EPA Pushes Forward With Misguided Bush-Era Policies on Toxic Dioxin
Under pressure from a coalition of environmental groups headed by the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ), the EPA has promised an acceleration of the latest review of the comprehensive human health and exposure assessment for dioxin. CHEJ is concerned about loopholes in the EPA’s plans. “This plan is merely moving forward with the Bush agenda; not accelerating the release of the dioxin report,” said Lois Gibbs. Click here for the press release and community letters and statements to the EPA

Pressure Mounting on EPA and Obama to Release Dioxin Study
This week, dozens of doctors, nurses and scientists sent a letter to EPA Administrator Jackson and President Obama calling on the EPA to release their 20-year delayed study on Dioxin, one of the most toxic chemicals ever studied by EPA. Last week, dozens of environmental justice groups, Vietnam Vets, indigenous groups, health-affected organizations fighting breast cancer, learning disabilities, and birth defects also sent a letter outlining their concerns. Check out some of these quotes from these organizations impacted by Dioxin on why this issue matters to them and their constituents. In 2001 and 2002, dozens of Congressmembers led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi sent letters to EPA calling on the agency to release the study. Almost 10 years later, the study is still in draft form and the EPA now wants to delay the release until at least 2012. Enough is enough – release the study!

Betty the BE Safe Ducky – Making Headlines Coast to Coast
Betty the Be Safe Ducky is CHEJ’s inflatable 25-foot rubber ducky that’s been making headlines coast to coast in support of a PVC-free and toxic-free future. Betty was commissioned in 2006 by CHEJ to support our PVC Campaign and allied groups working to phase out PVC and phthalates in kids’ toys and other consumer products.Check out our new website on Betty featuring a map of the states Betty’s visited the past few years. You can check out photos, video, and articles all about Betty’s travels across the country.

Vinyl and Obesity – Is There a Connection?
Vinyl may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about obesity, but a new study has come out linking PVC chemicals with obesity. Researchers at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in NYC found that exposure to phthalates (used in vinyl plastics) may be linked with childhood obesity, according to results from a long-term health study on girls who live in East Harlem and surrounding communities. This isn’t the first study linking PVC chemicals with obesity -there’s been a few other studies that found a correlation between organotins (also used as PVC additives) and obesity.

Are there Phthalates in Your Beer?
A brand new study found that your beer may be contaminated with phthalates such as DEHP. Where are they coming from? The researchers stated ,“that the high content of DEHP incorporated in PVC gaskets could be a potential source.”

CHEJ in the news: Death Of A Toxin
Read about the ‘perfect storm’ that has led six of the largest manufacturers of baby bottles to stop using the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) which has been shown to cause developmental delays and other health problems. click here

PVC Flooring, Asthma and Autism – Is There A Connection?
A new study published in the scientific journal, Neurtoxicology, found a statistically significant correlation between autism spectrum disorder among children and PVC flooring, especially in the parent’s bedroom. The study also found, “PVC flooring to be one important source of airborne phthalates indoor, and that asthma and allergy prevalence are associated with phthalate concentrations in settled dust in the children's bedroom. Because these associations are among the few linking ASD with environmental variables, they warrant further and more extensive exploration.” The is the first study to link PVC flooring with autism spectrum disorder, and adds to a growing body of scientific evidence linking phthalates in PVC flooring with asthma and other respiratory problems in children and adults.

Brain Cancer Cluster Discovered Near Vinyl Manufacturer – Residents Fight Back
Residents living near a vinyl manufacturer have filed a major class action lawsuit arguing they were exposed to vinyl chloride and developed brain cancer. Fourteen residents of McCullom Lake Village, Illinois (population 1,000) have brain cancer. The incidence in the US population is 4 in 100,000. This is the largest brain cancer cluster identified in a non-occupational setting. The evidence in this case points to the vinyl chloride from a nearby factory that made vinyl food wrap. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), vinyl chloride is carcinogenic to humans and has been associated with brain cancer. Read all about it from the Healthy Building Network.

High BPA Levels Found in Hospitalized, Premature Infants – PVC Medical Devices the Source?
In a first-of-its kind study, premature babies hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units had levels of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in their urine 10 times higher than the general population. What’s worse -- the researchers concluded the source of exposure was most likely PVC medical devices used in the hospital. The researchers stated, "This study is also the first to demonstrate that increasing intensity of DEHP-containing PVC product use is proportional to exposure to BPA, as was reflected in significant elevations in urinaryconcentrations of BPA.” Some of the same researchers previously found PVC medical devices to expose premature babies to high levels of the toxic phthalate DEHP.