Healthy Children Project Monthly e-News

Feel free to let your friends, family and colleagues know about this valuable new resource. Instructions to subscribe or unsubscribe are at the end of this e-newsletter. MI Healthy Children's e-newsletter is part of a collaborative effort with the Learning Disabilities Association of America's Healthy Children Project, the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health website, and the Institute for Children's Environmental Health with support from the Beldon Fund. 

Michigan: State Panel Recommends Ban on Toxic Flame Retardant

http://ldaofmichigan.org/articles/mnceh8-4-08.htm
The state’s Interdepartmental Toxics Steering Group just released the long-awaited final report on the hazards of the common flame-retardants, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), which are under intense scrutiny by the Michigan Legislature because of concerns they are ending up in the Great Lakes and in people. The full report “PBDE Background Paper 5-2008” is available online at: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3307_29693_32185---,00.html.
 

Toxic Plastic Toys Could Go the Way of Dinosaurs
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2008-08-04-toxic-plastics-main_N.htm
Children's advocates say they hope a sweeping consumer protection law passed by Congress last week will begin a broad national effort to shield youngsters from dangerous chemicals. The bill, which is expected to be signed by the president, will require that toys be tested for safety before they're sold. The law would ban several types of phthalates, ingredients in plastic linked to reproductive problems.
 

Toys "R" Us Launches New Toy & Product Safety Website

http://inc.toysrus.com/index.cfm?sc=safety

Working with Safe Kids Worldwide, Toys "R" Us is working to create comprehensive childhood safety campaigns to help educate parents about injury prevention. Initial efforts will focus on:

• Summer Safety: Ride-on toys, water, backyard, bicycle and street safety;

• Baby Safety: Childproofing the home, and tub and crib safety;

• Halloween Safety: Safety tips for choosing costumes and trick-or-treating;

• Holiday Toy Safety: Gift selection, proper assembly and safe play tips for the holiday season; and

• Travel Safety: Car seat and child passenger safety and tips for childproofing unfamiliar places.

With school out for the summer, kids of all ages are taking to backyards, streets, pools, and parks, as they try to savor every moment of fun in the sun. For important ways you can keep your kids safe during these not-so-lazy days of summer, we invite you to take a look at our summer safety tips. These, and other safety tips, will be available year-round on our dedicated Safety Website at  www.Toysrus.com/Safety.

Consumer Reports Tests Plastic Baby Bottles

http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/consumer/article/plastic_baby_bottle_tests/12324/

Concerns are on the rise about the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA. It’s used to make a variety of food containers, including some plastic baby bottles. The National Institutes of Health issued a draft report this spring expressing concern about BPA’s health risks for infants and children. The latest laboratory research suggests it may affect the brain and the prostate and may cause other health problems. The Canadian government recently moved to ban BPA in baby bottles.

Michigan: Time for the Senate to Protect Children and the Great Lakes

Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health, July 9, 2008

Thanks to the support of people like you, we recently won a bi-partisan victory in our efforts to restrict the toxic pesticide lindane when the Michigan House voted overwhelmingly (72-35) to pass HB 4569! Congratulations once again to each of you who helped!

But, our work is not done. HB 4569, which would allow lindane to be used only under a doctor's direct supervision, is now sitting in the Senate Health Policy Committee, awaiting a hearing from Committee Chair Senator Tom George and the support of your Senator. We need your help now to pass this commonsense measure to protect Michigan's children and our Great Lakes.

The details: Lindane is a toxic pesticide that has been banned for use in more than 50 countries and the state of California, and is no longer used on pets, in agriculture, or in the military anywhere in the U.S. But you can still put lindane on children's heads or whole bodies as part of a treatment for head lice or scabies. Even with proper use, this pesticide can be absorbed through the skin and misuse can result in serious side effects. Lindane has been labeled a "Bioaccumulative Chemical of Concern" in the Great Lakes.

We need your help to pass HB 4569 to establish commonsense measures in Michigan to require use of lindane only under a doctor's direct supervision. Health professional organizations like Michigan's Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Michigan Nurses Association support the legislation, noting the availability of safer, effective, affordable alternatives.  Major environmental organizations in the state support the legislation, noting the toxic impacts of what the U.S. EPA classifies as an "Extremely Hazardous Substance" and a "Priority Pollutant" under the Clean Water Act.  Read more.

Of course, the opposition has hired high-powered lobbyists in Lansing to fight the legislation. But, the overwhelming victory for kids and the Great Lakes in the House indicates that this bill can win in the Senate too with your help.   So, please send an e-mail today to your Senator and to Senate Health Policy Chairman Tom George asking them to pass this important bill!  Click here for more background on this important issue. Take Action NOW!  Thanks for your support!

