HealthyStuff.org announces March Badness tournament to determine the MTP – Most Toxic Product
ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A new study finds that 7 in 10 (71%) of university-themed products sold at top retailers contain one or more hazardous chemicals, including arsenic, lead, bromine, chlorine and mercury and cadmium. The study is part of ongoing research at HealthyStuff.org (a project of the Michigan-based nonprofit organization, the Ecology Center) on harmful chemicals in consumer products. Researchers found that product routinely exceed US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) standards for lead (15%) and phthalates (16 of 18 tested) in children's products linked to serious health threats.
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Over the last two months, the Ecology Center researchers tested 65 university-themed products for substances that have been linked to asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, reproductive problems, liver toxicity, and cancer. Products tested included wallets, key chains, seat cushion, and sports jerseys purchased at major retailers including Home Depot, Kroger, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart. The products tested represent 19 national universities including the University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh, University of Connecticut, Duke University, and Michigan State University.
"In college towns across America, March Madness brings with it a tremendous amount of excitement," said Rebecca Meuninck, environmental health campaign director for the Ecology Center and HealthyStuff.org. "Many of the Universities represented in our study pride themselves on their efforts to green their campuses, but there's a disconnect when University-themed products contain harmful chemicals linked to diseases like certain cancers, thyroid disruption, infertility and learning disabilities."
Highlights of Findings from HealthyStuff.org's University-Themed Product Study:
- Of the 18 products screened for phthalates, 16 tested positive for the presence of phthalate plasticizers banned by CPSC in children's products.
- 71% (46 of 65) of the products contained at least one or more chemicals of concern, such as lead, mercury, phthalates, and toxic flame retardants.
- Over one third (25 of 65) of the products contained at least two or more chemicals of concern.
"Showing your team colors during March Madness shouldn't be bad for your health, yet researchers have found that dangerous chemicals like arsenic, lead, phthalates, and toxic flame retardants are common in the products they tested," said Mike Schade, Mind the Store Campaign Director for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families. "Consumers don't want to worry that a NCAA-themed product could carry toxic chemicals into their home. They're counting on major retailers to leverage their position in the market to encourage the sale of safe products."
Many of the substances found in these products have already been restricted or banned in other consumer products. Lead and phthalates have been restricted in children's products by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, but remain poorly regulated in all other products.
Full study results and detailed information about what consumers can do is available at HealthyStuff.org.
Jeff Gearhart, Ecology Center, 734-369-9276, Email