The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT)
A broad coalition in Massachusetts working to pass laws and policies that prevent harm to our health from toxic chemicals. Our top priorities are to create a groundbreaking program in Massachusetts to systematically replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives that are better for workers and the environment, and to compel the Massachusetts Department of Health to use its authority to protect the health of children and vulnerable adults from the toxic chemical bisphenol A. Please join the effort.
Legislative Priorities in 2015-2016
Posted on Jan 23, 2015As we kick off the 2015-2016 legislative session in Massachusetts, we have some new opportunities to make real progress towards protecting our health from toxic chemicals. Here are 5 bills that will move that goal forward:
- An Act relating to disclosure of toxic chemicals in consumer products
- An Act to protect children and families from harmful flame retardants
- An Act to require environmentally safe alternatives to harmful cleaning products
- An Act requiring disclosure of solvents used in dry cleaning
- An Act for healthy families and businesses
Please take a moment to write to your legislators and ask them to sponsor these bills!
Read more...New Study: Hidden Dangerous Chemicals in Halloween Costumes
Posted on Oct 23, 2014Kids shouldn't have to miss out on Halloween fun in order to protect their health.
An alarming new study has found hidden dangerous toxic chemicals in popular Halloween costumes and party supplies. The study was released by the Ecology Center’s HealthyStuff.org project, the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and Clean Water Action. The nonprofit Ecology Center tested 106 types of Halloween gear—purchased at national retailers such as CVS, Kroger, Party City, Target, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens—for substances linked to asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, reproductive problems, liver toxicity and cancer. Advocates and parents in Massachusetts expressed outrage and dismay about the findings and called for legislators and retailers to act to ensure that consumer products are made safely.
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Join us for a powerful film screening: Toxic Hot Seat
Posted on Oct 14, 2014Are the chemials in your couch toxic?
Toxic Hot Seat, an HBO documentary, brings to light the deadly consequences of well-intentioned safety regulations. CineSource Magazine describes Toxic Hot Seat as, “environmental filmmaking at its pinnacle-revealing, horrifying, infuriating, compelling, and hopeful.”
When: Friday, November 7, 2014 6:00pm-8:30pm
Where:The John D. O’Bryant African American Institute
Northeastern University
40 Leon Street, West Village
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
RSVP: Amanda Sebert 617-338-8131 x 202.
Panel discussion will follow the film. Light refreshments will be served.
Read more...Protect the men you love this Father's Day
Posted on Jun 11, 2014Let’s skip the cologne and after-shave this year, and give Dad the gift of health.
A recent European study tested 100 chemicals, a third of which were found to negatively affect male reproductive cells. In fact, these chemicals can obstruct sperm’s mobility and efficiency when searching for the female egg. Other chemicals were discovered to make the sperm cells less sensitive to female hormones, further hindering fertility. These findings are crucial as male fertility issues occur in almost 50% of cases involving couples finding it difficult to conceive.
Many of these same chemicals can increase a man’s risk of suffering from diseases like prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Read more...Proposed bill fails to protect public health
Posted on May 16, 2014This past February, U.S. Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), Chairman of the Environment and Economy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released a problematic draft bill titled the “Chemicals in Commerce Act”, which would replace the already limited toxic regulation currently existing under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
In late April, the subcommittee held a hearing of the revised bill, at which (not surprisingly) industry witnesses hailed it as making effective reforms, while advocates called it out for doing more damage than good in protecting public health.
As of late May, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to hold a bill mark-up session very soon.
This bill thinly disguises itself as a measure to protect public health, but in reality disregards years of work by scientists, environmental and health advocates, and state legislators to push for reform against the urgent toxic chemical crisis. “In essence, this draft bill has the potential to make a bad situation even worse”, reads a statement from the San Francisco-based Breast Cancer Fund.
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