phthalates - plasticizers. They make hard plastic soft. They are bad, bad, bad for you health! Prolonged exposure could lead to health risks such as lung cancer, brain cancer, lymphomas, leukemia, and liver cirrhosis. Things we certainly wouldn't subject our children to!
Enter the Toy Safety Bill. The Senate has vote to ban phthalates from children's toys. The House, however, neglected to include the phthalates. They are currently working to get this bill complete. It is important that the phthalate ban is included!
Where does Exxon come in? Exxon Mobil is a phthalate manufacturer. Exxon is fighting hard to make sure phthatlates are not banned, saying research is just not conclusive enough. Well, it was conclusive enough to cause the state of California to restrict the use of some in children's toys. It was enough for the state of Connecticut to consider a bill to ban them. It was enough for the countries of Japan, Argentina and Mexico to ban phthalates.
What can you do? You can use this form to pass your message on to Congress. Learn more about vinyl toys at PVC: The Poison Plastic. And, of course, stop supporting exxon.