Keeping Toys Safe For Kids
Great post earlier this week over at Green-Talk.
Obviously, the recalled toys stories were all over the news last year. Spurred in part by this, HealthyToys.org recently tested and created a database of the safety of 1200 toys.
Since then, there has been over 7000 nominations for toys to be reviewed.
But, just addressing and documenting the affected toys is not sufficient. One big issue is that the last government act (the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA) to address chemicals and their application in products like kid’s toys was passed in 1976.
The purpose of the TSCA was to regulate the introduction of new or already existing chemicals. As a side note, it grandfathered most existing chemicals. Time to update!
But there is a way to help. You can sign an online petition to request a change.
From the HealthyToys.org site:
HealthyToys.org is asking for government oversight hearings on reforming the U.S. products regulatory system. You can help by signing our petition to overhaul the nation’s 30 year old chemical law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). HealthyToys.org will be delivering these petition signatures to key federal representatives in March. Now is the time to sign on to this important petition.
So sign this petition to voice your concern. Let’s keep lead, chlorine (PVC), cadmium and other toxic elements out of toys!
Thanks for posting my article. The more bloggers who put this petition on their website the better! Anna http://www.green-talk.com
[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]
There’s a great summary in the Nov 24, 2007 edition of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal on the whole mess.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=689731
[clever segue]
A few of us who live in the city of Chicago are trying to grow heirloom vegetables on our rooftops in cheap homemade earthboxes. It sounds more than a little preposterous to suggest that what we’re doing is a real solution, but it might be a tiny piece. We think they’re a great way to build connections in a fragmented social/political landscape.
Not selling anything, I’m giving “it” away.
Here’s the Flickr link, along side the pics is a little how-to guide with plenty of links.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7458996@N06/sets/72157603652656573/