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Toxics Use Reduction
In 2006, MPA went door-to-door to gain support for our campaign to eliminate sources of toxic chemicals from consumer products. Canvassers were armed with petitions asking candidates for the state legislature to support the idea that we should replace unnecessary toxic chemicals with safe, affordable alternatives.
We have had many wins for public health in our state, but we have yet to pass any legislation that addresses the fundamental problem of hundreds of products that contain hazardous, industrial chemicals. Most of these chemicals have never been tested, and it is believed that they may cause learning disabilities, cancer, and brain damage.
Products containing toxic chemicals include couches that contain toxic brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and cooking pans that contain toxic, non-stick coating. These dangerous chemicals result in exposures that increase the risk of disease, disability, or death. At the same time, over 127,000 Maine children and adults are identified with learning disabilities, and instances of health-related problems resulting from exposure to toxics has been on the rise.
Maine should pass comprehensive chemicals legislation that requires the replacement of unnecessary, toxic chemicals with safe, affordable alternatives, expands our right to know that the products being sold to us are safe, and holds corporations accountable by requiring them to show that all their chemicals are fully tested for health and safety hazards.
One of the most beneficial elements of our door-to-door efforts is that it enables us to give a clear and consistent message to Mainer’s across the state. To help us reach more of the general public and our elected officials, we incorporated a print ad (PDF file) and a radio ad (MP3 file) into our summer canvass campaign, making even more people aware of the issue of toxic chemicals in consumer products.
This is an election year and the makeup of the legislature in 2007 and 2008 will largely determine whether or not we can pass meaningful legislation addressing this issue. By showing public support for our environmental work we will be able to make sure that candidates for office know how Mainers feel about toxics in the products we buy.
MPA’s guiding principle is that average Mainers should have a voice in the political process, and through this summer’s work, we hope to expand our organization. Our membership exceeded 25,000 households last summer, and as it grows more we are able to draw on more active citizens to help win our campaigns.
Join us in the campaign for a cleaner, safer Maine
MPA members meet regularly to plan our environmental campaign. If you'd like to get involved, call Adam at 990-0672.
For more information
about toxic chemicals commonly found in consumer products, including sources of additional information, please read our Toxics Fact Sheet (PDF file)
Did you know...
The blood of American babies has been found to contain 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants, including pesticides, consumer product ingredients, and wastes from burning coal, gasoline, and garbage (source: Environmental Working Group)
Approximately 360,000 U.S. children suffer from
developmental problems caused by exposure to known toxic
substances (source: Learning Disabilities Association of America)
More than 90% of the chemicals produced in the U.S. have not been fully tested for public safety (source: U.S. General Accounting Office)