Making the Health Case for

Chemical Policy Reform

Read the report
Download our press release
Watch CTN video of press conference

On Thursday, January 21st, Coalition organizations gathered with lawmakers to release a compelling new report and announce 2010 state legislative goals related to reducing toxic chemicals.

HARTFORD – Evidence is strong and growing that chemical exposures contribute significantly to the rise in many chronic diseases, according to a new report synthesizing peer-reviewed science released today. “The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act ” finds that Americans would be healthier if exposure to toxic chemicals was reduced. As Congress debates the costs of health care and its reform, the report vividly illustrates the opportunity to prevent disease and reduce health care costs by overhauling state and federal chemical policies.

Steve Schrag plays Toxic Chemical Whac-A-Mole

“The Health Case” documents the enormous health care costs of treating cancer, learning and developmental disabilities, asthma and other diseases and conditions linked to chemical exposure, according to recent studies. The report shows that if a new health-based legislative framework to safely regulate chemicals yields even a 0.1 percent decrease in the incidence of chronic diseases—a very conservative estimate—direct medical savings in Connecticut would exceed $50 million each year. National savings would be at least $5 billion per year.

"There is a growing body of scientific evidence linking toxic chemicals to the development of childhood leukemia, learning disabilities, adverse pregnancy outcomes and reproductive disorders, and other health problems," said John Meyer, MD, MPH, Associate Professor in Occupational/Environmental Health at the University of Connecticut Health Center. "Prevention of these exposures should begin with strong chemical management policies that will ultimately reduce the use of toxins that can harm human health. We need to implement programs and policies that eliminate toxic exposures, so that we are not in the unfortunate position of having to cope with the damage done, which in many cases can't be reversed once the exposure has happened."

The primary federal law governing chemical safety is the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which has never been significantly amended since its adoption in 1976. While Congress has begun to hold hearings on updates to TSCA, the real action has been taking place at the state level.

“Much attention has focused on single-chemical phase-outs such as Connecticut’s landmark Bisphenol-A legislation of 2009, but states are increasingly pursuing more proactive approaches that can protect consumers from more than one chemical at a time,” said Sarah Uhl of Clean Water Action. “By following the lead of California, Maine, and Washington, we can model what needs to be done federally and protect the health of Connecticut residents at the same time.

The co-chair of the legislature’s Environment Committee agreed with advocates’ assessment. “Connecticut can lead the way toward more health-protective laws by modeling the changes we hope will someday be adopted federally,” said State Representative Richard Roy, D-Milford.

State Representatives Betsy Ritter, Richard Roy, Linda Gentile, Diana Urban, Beth Bye, Lonnie Reed, Russell Morin and others announcing 2010 legislative priorities for the new session.

Over the last 30 years, tens of thousands of peer reviewed studies have built a large body of evidence demonstrating that chemical exposure can cause and contribute to some of our nation’s most serious health problems — from childhood cancer to infertility.

Leukemia and other childhood cancers have increased by more than 20 percent since 1975. A woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is now one in eight, up from one in ten in 1973. Infertility affected 40 percent more women in 2002 than in 1982. The once-rare birth defect of undescended testicles in baby boys increased 200% between 1970 and 1993. Since the early 1990s, reported cases of autism spectrum disorder have increased tenfold.

“The secondary costs of not addressing the chemicals of concern are huge,” said State Representative Diana Urban, D-North Stonington, who has over two decades of experience as an economics and political science professor. “The $56 million just scratches the surface.”

Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut 2010 Legislative Priorities:

An Act Concerning Child Safe Products

* Clarify the process by which state government identifies toxins in children’s products
* Create a timeline for phasing these chemicals out of children’s products when alternatives exist

An Act Promoting Safe Workplaces and Clean Technologies

* The bill would establish the board of directors and mission of a Chemical Innovations Institute. Once adequate federal and/or private dollars were raised, the Institute would provide in-state businesses with new information about chemicals of concern, safer alternatives, and emerging chemicals regulations. It could also assist state agencies with chemicals management. The Institute would help businesses comply with new chemical regulations, thus saving and potentially attracting new, green jobs to the state.

