DPH votes to ban BPA in baby bottles and cups...only
Posted on Dec 15, 2010Today the Public Health Council of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health voted unanimously to ban toxic BPA in baby bottles and cups, making Massachusetts the 8th state to do so. However, this measure is inadequate as it still leaves infants and toddlers vulnerable to exposure to the toxic BPA in infant formula and baby food packaging. It also does nothing to reduce exposure to pregnant women, problematic because a significant time for concern about BPA exposure is during fetal development.
Produced in quantities of about six billion pounds each year worldwide, BPA is one of the most widely used chemicals of all time. During the past decade, an explosion of research has explored the connections between BPA exposure particularly before birth and in early childhood and the health problems that are increasingly afflicting U.S. residents. In particular exposure to BPA before birth has been found in laboratory studies to predispose animals to cancer; alter brain development; and lead to early puberty in female animals. Male animals exposed in the womb produce less testosterone, have larger prostate glands, and make fewer sperm than unexposed animals. Studies have also shown a correlation between BPA and obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular problems.
Business opposition halts progress on Safer Alternatives Bill
Posted on Aug 2, 2010
At midnight on Saturday night, July 31st, the buzzer went off on the “formal session” part of the 2009-2010 legislative session in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, the Safer Alternatives Bill as not among the lineup of bills that were passed this time around.
Anyone who has been watching or reading the news in Massachusetts in recent weeks has heard about the stalemate in the legislature as the House, the Senate and the Governor debate casino gambling. It’s tempting to take the easy way out and grumble about how the casino bill held up everything else, and that’s definitely true for many bills, but for the Safer Alternatives Bill, that’s not really the whole story.
Victory: Toxics Use Reduction Program funded
Posted on May 28, 2010
Last night the Massachusetts State Senate voted in favor of an amendment to the State Budget to fund the Toxics Use Reduction Act Program - the last major step towards maintaining funding for this important program.
The Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) Program, has been a national leader in reducing the use and release of toxic chemicals. In it's 20+ years of existence, the TURA program has worked with Massachusetts companies to reduce 40% of their use and 80% of their release of toxic chemicals, all while saving million of dollars.
This year the funding for TURA was in jeopardy. In the Fiscal Year 2010 Massachusetts state budget, the funding for the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) (the backbone of the program, based at UMass Lowell) was eliminated and the Institute stayed afloat only through federal stimulus funds, not a long term solution.
Read more...Governor issues Environmental Purchasing Executive Order
Posted on Nov 10, 2009 Thanks to an executive order issued by Governor Deval Patrick on October 27th, from now on the Massachusetts state agencies will be using their purchasing power to purchase products and services that are less toxic and more environmentally sustainable. The executive order directs the executive branch office and agencies to "...reduce their impact on the environment and enhance public health by procuring Environmentally Preferable Products and services (EPPs) whenever such products and services are readily available, perform to satisfactory standards, and represent best value."
This is a long awaited victory for the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow. Since 2007 we have been pressing the governor for specific policy proposals to reduce toxic chemical use in Massachusetts, including in the area of state purchasing.
Read more...A good step towards protecting MA babies from BPA!
Posted on Aug 4, 2009 Yesterday the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued a warning to parents and prospective parents: keep the chemical BPA away from your children, and stay away from it if you're pregnant.
According to a DPH press release, "DPH is specifically advising parents and caretakers of children up to two years old to avoid the use of products that contain BPA for making or storing infant formula and breast milk. DPH is further advising pregnant and breastfeeding women to avoid products that may contain BPA."
AHT has been calling on the state to ban BPA in children's products since last summer. The Massachsuetts DPH has the legal authority to ban the the sale of toxic household products that are hazardous to children. I know that all of us in the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow and our citizen activists are glad that this warning has been issued, and we now we're eager for the next step (a ban!). Mia Davis of Clean Water Action articulated this sentiment in today's front page Boston Globe story:
Read more...Legislation to Reign in Toxic Chemical Use Passes in Senate
Posted on Jan 29, 2008Precedent-setting Safer Alternatives Bill Will Prevent Illnesses
Boston, MA - Today the Massachusetts Senate passed legislation that will safeguard public health by replacing toxic chemicals with safer alternatives. Supporters of An Act for a Healthy Massachusetts: Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals (The Safer Alternatives Bill) praised the Senate's action that takes the bill one step closer to becoming law. The bill would also help Massachusetts expand trade with foreign markets that have recently tightened toxic chemical standards such as the European Union.
Led by Senator Steven Tolman (D-Brighton) and Senator Pam Resor (D-Acton), efforts to move the bill forward in the Senate gained momentum in the wake of last year's product recalls over hazardous ingredients such as lead in children's toys and lipstick.
Read more...AHT Victory! Mercury Products Bill Signed into Law
Posted on Jul 31, 2006
Photo: Elizabeth Saunders, Clean Water Action (center) stands surrounded by AHT activists for a news conference before delivering “toxic tuna” to Senators’ offices.
Mercury Phase-out Mandated: Mercury Products Bill Signed Into Law!
A 5 year campaign of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow ended with victory on Friday, July 28th when Governor Mitt Romney signed legislation to curb mercury pollution in Massachusetts. The bill, An Act Relative to Mercury Management, is among the strongest of an increasing number of state laws across the country that will dramatically reduce emissions resulting from the use of mercury-containing products.
