Ban on Toxic Chemicals in Children's Toys: Protecting Our State's Children from Special Interests

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma with Dan Jacobsen from Environment California, showing reporters at a Capitol press conference what types of children’s toys currently contain toxic chemicals.

I am very proud to have authored AB 1108, a bill that will prohibit the manufacture, sale, and distribution of toys and child care products intended for use by children under the age of three that contain toxic chemicals known as phthalates.  These substances are used in soft plastic toys and other baby products such as bath books, rubber ducks, and baby teethers. 

Scientific research shows that these chemicals can have a negative effect on human health and may increase the risk of premature birth, early onset of puberty, lower sperm count, increased reproductive defects, and even cancer.  These chemicals are already banned in 14 countries and the  European Union, which has made the United States at toxic toy dumping ground.  4 of the 6 phthalates banned in the bill have already been placed on California’s Proposition 65 list as reproductive toxins.

Despite the common sense nature of this bill, lobbyists from the chemical corporations pushed very hard to defeat this bill.  It only narrowly passed both the Assembly and the Senate without a vote to spare in either house.

The chemical corporations continued to lobby hard against this bill, taking out advertisements on major news networks and running a full page advertisement in the Los Angeles Times urging Governor Schwarzenegger to veto the bill.  Fortunately, the governor did the right thing by signing this bill into law on Sunday, October 14, 2007.  The law will take effect throughout California on January 1, 2009.

A young supporter of a ban on phthalates is concerned with the chemicals in his toys.