The full report, additional quotes and state-based economic information is available at www.saferchemicals.org

The Coalition for a Safe & Healthy CT is a growing alliance of over 50 organizations—health, labor, scientific, environmental, faith and community groups—working to prevent harm to human health and the environment from toxic chemicals. http://www.safehealthyct.org

2009 Coalition Annual Gathering Honors Lawmakers, Citizen Leaders, and Key Partners

Download the Event Program
On November 12th, the Coalition recognized two State Senators and two State Representatives as 2009 Legislative Champions. The following legislators strongly supported both the Bisphenol-A phase-out for food and beverage containers and the green cleaning requirement for schools. Without their perseverance and sincere passion for making our state a healthier place, these bills would not have become law.

State Senator Ed Meyer, Co-chair of the Environment Committee (D, Branford)
State Senator John McKinney, Senate Republican Leader (R, Fairfield)
State Representative Andrew Fleischmann, Co-chair of the Education Committee (D, West Hartford)
State Representative Lonnie Reed (D, Branford)

The Coalition also recognized the invaluable contributions of two Coalition member groups.
Planned Parenthood of Connecticut received the New Partner Award for providing strong grassroots support for the phase out of Bisphenol-A, and the Connecticut Foundation for Environmentally Safe Schools received the Volunteer Group of the Year Award for coordinating efforts to pass the green clean for schools bill.

We also honored six leading volunteers from a diverse set of constituencies in the Coalition. These individuals strongly supported the Coalition's education, outreach, advocacy, and media campaigns this past year.

Khadija Abdul-Salaam (CT Coalition for Environmental Justice)
Jim Vigue (CT Employees Union Independent)
Polly T. Barey, RN, MS (CT Nurses' Association)
Dr. Gary Ginsberg, PhD (CT Public Health Association)
Steve Hillyer (CT Coalition for Environmental Justice)
Steve Schrag (CT Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health)

Click here to view photos from the event.

**In 2009, we successfully supported two new landmark state policies!**

HB 6572 - Phasing out BPA from Food Products and Children’s Products

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high production volume chemical used to make epoxy resins that coat the inside of food cans, and polycarbonate plastic products, including some kinds of baby bottles and food storage and heating containers. BPA is an endocrine disruptor that has been linked to a number of health impacts at low doses, including insulin resistance, gene changes, metabolic syndrome, altered brain development and sexual behavior, and prostate cancer. Safer solutions exist, and many companies have pledged to stop using BPA in the products they manufacture and sell. Canada recently announced plans to ban BPA in baby bottles. Click here to learn which legislators co-sponsored this bill.
--signed by Gov. Rell June 3, 2009!

HB 6496 - Green Cleaning in Schools

In 2007, Connecticut passed Public Act 100, requiring all state-owned buildings to use certified green cleaning products, and now the Coalition has successfully supported legislation that extends this requirement to include all public schools in the state! Click here to learn which legislators co-sponsored this bill.
--signed by Gov. Rell June 2, 2009!

Safer Alternatives Bill Priority for 2010 Session

States need to lead the way toward comprehensive solutions that move us away from a “one chemical at a time” approach. The legislation would prioritize hazardous substances for phase-out when safer alternatives are available, and provide technical assistance to companies seeking to transition to safer alternatives.

Other related legislation that the Coalition plans to support

PBDE Phase Out

PBDEs are chemical flame retardants found in everyday items like furniture, televisions, and computers. These chemicals have been associated with health and developmental effects including impaired memory, learning disorders, and behavior changes. Safer alternatives can be used, and Maine, Washington, Vermont, and Oregon have all passed laws to phase out deca PBDE from a variety of consumer products in which it is will used. Click here to learn which legislators co-sponsored this legislation in 2009.

--Died in the Public Safety & Security Committee in 2009

In 2008 we helped introduce the following bills into the legislative process with the Connecticut General Assembly:

Sarah Uhl (Clean Water Action) and Phil Sherwood (CT Citizen Action Group) speak with State Representative David McCluskey (D, West Hartford) at a toy testing event held by the Coalition at the Legislative Office Building (Feb. 2008).