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Healthy Michigan Healthy Kids Campaign

Lead, mercury, arsenic and other toxic chemicals simply don’t belong in kids’ products. But as the nearly 5 million children’s product recalls for lead in the first seven months of 2008 demonstrate, our national system for protecting children from toxic products has failed. It’s time for Michigan’s leaders to take action.

• Download the Healthy Michigan, Healthy Kids Platform at http://www.healthymichigan.net/documents/HMP_Signon_6.17.08.pdf (pdf).

• Download Toxic Chemicals, Healthy and Economy - A Guide For Candidates at http://www.healthymichigan.net/documents/safer-candguide_4.08-05.pdf (pdf).

The Healthy Michigan, Healthy Kids platform calls for Michigan to follow the lead of other states and countries by taking commonsense steps to protect Michigan’s children from toxic chemicals in children’s products by: eliminating added lead, mercury and arsenic; giving the public the right to know what other high-priority toxics are in kids’ products; and encouraging “Green Chemistry” and safer product development in Michigan.

Candidates running for the Michigan House of Representatives are responding enthusiastically and endorsing the Healthy Michigan, Healthy Kids platform. We need your help! Please encourage candidates running in your district to sign the Healthy Michigan, Healthy Kids platform. You can send candidates an online postcard right now. Visit http://www.healthymichigan.net/eaction.html to send a postcard to candidates in your district.

If you are a Michigan House candidate, and you haven’t already, we hope that you will show your support for protecting Michigan’s children by signing and returning this platform, and integrating its message throughout your campaign. It’s time to protect kids from toxic toys! If you have questions about Healthy Michigan, Healthy Kids please visit http://www.healthymichigan.net/.

University of Michigan Recalls Lead Tainted Bookmarks

http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-28/1214721646168820.xml&coll=2

It seemed like a fun way to promote goodwill for the University of Michigan at the Ann Arbor Mayor's Green Fair earlier this month: Hand out bookmarks made from recycled computer circuit boards. But the idea has now prompted a recall, complete with a reward, because the university has learned the circuit boards contain lead.

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Study: Pregnant Women Exposed to Household Pesticides May Increase the Risk of Their Children Developing Leukemia
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/newscience/2008/2008-0205rudantetal.html
Pregnant women exposed to household pesticides may increase the risk of their children developing leukemia, according to a recent study conducted in France. These findings add more weight to the idea that pesticides play a role in childhood blood cancers and may shed light on the actual causes of the diseases. In the study, parents of leukemia patients were more likely to have used pesticides and insecticides either at home or at work. Exposure to these chemicals is a risk factor for blood cancers, particularly if children are exposed in the womb, the authors' conclude.
 
Study: Baby Care Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/newscience/2008/2008-0204sathyanarayanaetal.html
Phthalate exposure is widespread in infants and use of baby care products appears to be contributing, according to an analysis of babies' urine. Greater use of lotions, powders and shampoos were associated with higher phthalate levels. The associations were strongest in younger infants. The scientists who conducted the study recommend that parents wanting to decrease phthalate exposures for their infants should reduce the use of baby products unless needed for medical purposes. The US does not require product labels to indicate phthalate content.

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Subscribe to "Toxic Times"

http://www.mnceh.org/toxictimes/news.php

"Toxic Times" is a weekly recap of the top stories on toxics from the Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health.

CHE Partnership Calls

http://www.healthandenvironment.org/news/calls

You can also listen to previous calls, download documentation and view call blogs at this website.

LDA of Michigan's Healthy Children Project Offering Conference Co-Sponsorships

http://www.ldaofmichigan.org/conf.cosponsorships.pdf

LDA would like to co-sponsor up to three (3) statewide conferences of 501(c)3 non-profit organizations which are dedicated to children’s health issues and family memberships. Those selected will receive $500 from the LDA HCP to help support their overall conference. To learn more, download the PDF information sheet and Microsoft Word application form.

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Call toll free at 888-597-7809 or 517-485-8160

Email us at jackie.igafoteo@ldaofmichigan.org

Write to us at 200 Museum Dr. Ste. 101, Lansing, Michigan 48933

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For more information on The Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan's Healthy Children Project visit http://www.ldaofmichigan.org/healthychild.htm.

 
For more information on The Healthy Children Project visit http://www.healthychildrenproject.org/index.html.

 
For more information on the Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative, coordinated by the Institute for Children’s Environmental Health visit http://www.iceh.org/LDDI.html. To join the the Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative (LDDI), please complete the form at http://www.iceh.org/LDDImembers.html.

 
For more information on The Beldon Fund visit http://www.beldon.org/.

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