California Toxic Toys Bill (AB 1108, 2007)

In a victory for children's health and environmental health advocates, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the California Toxic Toys bill (AB 1108) into law on October 14, 2007. The bill was co-sponsored by the Breast Cancer Fund and Environment California, and authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco).

This new law will ban six types of phthalates (chemicals that make plastic soft) from children's toys sold in California starting on January 1, 2009. Phthalates have been found in toys, bath books and teething rings, among a host of other plastic products. Gov. Schwarzenegger agreed that the potential threats to children's health from phthalates that leach from these toys warranted immediate action.

Phthalates have been linked to breast cancer, early puberty in girls, reduced testosterone levels, lowered sperm counts, genital defects in baby boys and testicular cancer. Modeled on legislation from the European Union and other countries around the world, this new law will help protect our children by reducing unnecessary exposure to these toxic chemicals.

We hope that this new law will serve as a model for other states and for the nation, benefiting the health of all our children.

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