Researching Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products

A timely new study of chemical hazards in picnic products sold at top ten national retailers, found that hoses, folding chairs, and other beach and picnic equipment contain one or more hazardous chemicals and these chemicals are  linked to serious health problems.

The nonprofit Ecology Center tested 58 common outdoor picnic products for substances that have been linked to asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, reproductive problems, liver toxicity and cancer.

Products tested included tablecloths, placemats, picnic baskets, coolers, water toys, folding chairs and umbrellas that had been purchased from 8 of the top 10 national retailers: Lowes, Home Depot, Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart, Kroger and Costco.

Check out the results to see if any of your summer go-to products are on list at consumer website – www.HealthyStuff.org – which also includes prior research on toys, car seats, pet products, cars, women’s handbags, back-to-school products and children’s car seats.

You can contact these stores and let them know what you think about their toxic products at MindtheStore.

Highlights of Findings from HealthyStuff.org’s Picnic Study:

• Almost all (96%) products contained at least one or more chemicals of concern at detectable levels (40 ppm). One-third (36%) had three or more.
• 40% (23 of 58) contained PVC or chlorinated flame retardants (chlorine above 3,500 ppm) and 7% (4 of 58) contained brominated flame retardants (bromine above 400 ppm).
• Hazardous heavy metals were also found in picnic products; 31% (18 of 58) had levels of antimony above 100 ppm; 22% (13 of 58) had levels of tin above 100 ppm. Four products contained levels of lead above 100 ppm including a fabric tablecloth that contained 1/4 pound of lead weights (4 one ounce lead weights sewn into each corner).
• Four products contained one or more phthalates. A folding chair with a vinyl coating contained 17.1% by weight phthalates (16% DEHP and 1.1% DINP) and over 1,000 ppm antimony.

via HealthyStuff.org | Researching Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products.