News
A push on nationwide ban on toxic phthalates made
By Senator Duff's office
May 29, 2008 - 2:47:02 PM

Call for federal action to eliminate six substances from children’s toys

Norwalk - State Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) has lent his voice to a multi-state coalition of lawmakers who want the federal government to take a stand against toxic toys. In a letter sent ten days ago, Senator Duff and 87 other state lawmakers from coast to coast called for federal action to keep chemicals known as phthalates out of children’s toys.

The letter, initiated by Maryland State Delegate James W. Hubbard, calls on leaders in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to support an amendment offered by Senator Diane Feinstein (D-California) that will restrict the use of six toxic phthalates in children’s toys. The ban would be amended onto the reconciled version of the House/Senate Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act.

“The federal government has fallen down on the job in terms of protecting our country from dangerous products,” said Senator Duff. “In the absence of strong federal leadership on this issue, the onus has fallen on individual states to enact bans to keep these chemicals away from children. This amendment is a chance for Congress to make up for our country’s product safety shortfalls and to start taking the effects that these substances can have very seriously.”

Phthalates are chemicals added to hard plastics in order to increase their flexibility. Childhood exposure to certain phthalates has been linked to liver and reproductive damage and birth defects. The European Union has outlawed the use of several forms of phthalates in children’s toys. Several states, including Connecticut, have considered bans on phthalates; California and Washington State have already enacted bans.

This past year, Senator Duff advocated for the state-level ban on toxic substances in toys, which would have included the chemical bisphenol-A—a plastic hardener—as well as phthalates. He also hosted a toy testing event in conjunction with the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut at the Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk.

Other Connecticut lawmakers who signed on to the request include Senator Ed Meyer (D-Guilford) and Representatives Diana Urban (D-North Stonington), Kim Fawcett (D-Fairfield), Bryan Hurlburt (D-Tolland), David McCluskey (D-West Hartford) and Mary Mushinsky (D-Wallingford).

In total, 88 lawmakers from 28 states signed the letter. All lawmakers are members of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization created in 1996.

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