H.B. No. 5650 -An Act Concerning Safe Child Product Safety: Phases out lead and asbestos from children's products and requires our state agencies to develop a list of hazardous substances in children's products and safer altneratives. The bill also enables Connecticut to be part of a multi-state clearinghouse on toxic chemicals. Lead sponsor: House Speaker James Amann ---PASSED!

H.B. 5601– An Act Banning Children's Products Containing Lead, Phthalates, and Bisphenol A: Phases out lead, phthalates, and bisphenol A from products. Lead Sponsor: Environment Committee Co-Chair, Representative Richard Roy (D, Milford). View the full list of co-sponsors at the end of this page ---DID NOT PASS

Pictured above: Senator Don Williams, President Pro Tempore, addressing the Coalition

H.B. 5805- An Act Concerning Toxic Substances: Phases out toxic brominated flame retardants (PBDEs) from consumer products, and bans alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs). ---DID NOT PASS

H.B. 5145 An Act Concerning Environmental Justice Communities and the Storage of Asbestos-Containing Materials: Recognizes distressed municipalities and low income neighborhoods and environmental justice communities, and requires enhanced public outreach and ability to negotiate for environmental benefits to offset some of the proposed environmental hazards. Lead sponsors: The CT Coalition for Environmental Justice and Representative Hennessey (D, Bridgeport) lead the campaign, with dozens of legislators co-sponsoring the bill. ---PASSED!

Municipal Resolutions

Every day Connecticut citizens are exposed to toxins that can damage their health. Toxic cleaning chemicals and lawn pesticides have attracted the attention of coalition members because of the significant harm to health - especially children's health. Children exposed to home and garden pesticides are more likely to get sick with leukemia. Toxic cleaning chemicals can trigger asthma and some are linked with infertility.

To protect our children and our health, please join us in asking your municipality and your schools to pass resolutions that would replace toxic pesticides and cleaning chemicals with safer alternatives. For more information, contact Sarah Uhl: suhl@cleanwater.org, 860-232-6232.

Several Connecticut towns have already initiated the transition to safer alternatives in their schools, municipal buildings, parks and/or playing fields. Essex, Cheshire, Berlin, Portland, Waterbury, Middlefield, Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport are showing that we can take care of buildings and grounds without threatening our health, our children's development, and the environment.

Governor M. Jodi Rell helped encourage a statewide transition to safer alternatives by issuing Executive Order #14, recently signed into law as Public Act 07-100. This policy requires that all state agencies buy and use cleaning and/or sanitizing products that meet criteria for low toxicity, when practicable, but schools and municipal buildings are not covered.

Learn more by reading our packet of materials designed to help you ask your town and school administrators to pass a resolution or formally approve a policy of using only safer cleaning and safer lawn care products! If you have questions or need additional information, contact Sarah Uhl at suhl@cleanwater.org, 860-232-6232.

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

The Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut is a leading member of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of women’s, public health, labor, environmental health and consumer rights groups. The Campaign’s goal is to protect the health of consumers and workers by requiring the health and beauty industry to replace chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other health problems with safer alternatives. We know that this is do-able: The new European Union standards prohibit the use of known or suspected carcinogens, mutagens and reproductive toxins in cosmetics.

We are asking personal care product companies to sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics , a pledge to remove toxic chemicals and replace them with safer alternatives in every market they serve. The good news: so far, over 600 companies have signed this voluntary commitment to modern safety standards. These innovators, including some of the largest companies in the natural products market, are making safer products today and striving to make even safer products in the future. These Connecticut companies have signed on to the compact:

The bad news: none of the cosmetic industry giants have taken this step, and – even worse – many of these companies are actively opposing proposed policies at the state and national level to upgrade safety standards in this country.

Bottom line: we need YOUR help to convince Avon, Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Procter & Gamble, Revlon and other personal care companies to sign the Compact.

Please join us in our efforts to give the cosmetics industry a makeover! For more information and to take action, visit: http://www.safecosmetics.org