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Are you passionate about helping CHANGE protect every Californian from toxic chemicals? If so, please consider writing and placing an Op Ed/Letter to the Editor in your local newspaper, magazine or alternative weekly.
To help you, you can download our fact-sheet on the subject: Download How to Write Op Eds and Letters to the Editor
Possible Op Ed/Letter to the Editor topics:
- Suggest DTSC, OEHHA and the governor implement strong regulations for AB 1879 and SB 509 that use CHANGE's principles
- Encourage the governor to sign SB 757 Read more...
California Senate Passes Ban on BPA
With a vote of 21-16, the California State Senate approved a ban on the use of a chemical in food and beverage containers that scientists say can harm childhood development.
Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical that was developed in the 1930s as a synthetic estrogen. It was soon supplanted by another estrogen, DES, but then someone discovered that it could be the building block of polycarbonate plastic. Companies started using it in baby bottles, water bottles, teething rings, food can linings, dental sealants, epoxy resins, CDs, eyeglass lenses, carbonless ink & many other things.
Read more...DTSC Postpones More Green Chemistry Initiative Workshops
Upset that you missed the the last Green Chemistry Initiative Workshop. The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is holding two more public workshops soliciting information from the community. These new workshops will be held at the DTSC regional office in Berkeley and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
These new meetings have the same time 10:00am-3:00pm, it’s just the location that changes. Meetings like these are an important place for those interested in the Green Chemistry Initiative, to voice their opinion. See the CHANGE Platform for Help with Talking Points.
Email CHANGE with any additional questions and let us know you'll be there.
Read more...
New Study Finds Phthalates in Pregnant Women Harms Babies
A new study by researchers in Taiwan reveals that phthalates in pregnant women can damage the reproductive development in their daughters. Phthalates are organic chemicals produced from oil and are the most commonly used plasticizers in the world. (Source: http://www.phthalates.com/ index.asp?page=4) Other studies have found that phthalates can also damage the liver, kidneys, and lungs. California became the first state in the nation to ban phthalates and other toxic substances in toys in October 2007.
AB 1108, authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2007, took effect January 1st 2009.
Read more...Upcoming Green Chemistry Initiative Workshops
Looking to get off the sideline and get more involved with the Green Chemistry Initiative? The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is holding public workshops soliciting information from the community. The workshops will be held at the DTSC regional offices.
All the meetings have the same time 10:00am-3:00pm, it’s just the location that changes. Meetings like these are an important place for those interested in the Green Chemistry Initiative, to voice their opinion. See the CHANGE Platform for Help with Talking Points.
Email CHANGE with any additional questions and let us know you'll be there.
Read more...California Needs More ‘Green Chemistry’ Action Heroes
Editor's Note: California's new "green chemistry" legislation will
set up online databases to inform consumers of dangerous products, but
won't take the products off the shelves. Ansje Miller, policy director
of the Center for Environmental Health and coordinator of Californians
for a Healthy and Green Economy (CHANGE) welcomes the initiatives but
has some reservations.
Marilyn Furer isn't a household name. Yet within weeks, this grandmother from Illinois did what our government seems unable to do: She got toxic baby products off store shelves.
Read more...
California Efforts to Ban Bisphenol A
Last year, CHANGE members, Breast Cancer Fund, Commonweal, and Environmental Working Group sponsored SB 1713, authored by Senator Carole Migden of San Francisco, to ban bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles, sippy cups, infant formula cans and baby food jars.
BPA, which is used to harden epoxy resin and polycarbonate plastics, has been recognized as a synthetic estrogen since the 1930s. In laboratory tests, trace BPA exposure been shown to disrupt the endocrine system and trigger a wide variety of disorders, including chromosomal and reproductive system abnormalities, impaired brain and neurological functions, cancer, cardiovascular system damage, adult-onset diabetes, early puberty and obesity.
Read more...