Healthy Legacy

Cute Baby Friday: February 24, 2012

Katie Rojas-Jahn — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:25:42 -0600

Valentine's Day at the capitol: A tale of two moms

Katie Rojas-Jahn — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:21:39 -0600

This past Valentine's Day, Healthy Legacy took to the state capitol with a group of parents, kids and concerned citizens to talk to legislators about supporting policies that will protect the health of Minnesota children from toxic chemicals.

Two of our participants chronicled their day at the capitol to share it with all of you. Take a look!

Meredith: mom-to-be and Advocate at The Arc Greater Twin Cities

Martha: mom and Resource Development Director for LDA Minnesota

Trying to explain to my 4-year-old what we were doing at the State Capitol on Valentine’s Day was a “parenting challenge.” ...explaining why there are harmful chemicals in the stuff we buy at stores blew his mind. “What?! How could that be?” was what his response would have been if he had found the words to match his incredulous expression. Read more from Martha

The perfect Valentine's Day

Katie Rojas-Jahn — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:12:54 -0600

By Meredith Salmi-Bydalek, The Arc Greater Twin Cities

Ingredients for a perfect Valentine’s Day: Flowers, chocolate…and a visit to the Minnesota State Capitol?! That’s right, folks, my V-Day included a trip to our Capitol building because I love Minnesota’s kids and want our fine state to implement policies to keep icky toxins out of their bodies.

At this year’s Healthy Legacy Day at the Capitol, concerned parents and citizens delivered heart-shaped Valentines to the state’s lawmakers asking them to support two pieces of legislation: One, removing formaldehyde from children’s products in Minnesota and two, requiring companies to report if their products include one of the Minnesota Department of Health’s nine priority chemicals.

As in years past, I attended as an advocate with The Arc Greater Twin Cities, a local advocacy organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The Arc Greater Twin Cities is a proud member of Healthy Legacy because we believe products should not contain chemicals that are proven developmental toxins. With disabilities like autism on the rise, it’s essential we take a hard look at all the chemicals we’re exposed to in everyday products.

However, this year I got to wear another proud hat as well: Expectant mom. Having a baby girl due in May has made it even clearer to me the need for chemical reform in our state and country. Despite my knowledge of what chemicals go into children’s products, I’ve found that many just cannot be avoided and it makes putting a nursery together a scary thing. What’s even more frightening, though, is that alternatives to toxic chemicals do exist, but manufacturers have not been pressed to use those safer alternatives. That’s where all of us come in. We must demand that our elected officials stick up for Minnesota’s kids and show them some love by passing laws that remove toxins from the products all of our kids use every day.

You can see more from our day at the capitol in this cute video!

Valentines, the state capitol and a "parenting challenge"

Katie Rojas-Jahn — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:57:19 -0600

By Martha Moriarty, LDA Minnesota

Trying to explain to my 4-year-old what we were doing at the State Capitol on Valentine’s Day was a “parenting challenge.” Firstly, trying to describe who and what state lawmakers are and why we lobby them probably flew right over his little head (he’s a smart kid, but do most adults get these concepts?). And secondly, explaining why there are harmful chemicals in the stuff we buy at stores blew his mind. “What?! How could that be?” was what his response would have been if he had found the words to match his incredulous expression.

As we walked into the Capitol building and appreciated the beauty of its vastness and decorative halls, my little guy acted just as any 4-year old would, he liked to hear his echo in the halls and run as fast as he could through the wide, open spaces. I, on the other hand, worried about the meeting with my legislator and making sure I was prepared to speak on the issues.

As a staff person at LDA Minnesota, I am concerned about the effects of toxins on all of our citizens, particularly the chemicals that affect brain development and can lead to learning disabilities and learning challenges. But closer to home, as a parent I worry about my child and his health. Will the formaldehyde in the shampoo I used on his head when he was a baby affect his health later in life? Am I purchasing a product that has toxins I am unaware of, that could affect his brain development? As any parent will tell you, I just want my child to grow up to be healthy and happy.

