Will President Bush Sign Toxic Chemical Ban?
President Bush has been sent legislation from the United States Congress that would eliminate the use of six phthalates - toxic chemicals that are found in children's toys. Phthalates are chemicals that are added to vinyl plastic to make the vinyl plastic flexible. The vinyl plastic is then used in all kinds of children's products - toys, teething rings, pacifiers.
Children like to chew or suck on their toys and playthings and this can result in these phthalates being released from the vinyl plastic in the toy that they are playing with. Phthalates can account for up to thirty percent of the product. The motive behind the legislation is to protect children from health risks that range from deforming reproductive organs to kidney damage to a type of aggressive cancer called angiosarcoma.
This new legislation does not cover children's products such as clothing, car seats, or children's' furniture. It also does not cover other vinyl products such as shower curtains, siding and flooring.
If President Bush signs this bill three phthalates will be permanently banned from children's toys and three others will be banned until further safety testing is done.
Greenpeace International believes that Congress should take the lead in overhauling the chemical policy of the United States and come up with a chemical policy that removes these toxic chemicals from plastic products and require safer substitutes to be used.
