March 9, 2009—Oregon Environmental Council to Host “Drop Your Toxic Plastics Day” in Salem
Capitol event will promote Oregon’s Children’s Safe Product Act, educate around chemicals of concern in children’s products, and feature a 25-foot tall baby bottle
Safety regulations for toys and other children’s products currently do not address toxic chemicals like bisphenol-A (BPA). BPA and other chemicals have been linked to harmful health and developmental impacts, but can still be found in children’s products. The Children’s Safe Product Act, contained in House Bills 2367 & 2792, will close the loopholes in regulation to protect Oregon's children from exposure to these chemicals of concern. To promote awareness about children’s exposure, and to promote these common-sense legislative items, the Oregon Environmental Council will host “Drop Your Toxic Plastics Day” on Thursday, March 12 from noon until 1:00 PM on the capitol steps in Salem.
Oregon Environmental Council has collected toys and bottles that parents have discarded to protect their children from potential exposure to chemicals of concern. The public is invited to see the collection, add their own plastics and voice their support for more protective regulation of children’s products. Participants will gather near the giant inflatable baby bottle on the front steps of the capitol to learn more about the legislation and tips for choosing safer children’s products.
Events will include:
- The “BPA bottle challenge”: visitors are challenged to discern which bottles in our collection are made with BPA.
- The “toxic toy toss”: visitors are invited to toss a PVC-containing “rubber ducky” through a hole to symbolically “toss” the phthalates.
- Postcards will be provided to all who wish to tell legislators that they support children’s safe products.
WHO: Oregon Environmental Council. Speakers include Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, MPH, PhD
WHAT: Drop Your Toxic Plastics Day
WHEN: Thursday, March 12 from noon until 1:00 PM
WHERE: Front steps of the Capitol Building in Salem, 900 Court Street NE, Salem, Oregon 97301
For more information visit: www.oeconline.org/healthykids
NOTE TO MEDIA: A press kit is available upon request. Please contact Jeremy Graybill, communications director.
About the Oregon Environmental Council
The Oregon Environmental Council safeguards what Oregonians love about Oregon – clean air and water, an unpolluted landscape and healthy food produced by local farmers. For 40 years we’ve been a champion for solutions to protect the health of every Oregonian and the health of the place we call home. Our vision for Oregon includes solving global warming, protecting kids from toxins, cleaning up our rivers, building sustainable economies, and ensuring healthy food and local farms. Find out more at www.oeconline.org.