He certainly was happy during our Healthy Legacy Day at the Capitol. He sang his “planets” song for the media camera, wished our legislator “Happy Valentine’s Day,” and proudly passed out his Valentine’s to our lawmakers. He calmed my nerves when it was time to talk to our Representative by squeezing my hand extra tight upon our meeting. We had a fun day of lobbying and he asked me as we were leaving if we could come back and play again soon.

Catch a glimpse of Martha and her son in this cute video from our day at the capitol:

What's up with the FDA?

Katie Rojas-Jahn — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:37:10 -0600

Over the past several days, two big stories about toxics in products have come to light, and both involve the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). So you might find yourself asking "What is up with the FDA?"

Here's a brief summary of what's happened:

Lead in lipstick...still

In 2007, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics broke a story about most popular lipsticks containing
lead. The FDA did it's own testing and found that there were small amounts of lead (five parts per million [ppm] or less) in many brands.

Now the FDA has updated their tests and found that some brands (Maybelline and L’Oreal) now have more than five ppm. We know that lead is a neurotoxin--it's high time it stop showing up in our cosmetics! The FDA does not have a current limit set for the amount of lead in lipsticks, and we think it's time for that to change! In the meantime, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has started a campaign pushing L'Oreal to get the lead out--take action now!

Arsenic in infant formula and cereal bars

A new peer-reviewed study released yesterday found arsenic in infant formula and cereal bars. Perhaps more surprising to many consumers is that the two brands of organic formula that were tested contained levels of arsenic 20 times higher than the non-organic varieties. This is because the main ingredient in the formula is organic brown rice syrup, which is sometimes substituted for high fructose corn syrup (another problematic sweetener, found to contain mercury—yet another harmful chemical). Unfortunately, there are no current standards under the organic label that prohibit arsenic ending up in certified food.

Arsenic can be found in many foods. Some seafood, for example, has arsenic from the earth’s crust that makes its way up the food chain. But Infant formula contaminated with arsenic is a different kind of problem—a preventable problem. It has more to do with an industrial food system where ingredients are added to processed or manufactured foods with little government oversight, leaving consumers ignorant of the risks to their children and families.

For moms, it’s yet another reason to save money (and worry) by breastfeeding babies whenever possible. We know that breast milk is the best baby food to put her or him on the path to a healthy life. But for those who must use formula, try to avoid products that list organic brown rice syrup as a main ingredient (or any sweetener, for that matter).

IATP (a founding member of Healthy Legacy) tested chicken meat in 2006, uncovering the fact that it was contaminated with arsenic, that for 60 years has been needlessly added to poultry feed. This, too, is an avoidable problem. In 2010, we petitioned the FDA and asked that the allowable amount of arsenic in animal feed be reduced. It’s going on two years later, and we’ve received no response.

FDA Commissioner, Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg—a mom and physician herself—could do better. So could formula companies. Give them a call.

Cute Baby Friday

Katie Rojas-Jahn — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:01:20 -0600

This rad photo provided by Peter Kastler.

Kids fill the capitol with love on Valentine's Day

Katie Rojas-Jahn — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:28:51 -0600

Today, kids and parents galore arrive at the Minnesota State Capitol to ask their state representatives and senators to take a stand in protecting the health of our children. Participants wrote messages to their legislators on handmade valentines to educate them about getting toxic chemicals out of everyday products as part of Healthy Legacy’s second annual Valentine’s Day at the Capitol.

They colored with crayons, donned cute stickers and took to the halls of the state office and capitol buildings, armed with valentines and and smiles.

Why were we there?

Visiting legislators!

The problem of toxic chemicals in everyday products has dominated recent headlines. Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, continues to show up in consumer products, including some baby pajamas and personal care items like shampoo. In late 2011, testing of Johnson & Johnson “No More Tears” shampoo by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics showed that while the company sold a version in the U.S. containing a formaldehyde-releasing preservative, Quaternium-15, it sold a different formulation without the harmful chemical in several other countries. The company has since committed to phasing quaternium-15 out of their products, but the chemical is still present in many other brands.

