New Study Finds Market Shift to Healthier Products; New Problems with Lead, Phthalates & Hazardous Flame Retardants Found in Some Garden Hoses — Results to be Released on May 20 at www.HealthyStuff.org
ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — In an update to a 2013 study, the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center will be releasing data on toxic chemicals in gardening products as part of their ongoing research of hazardous substances in common consumer items. Also tested was the water that sits inside garden hoses for hours in the sun, allowing toxic chemicals to leach in. Results will be released on Monday, June 20 at www.HealthyStuff.org.
32 garden hoses from 6 national retailers were tested for lead, cadmium, bromine (associated with brominated flame retardants); chlorine (indicating the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC); and phthalates. Such chemicals have been linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, premature births and early puberty in laboratory animals, among other serious health problems.
Anyone looking to purchase new gardening products can visit www.HealthyStuff.org to view the product test results. Also available will be common sense tips on how to avoid toxic chemicals in your soil and water this gardening season.
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