 Download
the Healthy Michigan, Healthy Kids Platform (pdf).
Download Toxic Chemicals, Healthy
and Economy - A Guide For Candidates (pdf).
Are your kids’ toys safe?
Lead, mercury, arsenic and other toxic
chemicals simply don’t
belong in kids’ products. But as the over 5 million children’s
product recalls for lead in the first seven months of 2008 demonstrate,
our national system for protecting children from toxic products
has failed. It’s time for Michigan’s leaders
to take action.
We need your help!
Please encourage candidates running in your district to sign
the Healthy Michigan, Healthy Kids platform. You can send
candidates an online postcard right now. CLICK
HERE TO SEND A POSTCARD TO CANDIDATES IN YOUR DISTRICT.
If you are a Michigan House candidate, and
you haven’t already,
we hope that you will show your support for protecting Michigan’s
children by signing and returning this
platform, and integrating
its message throughout your campaign.
Healthy Michigan, Healthy Kids: A Commonsense First-Step
The Healthy
Michigan, Healthy Kids platform calls
for Michigan to follow the lead of other states and countries by
taking commonsense steps to protect Michigan’s children from
toxic chemicals in children’s products by: eliminating added
lead, mercury and arsenic; giving the public the right to know
what other high-priority toxics are in kids’ products; and
encouraging “Green Chemistry” and safer product development
in Michigan.
Candidates running for the Michigan House of Representatives are
responding enthusiastically and endorsing the Healthy
Michigan, Healthy Kids platform.
It’s time to protect kids from
toxic toys!
If you have questions about Healthy
Michigan, Healthy Kids please contact us.
Healthy Michigan, Healthy Kids
Eliminate Added Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Products
Support elimination of added* lead, mercury and arsenic in children’s products. Support measures to eliminate other important sources of childhood exposures – including lead in house paint, mercury in fish, and arsenic in water supplies.
Identify and Prioritize Chemicals of Concern
Require the state to create and regularly update a comprehensive list of chemicals known to cause cancer, reproductive or developmental harm, neurotoxicity, hormone disruption or which are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, based on published government lists and other existing sources of data. From this initial list, require the state to select and regularly update “chemicals of highest concern” based on their use in children’s products, presence in children, household dust, human breast milk or cord blood, or other specific relevance to the health of Michigan’s children.
Inform Consumers
Manufacturers of children’s products that contain “chemicals of highest concern” above a threshold level must publicly identify what products contain which chemicals and in what amounts. Manufacturers must publicly report whether Screening Information Data Set or equivalent information exists for all chemicals in their children’s products sold in Michigan.
Foster Cooperation and Planning
Authorize the state to participate in the proposed Interstate Clearinghouse for Safer Chemicals. Require state to develop chemical policy recommendations for other products to which children could be exposed.
Grow Michigan’s Green Economy
Create tax incentives, state assistance and partnerships for development and use of safer chemicals and products. Provide incentives for educational programs in Green Chemistry and safer chemical and product development. Require state government to procure safer products, including Michigan-grown bio-based products, to the maximum feasible extent.
* “Added” means a threshold of 40 parts per million, which represents a trace or background level of lead according to the American Academy of Pediatrics
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