Get The Lead Out!
Toxic lead has been added to many products made for children and even babies! Lead has been added to vinyl baby bibs, "rubber" ducks, bath books, car seats, lunch bags, and more! Recently the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow tested several of these toys with shocking results.
Even very low levels of lead can damage the developing brains of young children. And each lead exposure stays in a child's body and builds up.
Federal regulations, and recent national toy recalls only cover lead in paint.
 The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has proposed a regulation to ban the sale of toy jewelry with "dangerous levels of lead." Unfortunately, this is not enough! Infants and children suck on many items and frequently put their hands in their mouths and the toxic lead builds up in their bodies.
No children's product or toy should contain added lead. We need to tell the DPH to step in and ban the sale of all products intended to be used by children under 12 years of age.
Here's what you can do:
- Sign our online petition to the DPH and then ask everyone you know to sign it too.
- Testify at a public hearing (or just come to show support!)
The DPH is holding two hearings on their proposed regulation. Come and make your voice heard:
- Thursday, November, 15, 6-8 PM
Framingham State College, 100 State St, College Center, Rm 309
- Friday, November 16, 9-11 AM
DPH Public Health Council Room, 2nd floor, Washington St, Boston
If you can come, please contact tcarlson@cleanwater.org
- Write a letter of testimony to the DPH
You can submit written testimony to the DPH electronically, or bring it to the hearing.
Testimony is due by 5:00 PM November 23rd!
AHT has provided sample talking points (pdf, 20kb)
Submit testimony by email to Reg.Testimony@state.ma.us
Please submit electronic testimony as an attached Word document or as text within the body of an email. All submissions must include the sender's full name and address. The Department will post all electronic testimony that complies with these instructions on its website.
Please email a copy of your testimony to tcarlson@cleanwater.org
You may also mail testimony to:
LouAnn Stanton
Office of the General Counsel
Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02108
If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to contact us:
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