Assemblymember Ma Urges Governor Schwarzenegger to Protect California’s Children from Cancerous Chemicals

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

In the Democratic weekly radio address Assembly Majority Whip Fiona Ma and Assemblymember Anna Caballero explain why Assembly Democrats want the Governor to sign Assembly Bill 1108, Assemblymember Ma's legislation to ban the use of some chemicals in toys designed for infants and toddlers. Assemblymembers Ma and Caballero also call on the public to urge the Governor via letters, phone calls and e-mails to sign the ban on toxic toys.

You may listen in English or Spanish.

The transcripts are below.

Hello, this is Fiona Ma, Majority Whip of the California Assembly.

Could babies who suck on their rubber duckies be susceptible to early onset puberty, disruption in their hormone systems, and cancer?

The scientific research and the recent recalls of millions of toys from China suggest so.

Phthalates are chemicals used as a softening agents in plastic toys like teethers and bath books.

The European Union and 14 other countries -- including Canada and Mexico -- have already banned or are fazing them out of toys.

But unfortunately, toys containing unhealthy levels of phthalates are openly sold in California.

The chemical industry likes to tell regulators and policy makers that the science on the phthalates is inconclusive, but while the industry has the power of money to spread propaganda, we have the science.

In fact, earlier this year, at the International Conference on Fetal Programming and Development Toxicity, 200 scientists urged policy makers not to wait any longer to take action on phthalates.