Petition regarding EPA Testing of Household Products!

Hi Audrey, Just yesterday UC Berkeley released a study showing that certain flame-retardant chemicals in many household items may reduce a woman's ability to become pregnant. The study showed that women with high levels of chemicals known as PBDEs were 30 to 50 percent less likely to become pregnant! That is a staggering figure. Act Now! Chemicals MUST be tested before being allowed into your home. >> PBDEs are found in sofas, fabrics, electronics, drapes and plastics -- many items that remain in your home for years. The offending PBDEs are set to be phased out of use in 2013, but why were they allowed to be used in the first place? It is a disgrace to allow chemicals to be used that are not properly tested and proven to have no negative affect on human health. For years PBDEs have been present in our homes, and now we learn that they are affecting fertility - this has to stop. Stop the cycle of poorly tested products. Insist that the EPA properly test new flame-retardant chemicals BEFORE they allow them to be distributed. Act now! >> Thank you for taking action. Sincerely, Emily Care2 and ThePetitionSite Team

We Can't let the EPA Give the go-Ahead to Toxic Chemicals in our Homes! About 97 percent of Americans have traceable amounts of PBDEs in their blood - 20 times higher than Europe and Asia. Forward to a friend >>

The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality

U.S. EPA/Office of Air and Radiation
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (6609J)
Cosponsored with the Consumer Product Safety Commission

Introduction

Disclaimer

Information provided in this booklet is based on scientific and technical understanding of the issues presented and is reflective of the jurisdictional boundaries established by the statutes governing the co-authoring agencies. Following the advice given will not necessarily provide complete protection in all situations or against all health hazards that may be caused by indoor air pollution.

Indoor Air Quality Concerns

All of us face a variety of risks to our health as we go about our day-to-day lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes, engaging in recreational activities, and being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some risks are simply unavoidable. Some we choose to accept because to do otherwise would restrict our ability to lead our lives the way we want. And some are risks we might decide to avoid if we had the opportunity to make informed choices. Indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about.

In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.

In addition, people who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods of time are often those most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill, especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease.

Read more:
Source: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html#IAQHome