Lead Bill In Dangerous Position In House

A bill that would protect children from lead in housing is currently before the House Human Services Committee and may be voted on as soon as tomorrow. While H.352 is a much needed next step, opposition from landlords may be leaving legislators in doubt. It is critical that an outspoken few not prevent us from protecting children from the dangers of lead.

Approximately 3,000 children in Vermont have dangerous levels of lead in their blood. Elevated blood lead levels can result in a variety of health problems and can damage the future development of children. As Vermont has some of the oldest housing stock in the nation, lead-based paint in housing is the primary source of lead poisoning in Vermont.

Our current law does not do enough to address this issue. We need a multi-pronged approach that is both practical and protective of our most vulnerable population. H.352 takes that approach by:

1) Further safeguarding the health of children in rental housing;
2) Expanding protections to children in owner-occupied housing as well as rental housing and;
3) Ensuring that all 1 and 2 year olds are screened for elevated blood lead levels.

Vermont is faced with a public health problem that we all must play a role in resolving. This means that landlords, homeowners, parents, the medical community, and the State of Vermont must all do our part to ensure that our children are safe and healthy.

You can let the members of the committee know that this bill is important to the children of Vermont by going here:
http://capwiz.com/vpirg/issues/alert/?alertid=10904081&type=CU

~Chairty

Holiday Help For Safe Toys

As the holiday shopping season is now upon us, parents are hitting the stores to find the perfect gifts for their young ones this winter. But before you whip out those wallets, there are some tips for toy safety that should be considered.

1) Choking is the most common cause of toy-related deaths. Parents and caregivers should avoid buying small toys or toys with small parts for children under 3 years old. If you have doubts about what “small” means, use the toilet paper roll test. If a toy fits into a cardboard toilet paper roll, than it can probably get lodged into your child’s throat.

2)Keep magnetic toys away from children under 6 years old. These magnets are not weak refrigerator magnets. These are powerful magnets that, if swallowed, can attract to each other in the body and can cause life-threatening complications. If your child swallows even one magnet, you should seek medical attention immediately.

3)Be cautious of potentially toxic toys. The recent recall of millions of lead-tainted toys has made the need for caution evident. If you’re worried that your child’s toy may contain lead, home lead test kits are available at hardware stores. It is your responsibility as the parent to make sure every toy that your child owns is safe. If you think a toy is dangerous throw it out! If you hear about a similar product to something you own being recalled get rid of the toy. Your child’s health is simply more important. You can find about recalled toys at www.cpsc.gov

4)Report dangerous toys to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you think a toy is hazardous, contact the CPSC and file a report. You can contact them at 1-800-638-2772 or at info@cpsc.gov.


To view our entire list of toy safety tips go to our Trouble in Toyland report or to our brochure on toy safety.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Exposed: Vermonter's Care about Toxins In Our Homes

Last night VPIRG hosted a panel discussion on our increased exposure to toxic chemicals and what Vermont can do to protect its residents. The panel included Mark Schapiro, author of Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What’s at Stake for American Power, Senator Ginny Lyons, and green business owner Amy Todisco.

Schapiro kicked off the event by a highlighting the major findings of his book. Among Schapiro’s biggest discoveries was the existence of two very different universes with regard to chemical regulations – the stringent standards of the European Union and the laissez-faire approach in the United States. As a result of these diverging paths, the U.S. has lost its foothold in setting international standards and has become the dumping ground for chemicals that other countries prohibit. Not exactly confidence inspiring for a Vermont crowd that was clearly concerned about our daily exposure to known and potential toxins.

But luckily Vermont-based legislative solutions to many of the issues discussed were named by Senator Lyons. This included a series of bills that VPIRG is working with Senator Lyons to advance including legislation to reduce Vermont’s exposure to lead, pesticides, mercury, and toxic flame retardants. In addition to legislative solutions, Amy Todisco offered suggestions and tips for reading between the lines and making wise purchases.

All in all, it was an informative and engaging discussion that makes me want to rethink those bottles on my bathroom shelf!

Product Recalls and a Warm Welcome

(Quick note from the editor: Say hello to our newest member Charity Carbine! This is her first blog post, of which I’m sure there will be many many more. Welcome to the team Charity!)

As my niece’s birthday quickly approaches, I will soon be trolling the aisles of the local toy store in search of the perfect present. My guidelines for this annual purchase are simple: will this gift establish my dominance as the best aunt ever and will it poke her eye out. If the respective answers are yes and no, the item is a keeper.

