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Connecticut Public Health Association is one of the founding
partners in the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut. As a
coalition partner, CPHA is committed to the common goals of
increasing awareness regarding daily exposures to several toxins
proven to be harmful to human health, and establishing new
government policies to prevent harm to our health from these and
other toxic hazards. Rather than reacting to and fighting against
one known toxin at a time, a movement is now calling for improved
testing and the use of safer alternatives wherever feasible. This
"precautionary principle" approach comes from the core
of public health philosophy-that we should prevent illness through
eliminating known toxins, rather than try to estimate how much
illness is "acceptable".
Scientists now link commonly used toxic chemicals to about 200
illnesses including asthma, cancer, behavioral disorders,
reproductive disorders and birth defects. Recent studies have
discovered numerous toxic chemicals in fetal cord blood,
indicating that human exposure to these carcinogens and mutagens
begin at the most vulnerable stage of human development.
CPHA has therefore joined with public and private health
professionals, environmental groups, municipalities (including
school districts), labor organizations, parents, faith leaders and
those suffering from illness caused by chemical exposures to
increase awareness among policymakers and the public of the harm
that daily exposure to these toxins can cause.
In 2007, with combined professional
and public support, the Coalition successfully advocated for House
Bill 5234, An Act Banning the Use of Pesticides on School Grounds,
which was ultimately signed into law.
The main legislative priority for 2008
is H.B. 5601 An Act Banning Children’s Products Containing Lead,
Phthalates and Bisphenol A.
This bill would eliminate the toxic chemicals listed as
well as call for an Innovations Institute that would support CT
businesses as they transition to safer alternatives and allow CT
to participate in a multi state clearinghouse.
For more information
and language on these and other related bills please access Quick
Search at the Website for the Connecticut General Assembly:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/
For more information on how you and/or your
organization can
support the Coalition and its efforts please contact:
Annamarie Beaulieu, MPH
CPHA Campaign Coordinator
(860)301-8857
annamarie.beaulieu@cpha.info
Also visit the Coalition website for resources and information on
toxic chemicals and their role in the home and in the workplace:
www.safehealthyct.org
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