalates, including many toys made in the United States. Parents can visit the consumer watchdog Web site, HealthyToys.org, to view the test results of more than 1,500 children’s toys and products.
Bambini toy storeowner Shannon Arm, who owns two stores in Eugene, said she supports the proposed legislation. She said the bills would not affect her business because none of the products she sells contain phthalates or BPA chemicals.
“I think we’re going in the right direction,” Arm said of the legislation. “Our kids’ safety comes before our business.”
Many of the toys on Bambini’s shelves use vegetable-based paints and meet European safety regulations, which are much stricter than the United States. However, other toy stores such as Toys “R” Us would probably “need to shift gears” in order to meet safety regulations, Arm said.
Mattel Recalls Raise Fears of Chinese-made Toys
In late 2007, toy manufacturer Mattel made a series of recalls because their Chinese-made products contained lead paint and tiny magnets that could be swallowed. As a result, Bambini manager Kelly Bogan at the South Eugene location said that customers often dismiss products made in China.
“(Customers) often react, ‘I can’t believe you carry products made in China!’,” Bogan said.
Although Bambini doesn’t carry Mattel products, Bogan said the reaction is unfairly targeted towards Chinese-made products. Bogan said U.S.-based companies Haba and Eeboo also had product recalls in 2008, but not as large as the Mattel 2007 recall.
Tesha Shriro, the mother of three young children, said she has been aware of the toy recalls.
“Usually my mom calls about (the recalls), and I say, ‘Oh no, I don’t have any of those things.’ But then I noticed that we do,” Shriro said.
Recent Federal Legislation Requires Toy Testing
After the 2007 Mattel recall, U.S. Congress passed the “Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act” and President George W. Bush signed the bill in August 2008. The bill would lower the amount of lead in paint and phthalate levels allowed in children’s products. At first, the bill required all toy manufacturers to pay for third party testing, creating a problem for small or independent toy manufacturers who would be burdened with high fees. However, recent exemptions for toy makers who use unfurnished wood, wool, beeswax and organic cotton have relieved some of these smaller manufacturers from testing fees.
As a result of the controversy around the new federal legislation, some retailers have been “wary” of the proposed state legislation as well, Coleman said.
Oregon is not alone
About eight other states have passed or are considering similar bills to ban phthalates and BPA in children’s products. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Green Initiative Plan in October 2007, making California the first state to ban phthalates in children’s products. Last week, lawmakers in a Long Island county approved the nation’s first ban on BPA chemicals in baby bottles. This month, Washington supporters of the “Safe Baby Bottle Act” also hope to eliminate BPA chemicals from baby bottles.
Coleman said she is uncertain of the costs to enforce the proposed legislation. A similar bill banning lead and phthalate chemicals passed in Washington state last year, which included a $400,000 allocation over five years.
At the upcoming March 12 rally in Salem, Coleman said she is confident that Oregon lawmakers will support and pass the “Children’s Safe Products Act.” She said rally supporters plan to bring a 20-foot inflatable baby bottle and a pile of collected toys that would be banned under the bill.
“I think we have a really good chance of making Oregon a leader in reforming chemical policy and looking at green practices,” Coleman said.