Formaldehyde is also one of nine chemicals on the Priority Chemicals List released in 2011 by the Minnesota Department of Health. The chemicals on the list can be harmful to a child’s health and are in products that children are exposed to. The list is part of the work required of the Department of Health and the Pollution Control Agency through the Minnesota Toxic Free Kids Act of 2009. Healthy Legacy has also produced a Quick Tips to Avoiding Toxins guide that covers the Priority Chemicals list.

Act now!

Even if you couldn't join us at the capitol, it's not too late to take action! Send a letter to your state representative and senator now!

I'd like some Red 40 in my cereal, please!

Katie Rojas-Jahn — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:58:47 -0600

On the Healthy Legacy blog we often bring you news on harmful chemicals that show up in our everyday consumer products, but of course an extremely important exposure to chemicals comes through food.

Recently, Dr. David Wallinga of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy appeared on a local TV station to talk about synthetic food dyes and their links to adverse health effects.

Want to learn more about Food Dyes? Head on over to Healthy Food Action to register for a free webinar taking place on February 8th all about this topic.

Time to Rethink Flame Retardants

Katie Rojas-Jahn — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:05:13 -0600

By Meredith Salmi-Bydalek, The Arc Greater Twin Cities

Think all those children’s products in your house are safe? Think again. A new report released by the Washington Toxics Coalition and Safer States finds an alarming rate of toxic flame retardants are being used in children’s products sold in major retailers across the country. The groups tested 20 children’s products at Duke University containing polyurethane foam, which is often treated with flame retardants, including changing pads, car seats, and nursing pillows. Researchers found toxic flame retardants in 17 of the 20 products, and 16 of these products included chemicals from the “Tris” family.

The most common Tris flame retardant found in these products was chlorinated Tris, or TDCPP. Sound familiar? It was phased out of children’s pajamas in the 1970’s due to health concerns and has made an alarming comeback as a replacement flame retardant for penta-BDE (banned in MN and other states). Studies have shown it to mutate some cell lines, disrupt hormones, and cause harm to the nervous system. Yikes!

These toxic flame retardants are not chemically bound to the products they’re used in, meaning they end up in household air and dust. Any parent knows that children love to explore their surroundings by crawling on the floor and putting anything in their mouths. This means their chances of exposure to icky chemicals like chlorinated Tris are much higher.

Surprisingly, the only state with flammability standards is California. Other states do not have similar standards, nor require the use of flame retardants. The only exception is car seats which are monitored for flammability by federal standards. So what’s a parent or concerned citizen to do?

Alternatives do exist but are limited and take some work to find. Busy parents don’t have time to research each product before shopping to ensure it is safe. What we really need is reform of our current chemical laws to ensure that one toxic chemical isn’t replaced by another in children’s products and our kids are kept safe. The Safe Chemicals Act currently making its way through U.S. Congress will do just that: Phase out the most toxic, persistent chemicals used in everyday products.

Companies report use of toxic chemicals in products

Katie Rojas-Jahn — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:12:54 -0600

A new report out from the Environmental Health Strategy Center, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, and SAFER States shares information about the use of two chemicals, bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) in household products.

The information was obtained through reporting required on these chemicals under the 2008 Kids Safe Products Act.

Major findings:

280 plastic toys sold in Maine contained BPA, a hormone-disrupting chemical that is linked to several harmful health effects, including: breast and prostate cancer, early onset puberty, reproductive harm, diabetes and obesity.
NPEs were reported in 291 household paints and at least 69 other products, like cleaners, wood stains, and caulking. NPEs are also hormone disrupters and have been linked with reproductive damage.
Some companies may not be reporting as required under the Maine law. Several companies that manufacture baby food did not report BPA in food packaging, although the chemical continues to be used in the lids of baby food jars.
Safer alternatives are gaining traction. Three manufacturers of infant formula reported that they have phased out the use of BPA in the lining of metal cans containing formula.

Perhaps one of the most significant conclusions of the report is that state chemical policy is a proven and effective tool and has successfully begun to fill data gaps on the use of chemicals of concern in products.

But there is more to be done. This report also shows us once again that our federal system for regulating chemicals is badly broken. Is that something you want to change? You can take action now by sending a holiday card to congress!