Record-Journal
11-08-2007, 10:42 PM
HARTFORD -- Though she’s health-conscious, Nancy Simcox wasn’t sure she wanted to know if there were toxic chemicals inside her body.
She found out that, indeed, there were, and said she was surprised and frustrated by the news.
“It bothers me,” said Simcox, a Middlefield resident. “I’m not scared, but it bothers me. I’m going to be a more active person about this, because it isn’t right.”
Simcox was one of five Connecticut mothers, and among 35 people in seven states, to participate in a project that tested for toxins found in everyday products.
Testing of blood and urine samples found that every participant had evidence of all three classes of the toxic chemicals, and at least seven of the 20 chemicals tested. The average was 14.
Connecticut participants also included state Sen. Toni N. Harp, D-New Haven.
“These chemicals do not belong in my body,” Simcox told a gathering at a media conference by the Coalition for a Safe & Healthy Connecticut at the Legislative Office Building Thursday morning.
“I’m not really surprised,” said Laura Anderson, a Wethersfield mother who also participated in the project.
“When I think of the potential effects I feel alarmed. There’s not really much I can do to get away from these chemicals.”
“It seems like we’re poisoning ourselves,” she said.
Results of the biomonitoring project, which tested participants last spring, come in the wake of renewed concern about toxins in consumer products, particularly lead in toys.
The classes of chemicals tested in the biomonitoring project are hardly everyday names.
Phthalates are found in toys, shower curtains and cosmetic products. Bisphenol A is used in plastic water bottles, baby bottles and the lining of metal food containers.
Polybrominated diphenol ethers are flame retardants in the plastic coverings of electronics, furniture and textiles.
The chemicals have been linked in animal studies and in some cases human studies to serious health problems, including diabetes, obesity, asthma, birth defects, cancer and learning disabilities.
The presence of these chemicals inside your body does not mean you will necessarily have health complications, but advocates say they want to reverse the burden of proof, by requiring industry to show the chemicals are safe before including them in products.
A representative for the cosmetics industry association said safety guidelines are already in place.
The Food and Drug Administration has the power to ensure safe products, said Kathleen Dezio, a spokeswoman for the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, an industry trade group.
“Some things you read today would lead people to believe that these products are put on the market without testing, and that’s not true,” she said. “Safety is something manufacturers take very seriously.”
But advocates say more stringent measures are needed.
“The false assumption is that these chemicals are safe until proven to cause harm,” said Shanna Swan, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Rochester.
Swan participated in a national conference call with reporters Thursday afternoon.
Swan said there are “at least 148 chemicals out there with evidence of harm. Obviously we can’t be testing for all of those.” There is also the complication and potential health risk of these chemicals working in combination within the body, she said.
“We’re saying that there are safer alternatives,” said Sarah Uhl, environmental health coordinator for Clean Water Action. “So let’s just ban everything that has a cost-effective safe alternative.”
The chemicals were not around before World War II, noted Dr. Mark Mitchell, president of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice.
The government has not been doing enough to protect consumers, he said.
“We’re very concerned that the federal policy is failing us,” he said.
“The federal government is shirking that obligation and, as in so many areas, states are filling the gap,” said Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut’s attorney general, during the morning news conference.
“We need better information for consumers so they can protect themselves,” he said.
“Our children are guinea pigs for this,” said state Rep. Roberta Willis, D-Cornwall.
“People need to make better choices based on information and right now the information is not available.”
She found out that, indeed, there were, and said she was surprised and frustrated by the news.
“It bothers me,” said Simcox, a Middlefield resident. “I’m not scared, but it bothers me. I’m going to be a more active person about this, because it isn’t right.”
Simcox was one of five Connecticut mothers, and among 35 people in seven states, to participate in a project that tested for toxins found in everyday products.
Testing of blood and urine samples found that every participant had evidence of all three classes of the toxic chemicals, and at least seven of the 20 chemicals tested. The average was 14.
Connecticut participants also included state Sen. Toni N. Harp, D-New Haven.
“These chemicals do not belong in my body,” Simcox told a gathering at a media conference by the Coalition for a Safe & Healthy Connecticut at the Legislative Office Building Thursday morning.
“I’m not really surprised,” said Laura Anderson, a Wethersfield mother who also participated in the project.
“When I think of the potential effects I feel alarmed. There’s not really much I can do to get away from these chemicals.”
“It seems like we’re poisoning ourselves,” she said.
Results of the biomonitoring project, which tested participants last spring, come in the wake of renewed concern about toxins in consumer products, particularly lead in toys.
The classes of chemicals tested in the biomonitoring project are hardly everyday names.
Phthalates are found in toys, shower curtains and cosmetic products. Bisphenol A is used in plastic water bottles, baby bottles and the lining of metal food containers.
Polybrominated diphenol ethers are flame retardants in the plastic coverings of electronics, furniture and textiles.
The chemicals have been linked in animal studies and in some cases human studies to serious health problems, including diabetes, obesity, asthma, birth defects, cancer and learning disabilities.
The presence of these chemicals inside your body does not mean you will necessarily have health complications, but advocates say they want to reverse the burden of proof, by requiring industry to show the chemicals are safe before including them in products.
A representative for the cosmetics industry association said safety guidelines are already in place.
The Food and Drug Administration has the power to ensure safe products, said Kathleen Dezio, a spokeswoman for the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, an industry trade group.
“Some things you read today would lead people to believe that these products are put on the market without testing, and that’s not true,” she said. “Safety is something manufacturers take very seriously.”
But advocates say more stringent measures are needed.
“The false assumption is that these chemicals are safe until proven to cause harm,” said Shanna Swan, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Rochester.
Swan participated in a national conference call with reporters Thursday afternoon.
Swan said there are “at least 148 chemicals out there with evidence of harm. Obviously we can’t be testing for all of those.” There is also the complication and potential health risk of these chemicals working in combination within the body, she said.
“We’re saying that there are safer alternatives,” said Sarah Uhl, environmental health coordinator for Clean Water Action. “So let’s just ban everything that has a cost-effective safe alternative.”
The chemicals were not around before World War II, noted Dr. Mark Mitchell, president of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice.
The government has not been doing enough to protect consumers, he said.
“We’re very concerned that the federal policy is failing us,” he said.
“The federal government is shirking that obligation and, as in so many areas, states are filling the gap,” said Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut’s attorney general, during the morning news conference.
“We need better information for consumers so they can protect themselves,” he said.
“Our children are guinea pigs for this,” said state Rep. Roberta Willis, D-Cornwall.
“People need to make better choices based on information and right now the information is not available.”