Unfortunately, given the recent and massive recalls of toys tainted with lead paint, my purchasing philosophy must now be drastically altered. In the latest recall of Chinese-manufactured goods, toy giant Mattel found that 1.5 million of its products – including those modeled after popular children’s characters Big Bird, Elmo, and Dora the Explorer – contained lead paint. Not the first of its kind, this oversight calls into question the effectiveness of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), showcasing its lack of resources and inconsistent rules on lead. The incident also crystallizes the necessity for more stringent protections at both the national and state levels.

In this day and age, caring for children is complicated enough. We worry about them crossing the street, playing at the park, and talking to strangers. We shouldn’t have to worry that the toys we buy them are poisonous.

To find out which toys have been recalled go here; to learn more about VPIRG’s environmental health program go here. You can also check out the 8 steps we can take to make our children’s products safer here!

Charity Carbine
Environmental Health Advocate

Mercury – What a Difference a Week Makes:

Hey Folks – Some major developments in mercury. First the original bill was split in half – dental mercury-amalgam is still H 121. But the thermostat portion of the bill has become a separate committee bill – and will get its own number soon. Second– We had to make some compromises on H 121, but we hope to strengthen the bill again in another committee.

So, where do we stand? H 121 was unanimously approved by the House Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources Committee – the committee members worked hard and heard a lot of testimony – please thank them when you have a chance. The compromise - H 121 now requires dentists to have patients sign a consent form before receiving each procedure involving dental mercury-amalgam. It no longer contains the “outright” ban on dental mercury-amalgam BUT - see what you think about the informed consent, which reads as follows: "Dental amalgam contains approximately 50% mercury, a highly toxic element with potential human risks. Such product should not be administered to a child under 6 years of age or younger, pregnant women, or lactating women.”

Wow! This is powerful language and a great first step. Even a lobbyist for the Vermont Dental Society stated in the paper today that the wording implied a ban. Interesting enough, the E.D. for the Dental Society said dentists are worried that the wording might “scare them [patients] away from using amalgam.”

You think? We wonder, why dentists are afraid to let their patients have fully informed consent. Could it be that patients might realize that mercury placed in their mouths will get into their blood stream? Could it be that patients might be upset that they were never told before that their amalgam dental fillings contained mercury? The American Dental Association states, on an obscure section of their website, that mercury vapor may be released from chewing and grinding your teeth. And the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) states on their website: “When amalgam fillings are placed in teeth or removed from teeth, they release mercury vapor. Mercury vapor is also released during chewing.”

Hmmm, yes, this might dissuade someone from using mercury-amalgam fillings.

So, next steps. The bill is now likely to go to the House Human Services Committee. The other bill, on thermostat recycling, was also approved by the committee and provides for a $5 cash incentive for contractors that bring in old thermostats that contain mercury. Since current rates of recycling old thermostats are very low, we anticipate that this new change will dramatically raise the rates of recycling, thus preventing more mercury from ending up in landfills which becomes mercury released into our environment. More updates soon. Hey – have fun at your Town Meeting Next Week!

Lead:
Quick note - the ban on lead in consumer products bill, S. 152, was just introduced yesterday by Senator Lyons. Here’s the link for the bill.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/intro/S-152.HTM
When it lands in a committee, we’ll let you know more.

More on Mercury!

First – thanks you to all of you who have sent emails or made calls to the House Fish and Wildlife Committee members and the Speaker of the House on mercury-amalgam dental fillings! (also known as H. 121) These legislators need our support and encouragement to move forward on this important bill, as they have been receiving many calls from special interest groups who want to kill this bill. (if you haven't called yet, click here to take action now)

The House Fish and Wildlife committee will be discussing H. 121 again this week, so far it looks like this will happen on Wednesday and Friday. In addition to the mercury-amalgam dental fillings, they will also be discussing the other half of the bill which deals with recycling of thermostats that contain mercury. This part of the bill would initially require a number of things, but a key component is a $5 cash incentive for contractors that return (for recycling) mercury-laden thermostats. Eventually a similar cash incentive would be extended to homeowners, but currently 70% of thermostat replacement is done by contractors, so the initial focus is on them. We fully support this half of the bill as well – and if you get a chance to talk to your legislators, please encourage them to support the entire bill.
Thanks all – more soon-Jakki.

What’s new with Mercury.

