Making Our Milk Safe : Index

Fire retardants vs. dangerous chemicals

A California lawmaker is back with a bill that targets substances used to make furniture resistant to fire.

Last year, Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) sponsored a bill banning two types of toxic chemicals used as fire retardants in foam padding in furniture. These chlorinated and brominated chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects and reproductive disorders; they migrate from furniture to dust particles, are breathed in by children and pets, and are found in the breast milk of nursing mothers. That bill, however, never reached Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk, falling victim to election-year squabbling.

Now Leno is trying again. This year's bill, AB 706, doesn't ban brominated and chlorinated fire retardants outright, which this page supported. Instead of wielding a legislative sledgehammer, Leno has chosen a microscope -- proposing a process of chemical scrutiny rather than prohibition. The revised bill would make the state responsible for analyzing the toxicity of all chemicals used in products sold in California and ranking them in terms of greatest concern. And the chemicals of most concern to Leno still come in for special treatment. The bill directs the California Department of Toxic Substances Control to start its analysis with chlorinated and brominated fire retardants -- and gives the department discretion to prohibit the use of specific chemicals.

The bill also updates the 30-year-old regulation that created the need for fire retardants in foam. California has the most stringent fire safety standards in the world, among them a requirement that foam padding in furniture be able to resist an open flame for 12 seconds. But fires do not spontaneously ignite inside sofas; they start with the fabric. And 90% of the time, that's because a smoker forgot to put out a cigarette. AB 706 changes California's "flame-to-foam" standard to a cigarette-resistance standard similar to one recently enacted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The federal law will take effect in 2010, but California doesn't have to wait to change its law before it becomes obsolete.

Fire-related deaths in this country have decreased over the years, but that mostly has to do with the reduction in smoking, fire-retardant cigarettes and better alarm and sprinkler systems. California is the only state with a flame-to-foam standard, and although our fire mortality rates are low, other states, with no such standards, have even lower rates. Leno's bill made sense before, and the revisions have made it better. We hope it lands on the governor's desk and leaves it with his signature.

Bush signs bill banning lead from children's toys

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush on Thursday signed consumer-safety legislation that bans lead from children's toys, imposing the toughest standard in the world.

The new law prohibits lead, beyond minute levels, in products for children 12 or younger. Lead paint was a major factor in the recall of 45 million toys and children's items last year, many from China.

Both houses of Congress approved the bill by overwhelming margins two weeks ago.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates there are about 28,000 deaths each year linked to unsafe products, including toys, in the United States. More than 33 million people were injured last year by consumer products.

The bill also bans a chemical called phthalates that is widely used to make plastic products softer and more flexible.

And the legislation bolsters the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which took the brunt of criticism last year over the massive recalls and the government's failure to monitor toy imports before they reach store shelves.

The bill would double the agency's budget, to $136 million by 2014, and give it new authority to oversee testing procedures and to penalize violators.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the measure will give the regulating agencies the money they need to enforce the law. ''This has become an increasingly difficult and complex job as more imports from more nations are now sold in the United States than ever before,'' he said.

Breastfed children have higher IQs, say scientists

FOR years, health workers have argued breast is best and claimed that breastfeeding your child can help guard against childhood diseases and allergies. But in the largest breastfeeding trial ever undertaken, a Canadian scientist claims to have found conclusive proof that breastfeeding your child can also lead to a higher IQ.

New Onesies Available!

If you're looking for the perfect baby shower gift, search no more!

Our new onesies are now available in the MOMS store! These cuties feature a cartoon baby face with tagline "Don't mess with my milk!" in purple on the front, with MOMS logo in black on the back. These gender-neutral sage green onesies are made by Hae Now with 100 % organic cotton using non-toxic dyes and a certified sustainable process. Available in the MOMS store now for just $16.