April 13, 2007

Kris McNamara
Vice President
The Walt Disney Company
Corporate Environmental Policy
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-9758

Dear Mr. McNamara,

I am writing you today because I am seriously concerned with growing evidence that toxic chemicals in everyday products are contributing to serious illnesses in children. With this letter, I am asking Disney to develop a plan and timeframe to replace unnecessary toxic cleaning products with certified green cleaners, and to only use employees properly trained in green cleaning procedures.

Disney World parks, restaurants and twelve of the fifteen hotels are being cleaned with products that contain unnecessary and dangerous chemicals. Many chemicals in traditional cleaning products are known neurotoxins, cause asthma, reproductive system problems, respiratory problems, and cancer. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to chemical exposures, and can develop serious lifetime illnesses as a result.

Disney clearly understands the health risks of unnecessary toxic cleaning products because you already do not allow several of the most toxic chemicals to be used in Animal Kingdom, for fear of harming the animals. However, those same dangerous, unnecessary products are used where children sleep, bathe, eat and play when they come to your park.

Please transition the rest of Disney parks, hotels and restaurants to certified green cleaning products and develop a plan to train your staff in green cleaning procedures by the end of 2007. By doing so, you’ll protect the health of your visitors, as well as become an environmental and health leader in the tourism industry.

To successfully and thoroughly transition to Green Cleaning in your parks and hotels, Disney should:

A state law was passed last year in New York, switching government buildings and public schools to green cleaning products and procedures. In Massachusetts, New Jersey, and throughout the country, school districts have done the same. The next time I visit Disney, I hope to stay in a hotel and play in a park that is at least as safe and environmentally friendly as a child’s school.

To get you started on this path to becoming a true environmental health leader, here are five products that you’re using right now and a summary of their health effects:

Current Toxic Cleaning Product

Health Impact of Product Ingredients

Mikro-Bac II Laundry Detergent

Causes chemical burns and irreversible damage to the eyes and skin; headaches, dizziness, loss of coordination; continued use can result in cancer, damage to the nervous and reproductive systems, kidneys, lungs and blood. 

Oasis 257 Glass Cleaner

Irritates the eyes, nose and skin; can cause headaches and vomiting; allergic reactions; continued use may cause damage to blood, liver, kidneys, nervous and reproductive systems.

Quik Fill 910 Liquid Cleaner

Irritates the eyes, lungs, respiratory system and skin; may cause difficulty breathing; continued use may cause damage to lungs, kidneys, and nervous system.

Easy Glow Daily Floor Maintainer

Irritates the eyes and skin; can cause nausea, and vomiting; continued use can result in damage to the nervous and reproductive systems, kidneys, liver, lungs and blood; may cause physical birth defects.

Airspace Mt Valleys Aerosol Air Freshener

Irritates the nose, throat, eyes and lungs and can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea; continued use may damage the nervous and reproductive systems, liver and kidneys.

I trust that Disney will switch all of your parks and hotels to green cleaning products and procedures, and be a leader on this as you have been on other environmental issues. If Disney makes this commitment, CHEJ is willing to support your work to explore and phase in healthy and safe alternatives for toxic cleaning products to its best capabilities.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.  I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,