STATE SETTLES SUIT WITH BRAZIALAN BLOWOUT

Brazilian Blowout Suit Makes the Case for California’s Green Chemistry Law to Take Tougher Stance against Dangerous Chemicals.

Environment California Research and Policy Center

“While we applaud the Attorney General for her work on this issue, more needs to be done to protect Californian’s from dangerous chemicals”, said Dan Jacobson, Legislative Director for Environment California.  “We need the state to ban, phase out, and label all the chemicals that pse a threat to Californian’s.”

Despite the miracles of modern medicine, certain chronic illnesses are on the rise. From record breast cancer rates in Marin County to an alarming asthma epidemic statewide, more Californians are concerned about chronic diseases—and about the toxic pollution that may be behind them.

 Today, over 600,000 children in California suffer from asthma—twice as many as 20 years ago. In L.A. County, infants are exposed to more cancer-causing toxic pollution than most Americans face in a lifetime.

 Despite these threats, industries continue to discharge over 75 million pounds of toxic pollution into California’s environment every year. And that doesn’t include the toxics that end up in everyday products from computers to shower curtains to light bulbs.

 Alternatives to toxics are available—but industries need to be convinced to make the change.

 There is more that government could do to protect our families and communities against these toxic threats.

 The public understands the link between environmental factors and disease. But we continue to play catch-up—cleaning up after industry’s toxic messes rather than preventing pollution in the first place.

 The state’s green Chemistry regulations should

 • Phase out toxic substances that are the most hazardous to health and the environment, with comprehensive safety testing of all chemicals.

• Reduce the use and release of all toxic chemicals and clean up past pollution.

• Honor the public’s right to know about toxic threats to our health and environment.

• Hold the polluter accountable for the costs and consequences of toxic practices.

• Promote cleaner and safer alternatives.

 “The suit makes the case that we are still overexposed to dangerous chemicals and the state needs to take steps to protect its citizens by reducing chemical exposure”, said Jacobson.

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 For more information go to www.environmentcalifornia.org