Here is a bill that I think all parents need to support and be informed about.  The Kid-Safe Chemicals Act is trying to overhaul the nations chemical regulatory laws.  The Toxic Substances Control Act, first passed in 1976, has never been amended to date.  This act declared 62,000 chemicals “safe” with little or no data to support this policy.  Since that time another 20,000 chemicals have been put into commerce in the USA, also with little or no data to support their safety. 

The human race is now polluted with hundreds of industrial chemicals with little understanding of the consequences on our bodies.  Babies are born pre-polluted with as many as 300 chemicals already in their bodies when they enter the world!  Its no wonder that in recent years pollution and toxins have been linked to increasing Cancers, Autism, ADHD, Infertility, and Birth Defects just to name a few.  But even with mounting evidence of a link between toxins and diseases on the rise, our government has almost no authority to protect people from these chemicals on the market. 

Here are some things to think about regarding chemicals and our childrens health:

  • The USA has the highest cancer rates in the world.  One in every three women and one in every two men will develop cancer in their lifetime. 
  • One in six children have a developmental disorder.  The EWG found that 242 chemicals can be linked to brain and nervous system damage.  One in every 150 children is autistic.  One in 15 kids is diagnosed with ADHD.
  • Childhood asthma has doubled in past 20 years.  Auto-immune diseases occur in at least 5-8% of the population.  Type 1 diabetes in children is increasing 5% every year.
  • One in every 8 babies is premature.  EWG has identified 237 chemicals linked to birth defects.  One in 125 baby boys have reproductive deformities. 
  • Infertility is on the rise.  One in ten US couples is infertile.  Girls are entering puberty earlier than ever before.

The campaign to pass the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act will encompass the following items:

  • requires that industrial chemicals be safe for infants and children
  • requires that new chemicals be safety tested before sold
  • requires chemical manufacturers to test and prove that the 62,000 chemicals already on the market be tested for safety in order for them to remain in commerce
  • requires EPA to review chemicals that are found in people to be on an expedited schedule
  • requires monitoring and regular updates of health and safety data
  • provides incentives for manufacturers to further reduce health hazards
  • requires EPA to promote alternatives to animal testing
  • requires information be publicly available

What is not to love about this bill?  Through the kid-safe chemicals act we can give our children a safer and healthier future.  Thanks to the Environmental Working Group for pushing to pass this bill and all parents should sign the petition at the link below. 

To view Kid Safe House Bill 6100 http://www.ewg.org/files/Kid-Safe-HR6100.pdf

To view Kid Safe Senate Bill 3040  http://www.ewg.org/files/Kid-Safe-S3040.pdf

To send a letter to your congressman asking them to support this bill http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=24973

 

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