From before we are born until the time we die, every one of us is repeatedly and regularly exposed to toxic chemicals that can seriously harm our health. Chemicals in our homes, schools and workplaces, found in such seemingly benign places as personal care products, cleaning products, toys, furniture, clothing, and food, have been linked to asthma, cancer, learning disabilities, reproductive damage, and a host of other diseases and disorders.

Current environment and health policies are outdated and do not protect us. The result is that toxic substances end up in our bodies without our knowledge or consent. We have seen that ignoring early warning signs can result in serious illness. Our individual rights and our quality of life are threatened by harmful pollution and products.

In Massachusetts, Clean Water Action is a founding member of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT), a coalition of citizens, scientists, health professionals, workers, and educators seeking preventive action on toxic hazards. Our goal is to correct fundamental flaws in government policies that allow harm to our health and environment.

Campaign goals

Pass the Safer Alternatives Bill – An Act to Promote Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals will establish a pragmatic, gradual approach to reducing health impacts from many toxic chemicals we are exposed to in everyday life. This approach targets the worst toxic chemicals in Massachusetts—chemicals that are currently replaceable with safer alternatives for many uses. The bill mandates a careful process to evaluate alternatives and replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives where feasible. It also stimulates research and development on new technologies and solutions when a safer option is not currently workable. For workers and businesses, it proposes programs to assist in the transition, funded through a fee on toxic chemicals.

Pass the Safe Cleaning Products Bill – Toxic cleaning chemicals threaten the health of the workers who use them and the children and adults who live or work in the buildings where they are used. Cleaning chemicals have been linked to asthma, certain types of cancers, reproductive problems, stillbirths, and birth defects. An Act to Require Environmentally Safe Alternatives to Harmful Cleaning Products would reduce asthma and other health threats by requiring that only cleaning products approved by the Department of Public Health be used in public schools, hospitals, health care facilities, day care centers and public housing common spaces.

Protect children's health from toxic chemicals – Children are uniquely vulnerable to threats from toxic chemicals as their bodies and brains are rapidly developing, yet many products designed for use by and for children contain toxic ingredients that leach out into children's bodies. Examples include toys and other household products made from PVC plastic which leach lead, phthalates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or baby bottles and other products that contain the endocrine disruptor bisphenol-A. With the help of Governor Patrick, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health can and should prohibit the sale of specific consumer products which expose children to toxic components and encourage their replacement with safer alternatives.

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics – Clean Water Action and the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow are founding members of the national Campaign for Safe Cosmetics which is calling on all cosmetics and personal care companies to protect our health by phasing out the use of chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other health concerns in every market they serve.

For more information on all of these campaigns and to find out how you can get involved, visit the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow's campaign web site.