Join Healthy Legacy at the State Capitol on Valentine's Day, 2012!

Do you want toxic chemicals out of children’s toys, shampoo and other products? Join Healthy Legacy on Valentine’s Day at the Minnesota Capitol!

We will be talking to state lawmakers about how they can protect children’s health by supporting state policy that identifies toxic chemicals in children’s bubble bath, toys, and other products. Help us make this a day to remember by joining us on valentine's day and asking our state legislators to protect children's health by reducing exposure to toxic chemicals! RSVP now!

Is it in you? BPA and phthalates in food packaging: Reducing dietary exposure

Co-sponsored by: Healthy Food Action; Healthy Legacy; Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families

Speakers:

• Ruthann Rudel, MS: Lead author of the study and Director of Research, Silent Spring Institute. View Ruthann's slides.
• Connie Engel, Ph.D: Program Coordinator, Breast Cancer Fund. View Connie's slides.
• Lindsay Dahl: Deputy Director, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families. View Lindsay's slides.
• Facilitator: Kathleen Schuler, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, Healthy Legacy

Resources and Actions from the webinar:

• Learn more about the food packaging study
• Six simple steps to avoid BPA and Phthalates in food
• Top five tips for moms and moms-to-be
• Common chemicals may harm breast development
• Environmental health risks and your pregnancy
• Learn more about BPA
• Reduce Exposure to BPA: Kick the Can!
• Ask your senators to co-sponsor the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011

Webinar Description:

     A striking new peer-reviewed study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that eliminating canned and other prepackaged foods from a family’s diet over a three day period and replacing foods with fresh, organic meals, significantly reduced the levels of certain chemicals in the body. Concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) in urine dropped by an average of 66% and levels of the phthalate DEHP decreased over 50%. This webinar will explore the findings of this study and equip health professionals with information on how to reduce environmental exposures to BPA and DEHP.

Is it in you? The probability of these chemicals being detected in someone is 93% for BPA and around 75% for DEHP, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Most people have (BPA) and DEHP in their bodies. There is reason for concern because both are endocrine disrupters.  BPA has been associated with adverse effects on the developing brain, and mammary and prostate glands in laboratory studies, raising concerns about cancer and brain development in humans. DEHP, at common exposure levels, affects male reproductive development, steroid hormone levels, and sperm quality in human and laboratory studies. The public outcry over these chemicals has been steadily rising in recent years. Minnesota and several other states have passed laws to ban the use of BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups and federal law prohibits phthalates in children’s toys. However, exposures to these chemicals continues from epoxy resins containing BPA used to line food cans and plastic packaging with DEHP, as well as in many non-food-related consumer products.

Get Involved!

• Join Healthy Legacy! Read Healthy Legacy's Consensus Statement and request to become our newest coalition member organization (PDF) or individual supporter (PDF).
• Write a letter to your elected officials asking for immediate action on protecting public health from unnecessary toxic chemical exposures. See our Protective Policies page for specific pieces of legislation. Need help? Call us at 612.870.3407.
• Quick Tips for Protecting Your Health at Home

Tips on Submitting a Letter to the Editor

Letters to the editor are one of the most widely read sections of the newspaper. This is a great way to communicate with community members, including candidates and lawmakers, about important issues.

• Tip #1: Find a list of your local newspapers at Minnesota News Directory.
• Tip #2: Keep it short. Your letter should be 200 words or less.
• Tip #3: Personalize your letter. Share a personal story or a couple personal facts i.e. I want my one year old son protected from toxic chemicals.
• Tip #4: Keep it simple. Explain the problem, how it impacts you and your family and what the solution is.
• Tip #5: Include your contact information. Provide your name, city and phone number with your letter. This will be used by the paper to verify your identity.
• Tip #6: Submit your letter on line or by mail. Look under the Contact Us or Opinion section on your newspaper's web site for address info or to submit your letter directly.
• Tip #7: Let us know if your letter was printed. Letters are typically printed within one week of submission. Send a copy of your printed letter to Kim LaBo at klabo@cleanwater.org.