WASHINGTON, Jul 29, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. lawmakers agreed to ban a
family of toxins found in children's products as part of a bill that would
reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto said U.S. President George Bush opposes the
ban but hasn't indicated whether he would veto the measure, The Washington Post
reported Tuesday.
Among other things, the legislation would ban lead in children's products and
would allow consumer access to a new database of complaints or accident reports
for goods.
Research shows the toxins, known as phthalates, can be ingested by chewing on a
product, the Post said. The chemicals, used in producing plastic, are believed
to act as hormones and cause reproductive problems.
Lawmakers agreed Monday to permanently ban three types of phthalates from
children's toys and to prohibit three other phthalates from products while a
study of their health effects in children and pregnant women is conducted.
"The debate over this one set of chemicals is a referendum on a broken system,"
Andy Igrejas of the Pew Charitable Trusts told the Post. "Congress saw just how
screwed up the system is in protecting people from chemicals, especially
children."
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