See this at: santacruzsentinel.co...| Added on 01/25/09

Everyone agrees reading is good for kids. But a federal law taking effect next month appears to deem children's books a potential health hazard and may force libraries and bookstores to clear out entire children's collections until they're proven... See more

Everyone agrees reading is good for kids. But a federal law taking effect next month appears to deem children's books a potential health hazard and may force libraries and bookstores to clear out entire children's collections until they're proven free of toxic lead and plastic. That little-known consequence of a law passed to protect kids from tainted toys has librarians and publishers lobbying furiously for an exemption before it takes effect Feb. 10. Without a reprieve, San Jose library officials say they could be forced to close their children's sections and send off all 700,000 volumes in them for safety testing. "It's truly a case of unforeseen consequences," said Assistant Library Director Ned Himmel. "It seems so unbelievable that we'd have to close off children's rooms. We consider our libraries a healthy place and good for children." Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act in August to protect kids from exposure to lead and plastic. The law followed the... See less

See this at: cosmeticdatabase.com| Added on 01/31/08

Let's keep our kids clean - and free of harmful chemicals. Avoid unnecessary ingredients like antibacterial agents, suspect preservatives, and "fragrance" in your children's products. Bar soaps often contain fewer chemicals of concern than body... See more

Let's keep our kids clean - and free of harmful chemicals. Avoid unnecessary ingredients like antibacterial agents, suspect preservatives, and "fragrance" in your children's products. Bar soaps often contain fewer chemicals of concern than body washes and liquid hand soaps. * Triclosan - Linked to thyroid disruption, produces toxic byproducts in tap water * DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants * Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals See less

See this at: ewg.org| Added on 10/19/08

At EWG, our team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers pores over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and our own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find... See more

At EWG, our team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers pores over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and our own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions. Our research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know. See less

Highlights: Latex rubber nipples can cause allergic reactions and can contain impurities linked to cancer. Plastic bottles can leach a toxic chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) into formula and breast milk. Avoid clear, hard plastic bottles marked with a 7 or “PC.” The soft plastic liners may leach...

See this at: ewg.org| Added on 10/19/08

Unlike tap water, where consumers are provided with test results every year, the bottled water industry does not disclose the results of any contaminant testing that it conducts. Instead, the industry hides behind the claim that bottled water is held... See more

Unlike tap water, where consumers are provided with test results every year, the bottled water industry does not disclose the results of any contaminant testing that it conducts. Instead, the industry hides behind the claim that bottled water is held to the same safety standards as tap water. But with promotional campaigns saturated with images of mountain springs, and prices 1,900 times the price of tap water, consumers are clearly led to believe that they are buying a product that has been purified to a level beyond the water that comes out of the garden hose. See less

Highlights: Walmart and Giant bottled water brands are named in this study because our first tests and numerous followup tests confirmed that these brands contained contaminants at levels that exceeded state standards or voluntary industry guidelines. The study also included assays for breast cancer...

See this at: cpsc.gov| Added on 10/19/08

(Listed by date of issue with most recent first)

(Listed by date of issue with most recent first) See less

Highlights: Infant Death Prompts Recall of Convertible Cribs by Playkids USA; Crib Poses Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards* Bar Magnets Recalled by Home Science Tools Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard* Harry Potter Bookends Recalled By Giftco Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard* Simplicity...

See this at: cpsc.gov| Added on 10/19/08

(Listed by date of issue with most recent first)

(Listed by date of issue with most recent first) See less

Highlights: Fisher-Price Recalls Learning Pots and Pans™ Toys Due to Choking Hazard * Remote-Controlled Helicopter Toys Sold Exclusively in Walgreens Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazards by TWIE* Disney Store Recalls Tinker Bell Wands Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

See this at: businessweek.com| Added on 10/11/07

A large study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that American children receive recommended health-care procedures only 46% of the time when they see a doctor. In fact, children get even worse care than adults, who receive... See more

A large study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that American children receive recommended health-care procedures only 46% of the time when they see a doctor. In fact, children get even worse care than adults, who receive appropriate care about half the time, according to a similar survey published in 2003. "Taken together, these studies show that no one, anywhere, is immune from poor quality of care [in the U.S.]," says lead researcher Rita Mangione-Smith of Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute. The researchers, from the Rand Corp. and University of Washington as well as Seattle Children's, reviewed the medical records of 1,536 children from 12 metropolitan areas around the country and assessed 175 measures of quality in 12 clinical areas. They found that children in the U.S. do not routinely receive regular weight and measurement checks, widely recommended screening tests, or standard care for asthma and diarrhea. "As a pediatrician, I was shocked by... See less

Highlights: The researchers blamed much of the care deficit on insurers, whom they said pressure doctors to spend only 10 minutes on a regular checkup, leaving them little time to run all the recommended tests. In addition, pediatricians are trained to deal with acute illnesses rather than preventive...

See this at: thedailygreen.com| Added on 10/12/07

More than 90,000 Products In Latest Lead Paint Recall For details about each of the recalls listed below -- all due to lead paint violations on...

See this at: cnbc.com| Added on 10/11/07

Johnson & Johnson, Wyeth and other makers of infants' nonprescription cough and cold products are recalling certain medicines in the United States because of the danger of overdose, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association said Thursday. Novartis... See more

Johnson & Johnson, Wyeth and other makers of infants' nonprescription cough and cold products are recalling certain medicines in the United States because of the danger of overdose, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association said Thursday. Novartis and Prestige Brands Holdings are recalling their oral infant cough and cold medicines, as well, because data show that when the medicines are misused, it can lead to overdose, especially in children under 2 years old. At least one U.S. pharmacy pulled the products from its shelves. CVS Pharmacy said it will immediately remove those recalled medicines and store-brand equivalents. A spokeswoman for Consumer Healthcare, a trade association representing the makers of over-the-counter medicines, said overdoses have led to death and serious injury in rare instances, but stressed that the medications are safe when used as directed. See less

Highlights: FDA reviewers said that from 1969 through 2006 the agency received 54 reports of deaths with decongestants and 69 with antihistamines. Most were in children younger than 2. Overdose and drug toxicity were commonly reported in those cases, they said.