Credits
This KQED series on consumer product chemical regulation is a co-production of
Health Dialogues
and
The California Report
Join the Dialogue
Regulating Chemicals
Do we do enough in the U.S. to regulate chemicals in consumer products? The European Union will soon enforce legislation that will require chemical companies to scientifically prove that all of their products are safe. Should the U.S. do the same?
On Health Dialogues
Holiday Health: Chemicals in Our Gifts
It's holiday gift-giving time. Remember all those toy recalls? Join Health Dialogues as we navigate the murky waters of healthy gift giving this holiday season.
About Health Dialogues
Health Dialogues is a special series from KQED's "The California Report" that facilitates an ongoing discussion of California health care issues that are important to the underserved: children, low-income residents, minorities, and people with disabilities to name just a few.
Underwritten by a grant from
The California Endowment
Partner Station Coverage
Health coverage from our Health Dialogues partner stations across California.
Also From California Report
Examining how California is responding to climate change.
An inside look into the people and politics of state government.
Chemicals at Home:
Searching for Safe Alternatives
In January 2009, California will become the first state in the nation to ban certain chemicals called phthalates. Commonly found in children's toys and other soft plastics, phthalates have been linked to abnormal reproductive tracts, sperm damage and reduced testosterone in animal tests, as well as some human studies. A similar federal law banning phthalates will take effect nationwide in February 2009.
But many questions still remain. How can you know which toys contain phthalates? What chemicals will toy companies use as substitutes, and will they be any safer? And is banning chemicals one-by-one after they have been introduced into the market the best policy, or should we be more proactively testing the 80,000+ chemicals used in our consumer products?
Reports
THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | MON, DEC 22 2008, 8:50 AM
Chemicals at Home: Are Phthalate Alternatives Any Safer?
Laws in California and the United States will soon outlaw chemicals known as phthalates, commonly found in children's toys, due to concerns over health effects. But how do we know if phthalate substitutes will be any safer?
THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | MON, DEC 29 2008, 8:50 AM
Chemicals at Home: California Seeks Greater Control
New chemical laws in California look a lot more like those of the European Union than United States federal regulations.
THE CALIFORNIA REPORT | THU, DEC 18 2008, 8:50 AM
Chemicals at Home: Truly Green Toys
Take a tour of a production plant in San Leandro, California, where toys are made from recycled milk jugs.
Credits
Reporter: Sarah Varney; Editors: Pat Flynn and Gabriel Coan; Producer: Nick Vidinsky
Sponsored by
Sponsored by
Subscribe to Health Dialogues
Subscribe to our podcast and have every episode of Health Dialogues automatically delivered to you.
Newsletter
Find out what's coming up on Health Dialogues. Sign up for our newsletter, and we'll send you an email.
