Toxic Substances

• Potential New Threat to Children?

  Miriam Schimmel | February 08, 2008 4:56 PM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  Phthalates are chemicals which are used to stabilize fragrances and make plastics flexible. They are typically found in many products including cosmetics, toys, vinyl flooring and medical supplies. A recent study suggests their presence in baby shampoos, lotions and powders may expose infants to chemicals that have been linked with possible reproductive problems. The study, which is published...

• Los Angeles to Drain Two Reservoirs Due to Cancer Risk

  Jenny Albano | December 17, 2007 3:39 PM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  Two reservoirs in Los Angeles that supply drinking water to residents had to be shut down after officials found the water to be contaminated with high levels of a cancer causing chemical, bromate.The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power intend to drain 600 million gallons of water from Elysian and Silver Lake reservoirs early next year, a process that will leave them out of action for three...

• Toxic Toy Legislation Bans Phthalates Used in Baby Toys

  Christina Cole | May 09, 2007 8:46 PM | 0 CommentsNovato, CA

  The Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxics Materials Committee passed legislation, authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, to eliminate a dangerous toxic chemical that is used in the manufacturing of baby toys. AB 1108 passed the committee with an unofficial vote of 5-2. During the hearing, the bill was amended to include a ban on phthalates only. After It was agreed upon to focus on banning...

• Slow Response for Mercury Spill on Los Angeles Subway

  Shannon Weidemann | February 26, 2007 11:39 AM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  Los Angeles's subway stations are unattended and monitored only by closed circuit television cameras. In December a man spilled mercury on the platform at one of the stations and contacted the Metro Transit Authority on what he had done. It took 8 hours before anything was done to clean up the spill. In the meantime several passengers of the subway came in contact with the hazardous...

• California Schools Fail the Pesticide Test

  Paul Kiesel | January 29, 2007 3:00 AM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  Schools get an F on pesticide use. Parents, teachers and students must work to eliminate the highly dangerous presence of pesticides in our schools. Throughout the country young children are being exposed to highly toxic pesticides in their schools. The use of dangerous chemicals contained in pesticides is a serious threat to our children's health. The National Academy of Sciences has stated...

• Lawsuit Accuses Gas Co. of Polluting Aquifers

  Patrick DeBlase | January 11, 2007 2:05 PM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  Southern California Gas Co. accused in lawsuit by the Environmental Law Foundation of leaching cancer-causing toxins into the local aquifer by storing and pumping natural gas in depleted oil fields.The Oakland based Environmental Law Foundation filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court this week alleges that the Southern California Gas Co. is polluting the local water table. ...

• Boeing Dragging Its Feet on Runoff Rules

  Patrick DeBlase | December 21, 2006 11:19 PM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  Beoing continues to dump toxins and seeks more lenient rules concerning rocket facility in Simi Valley.The rocket facility in the Simi Hills has played host to some of the worst toxic pollution ever known. Nuclear reactor meltdowns, toxic clouds, TCE, chromium 6 and other hazardous and toxic chemicals were allowed to leach into the earth contaminating drinking water supplies. At a time when...

• European Parliament Approves Tough Chemical Law

  Paul Kiesel | December 18, 2006 3:00 AM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  EU law will limit use of toxic chemicals. U.S. chemical companies will have to comply with new EU law. The European Union passed an important law, this week, designed to protect workers and consumers from the dangers of exposure to toxic chemicals. The new law will control 30,000 toxic chemicals and will result in the ban of approximately 1,500 of the most hazardous substances. The legislation...

• Asbestos: A Deadly Danger

  Elaine Mandel | December 05, 2006 3:20 PM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  Many who were exposed to deadly asbestos fibers still don't know they were exposed. Throughout the twentieth century, hundreds of thousands of workers worked with and around deadly asbestos fibers. Most of them worked with insulation or in the shipping, construction, mining or railroad industries. Many of these workers inhaled the deadly asbestos fibers for years. Those fibers caused lung...

• Radiation Poisoning: Not Just a Risk for Russian Politicians

  Paul Kiesel | December 04, 2006 3:00 AM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  The invisible increasing threat of radiation exposure. Radiation exposure on the rise. The recent radiation poisoning of a Russian politician brings to light a serious threat to public health. Unsuspecting Americans are receiving elevated levels of radiation, not as a result of political intrigue- James Bond style but, due to the existence of radiation in workplaces, homes and communities. For...