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.
Governor's budget funds Toxics Use Reduction Program
Posted on Jan 28, 2010Kudos to Governor Deval Patrick! In a step forward towards a victory for the public health and the environment, Patrick restored funding for the agencies involved in implementing the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) program in his proposed fiscal year 2011 budget issued yesterday.
Particularly important is that in Patrick’s budget, money from fees paid by companies that use toxic chemicals, would be spent on funding the program to help them use and release fewer toxic chemicals. That’s what the TURA law intended (though it’s not what’s been done in recent years), Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow has pushed for this, and it is exactly what the Governor has proposed to do.
The Health Care Costs of Toxic Chemical Exposure
Posted on Jan 21, 2010 What if we passed the Safer Alternatives Bill in Massachusetts or reformed the Federal Toxics Substances Control Act, how much healthier would we really be? And how much money would we save in health care costs? A new report by the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Campaign looks to answer just those questions.
The report authors gathered information from a variety of peer reviewed studies on the health effects of toxic chemicals which estimated that toxic chemicals cause a minimum of:
- 3% of developmental disabilities
- 5% of childhood cancer
- 10% of diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease and neurodevelopmental disorders
- 30% of childhood asthma
Read more...
FDA expresses "some concern" over BPA
Posted on Jan 15, 2010 Today the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an update to its position on BPA (bisphenol-A), the toxic chemical that we are exposed to through baby bottles, sippy cups, infant formula and food can linings and many other sources.
FDA states that there is "some concern" about the safety of BPA for humans, and that they will work with other agencies to conduct further research. In conjunction with the FDA announcement, the US Department of Health and Human Services posted tips for parents to minimize children's exposure (such as to dispose of scratched or worn baby bottles).
The agency was criticized by its own science review panel for its 2008 determination that products containing BPA were safe but the new announcement says, Read more...MA DEP Commissioner signs principles for toxics reform
Posted on Dec 2, 2009
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner, Laurie Burt, joined forces with officials from twelve other states today to dictate a set of eight guiding principles to be used for reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA -- a law from 1976 which provides the EPA with the authority to regulate toxic chemicals.
The Obama Administration and Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the EPA, recently acknowledged that a major overhaul of this decades-old law is imperative for public safety.
There is concern, however, about the way that the Administration is setting out to reform TSCA. Some advocates are concerned that the changes are proposed by EPA will results in endless government studies and gridlock, rather than action.
Read more...Join the Million Baby Crawl!
Posted on Nov 11, 2009 Seventh Generation, a company known for a focus on safe, non-toxic cleaning products, is sponsoring the Million Baby Crawl to to demand toxic chemical policy reform from Congress.
The Crawl consists of a virtual baby march. On the site, you can create a baby avatar to add to the march as fun way to show your support for a new law to protect us from health-harming chemicals.
Join us at the Crawl to Action:
Where: Burlington Mall - Kids Play Area, 75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA
When: Wednesday, November 18th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
What: Support toxic chemical policy reform, learn more about safe household products, enjoy family-friendly live entertainment and children's interactive activities, and receive free Seventh Generation products.
