Many baby and young children's products like teething rings, plastic and plush toys, clothing, and personal care products contain phthalates and fire retardants, a new study shows. Environment California Research and Policy Center and the U.S. PIRG Education Fund tested 25 products and found the chemicals in 18, including in some labeled "phthalate-free." Phthalates, which soften plastics, are linked to reproductive defects and early onset puberty and are banned in Europe. There's a bill in the California legislature that would ban them by 2007, and two fire retardant chemicals are already set for a state phase-out by June 2006.
The study is available here, the story in the San Jose Mercury News is here, and EWG's work on phthalates and fire retardants is here and here.
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