Detox Minnesota! // Not only are toxic chemicals polluting our environment, but they contribute to many chronic diseases in our population. There are 80,000 chemicals, mostly untested, used in manufacturing. Only 200 have been tested in the United States with five actually being banned. Thousands go unregulated by the government and pose dangerous health risks for the public including some of the most vulnerable, our children. In contrast, the European Union has banned almost 30,000 toxic chemicals. MPIRG has recently joined the Steering Committee of the Healthy Legacy Coalition to enact broad chemical policy reform at the state level. Similar efforts are underway in other states.
MPIRG is working to pass City Council bans of two of the very worst chemicals, bisphenol-A and phthalates, in children’s products in the cities of Minneapolis and Northfield and in Ramsey County. We will use these bans to build momentum for our efforts to pass a similar ban on the statewide level.
Last fall MPIRG students educated their campus communities about how to make healthier consumer choices, both in purchasing general household items and safely made cosmetics (see the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics link below). Educational forums for campus and community members were held in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and Northfield.
MPIRG’s canvass will be educating and organizing community members throughout the metro area from now through the 2008 legislative session.
In the News // Check out these stories on toxins in plastics.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press
Lead in Toys is Toxic, But is there anything else?
Minnesota Public Radio
How’s the Family Podcast
5 PM Newscast
How’s the Family Blog (three installments on toxic toys)
MinnPost
Business: Making a List and Checking it Twice, for toxic toys
Business: Another Worry, Vinyl PVC Plastic in Children’s Toys
Channel Five KSTP—Primetime News
Website helps you identify toxic toys
Get Involved! // Tell your legislator how you feel about toxins in consumer goods. See the Detox Minnesota! Fact Sheet below for ideas on what to say. Or for sample letters, email Peter Starzynski at peter@mpirg.org
Contacts
For more information contact MPIRG at info@MPIRG.org.
Links and Resources
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