wfn.org | NCC asks: remove toxic toys from shelves

[Philip Jenks <pjenks@ncccusa.org>]

>Take toxic toys off the shelves,
>National Council of Churches asks

Washington, December 18, 2008  --   In a statement issued today, the Nation al Council of Churches urged the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC)  to enforce new legislation banning the use of phthalates in products made  for children.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act takes effect February 10, but t he CPSC has announced it will allow retailers to sell toys containing the b anned phthalates past that date.  

 

"As Christians, we work to care for the 'least of these, especially childre n," said Cassandra Carmichael, National Council of Churches eco-justice pro gram director. "Protecting children, who are disproportionately harmed, fro m toxic substances is an important ministry of the church."

Cancer, early puberty in girls, defects in the reproductive tract of male i nfants, obesity, and learning disabilities have all been tentatively linked  to phthalates.  The American Chemical Council is dismissive of concerns ab out the safety of plastics, insisting that there is not adequate evidence t o link plastics to detrimental health effects. 

In support of the Council's urging, dozens of letters to the editor have be en submitted from people of faith around the country.    

Information about the Council's environmental health program and the "Chris tian Principles for a Healthy Body and Spirit can be found online at www.nc cecojustice.org

Carmichael's letter to Acting Chair Nancy A. Nord of the Consumer Products  Safety Commission follows:

>U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
>4330 East West Highway
>Bethesda, MD 20814

>December 18, 2008

>Dear Nancy A. Nord,

In this season of Advent, we, as Christians, stand with hope and great expe ctations as we commemorate the birth of Christ. As many children wait eager ly to celebrate this holiday season, parents will have to work extra hard t o know what children's holiday products are safe. We are thankful that the  Congress and President Bush recognized the importance of protecting childre n and future generations by passing the Consumer Product Safety Improvement  Act (CPSIA). This legislation gives the Consumer Product Safety Commission  (CPSC) mandate to set strong limits on lead and establish a precautionary  ban on six classes of phthalates in children's products. Unfortunately, the  CPSC has chosen to interpret this legislation in a way that weakens the ve ry intention of this law by leaving children's products with phthalates on  the shelves even after the legislation goes into effect. The CPSC's current  interpretation of the bill will leave the most vulnerable members of our s ociety - our precious children - at risk.

As Christians, we hear a moral call to care for the "least of these" and fo r future generations. We are also called to treat our bodies as holy temple s and therefore be mindful of what we put into them. Last spring we, along  with our partner organizations in state councils of churches and interfaith  organizations, created "Christian Principles for a Healthy Body and Spirit " to express our Christian concern for toxic chemicals that jeopardize the  health of God's Creation and vulnerable populations such as children and pr egnant women. There is scientific evidence that links phthalates exposure w ith damage to children's reproductive development and other conditions, suc h as cancer, later in life. This threat to children undermines the very Chr istian principles that we set forth.

We call upon the Consumer Product Safety Commission to enforce the original  intent of this bill to remove children's products with phthalates from sto re shelves by February 10. Sincerely, Cassandra Carmichael
Director, Eco-Justice Program Office
National Council of Churches USA

NCC News contact: Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228, pjenks@ncccusa.org