Well, it’s been a busy time with Mercury. The last few weeks in the legislature, the House Fish and Wildlife Committee has been taking testimony on mercury dental fillings – also known as amalgam fillings. In case you’re not familiar with amalgam dental fillings, they are often referred to as “silver” fillings. The common (and understandable, based on the name) confusion is that the fillings are predominately made of silver, the reality is that those metal dental fillings you probably have in your mouth are 50% mercury. I’ll list more information regarding health effects of mercury below – but for now back to the committee.

So, the short version of hours worth of testimony and committee discussions, is that the dentists testifying on behalf of the Vermont Dental Society all said mercury, excuse me, amalgam, in your mouth is safe, and what little that does vaporize in your mouth/body or that gets into the environment is hardly worth mentioning. Dentists on the other side (Mercury-Free dentists) have testified that they’ve stopped using mercury amalgam over 20 years ago for a variety of reasons: health of patients and staff, aesthetically more appealing alternatives, and environmental concerns. They’ve also said, why use mercury amalgam when there are safe alternatives available that are just as good, and often better for the long term life of a tooth, than mercury amalgam. Good question. So a straw poll of the committee that was held a week ago Thursday, by the Chair of the committee, Rep. Deen, found that in regards to the question “do we want more discussion on amalgam/do we support the amalgam bill” the responses from the 9 member committee were: 5 yes votes: McCullough of Williston, Martin (Cynthia) of Springfield, Randall of Troy, Courcelle of Rutland City, Zenie of Colchester, 1 absent: Adams of Hartland, 2 no votes: Shaw of Derby, Johnson of Canaan and then the Chair, Deen of Westminster, who wanted to send the portion of the bill that deals with mercury-amalgam back to the Advisory Committee on Mercury Pollution where he felt the mercury-free advocates and the pro-mercury-amalgam dentists should work on a compromise. Also to note, at least two committee members wanted to make the mercury-amalgam ban even stronger than the current legislation (which excludes back molars). So, based on the vote the committee will continue to examine this bill, H. 121 (Read the bill text here)

FYI – as I’d mentioned Mercury and its effects. Mercury is a potent neuro-toxin. It is especially dangerous for children and pregnant women (as exposure in pregnant women is passed onto the fetus). It can disrupt brain and body development, cause learning and behavioral disabilities, damage the kidneys, adversely affect memory, fertility, vision and hearing. Its effects are dramatically more severe in children as their bodies are rapidly developing and they absorb it at higher rates. There is also growing research linking mercury toxicity to a large number of diseases, including arthritis, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, learning disabilities and ADHD.
Also note a new bill has been introduced in the Senate
Stayed tuned for further updates.

Report From the Desk of Your Health Advocate: Jakki Flanagan

Environmental Health News: Update on Lead

Exciting update on lead – the latest is the new report from the Lead Task Force, Get the Lead Out of Vermont. This report is the result of extensive research conducted over the past year by various subcommittees of the Task Force. VPIRG was a member of the subcommittee that examined lead in consumer products. The Task Force was convened by the Attorney General and the Commissioner on Health.

Based on the task force's research, Vermont will now lead the nation by setting a significantly lower level of lead in the body to be considered lead poisoning. The previous standard was 10µg/dL (known as 10 micrograms per decileter) the new standard is now 5 µg/dL. What this means is that more children in Vermont will be identified as having levels of lead in their blood that are too high, and thus they will be referred for services.

Currently, even low levels of lead poisoning are known to cause behavioral disorders, lowered IQ, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, aggressive behavior, speech delay and hearing impairment, while high levels can cause severe mental disabilities, convulsions, coma or even death. The information from this report could help thousands of children in Vermont.

Dr. Lanphear, a national expert and leader on research investigating the affects of neurotoxins on children’s health, with a special emphasis on lead, spoke at the press conference in which the new report was released. Afterwards he made a presentation to Senate and House committees, in which he highlighted the fact that children - and adults - are adversely affected by lead in the body at levels which are much lower than was previously considered serious.

Dr. Lanphear also said he was very excited about the actions Vermont is taking on lead and that this new report, in particular the consumer products section, was the most comprehensive in the country.

VPIRG is currently working on legislation to phase-out or ban lead in a variety of children’s and consumer products. Get involved in these efforts by taking action with us today!

Welcome to the new VPIRG Blog!

We're proud to share with you the new VPIRG blog! A place to catch up on the ins and outs of our issues and actions, we will be posting several times a week to let you know what we're hearing, seeing and doing to protect the public interest, both in the State House as well as in communities across teh state. We welcome your feedback as we craft this new information resource for our members and friends.