Environmental and Health Groups Face Off Against Household Cleaner Giants in Court

February 7, 2010 22:15

Environmental and Health Groups Face Off Against Household Cleaner Giants in Court
Source: Earthjustice

Public health and environmental advocates faced off against household cleaning giants Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, Church and Dwight and Reckitt-Benckiser in a Manhattan court today in a fight for transparency about the toxic chemicals in cleaning products.

The manufacturing giants are refusing to follow a New York state law requiring them to disclose the chemical ingredients in their products and the health risks they pose. Independent studies show a link between many chemicals commonly found in cleaning products and health effects ranging from nerve damage to hormone disruption. With mounting concern about the potential hazards of chemicals in these products, advocates are defending consumers' right to know and asking companies to follow the law.
...
The first-of-its-kind lawsuit could have national implications and comes as momentum builds nationally and internationally for toxics chemical reform. Today, the United States Senate committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing looking into the current science on public exposures to toxic chemicals. Advocates are awaiting introduction of federal legislation to reform the nation's badly broken system of regulating toxic chemicals. And internationally, companies are preparing to comply with Europe's new chemical regulations (known as REACH).

+ Lawsuit (PDF; 81 KB)
+ Brands targeted in the lawsuit (PDF; 43 KB)
+ Women's Voices for the Earth report (PDF; 1.2 MB)
+ Disclosure report filed by Sunshine Makers, Inc. (PDF; 827 KB)

Category:

• Business and economics
• Consumer issues
• Environment
• Health and healthcare
• Legal and law enforcement
• Safety

Source:

• Earthjustice

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