Toxic Substances

• Toxic Toys Made in China are Recalled

  Shannon Weidemann | June 19, 2007 2:21 PM | 0 CommentsCharlotte, NC

  The recent recall of Thomas the Tank Engine toys for containing lead paint has joined a long string of recalls of toys and other products made in China. Lead is a toxic substance that can cause brain damage. 24 kinds of toys have been recalled so far this year, every one of them made in China. Over all, the number of products made in China that are being recalled in the United States by the...

• Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Contain Mercury

  Shannon Weidemann | May 10, 2007 10:35 PM | 0 CommentsCharlotte, NC

  Many people are replacing their incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) in order to reduce energy consumption and help save the environment. What many people don't know is that CFLs contain a small amount of mercury and need special treatment. Mercury is a hazardous substance and you should limit your exposure to it.When one lamp is broken, the best thing to do is to...

• 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...

• Chemical Exposure at Pool Sends 14 to Hospital in Oregon

  Shannon Weidemann | April 19, 2007 9:24 PM | 0 CommentsVictoria, TX

  People in the pool area at the Portland Embassy Suites in Oregon started experiencing nausea, vomitting, and having a hard time breathing. Emergency crews were called in to help treat the victims and investigate a possible chemical exposure. 14 people were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Fourteen of the patients were transported to five nearby hospitals. There is no further...

• 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...

• Fumes at Washington Mall Send 37 People to Hospital

  Shannon Weidemann | February 17, 2007 11:16 PM | 0 CommentsVictoria, TX

  Shoppers at a Spokane mall complained of exposure to chemicals that caused them to fill ill on Sunday. Firefighters were called to the scene to help and investigate.Witnesses tell KREM 2 News the fumes were concentrated on the east side of the mall, by the old Gap store. Several people were taken to the hospital for symptoms that caused a scratchy throat or closure of the throat. Holy Family...

• 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...