Media Advisory
Contact: Laura Spark, Clean Water Action, lspark@cleanwater.org, 617-637-7152
Physicians, advocates, and a giant duck to call upon Massachusetts legislators to
stop “ducking the issue” of children’s health and pass Toxic Free Kids bill
What: Boston Children’s Hospital, Clean Water Action and Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility will hold a press conference and rally to call attention to the need to protect children’s health by passing An Act relative to toxic free kids (H4357/S2660). Speakers will be joined by a giant 30’ inflatable rubber duckie. Rubber duckies are a symbol of toxic children’s products because these ducks are usually made of polyvinyl plastic and often contain chemicals of concern.
When: Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 12:00-12:30
Where: Sidewalk in front of Massachusetts State House
Who:
- Dr. Alan Woolf, Co-Director of Boston Children’s Hospital Pediatric Environmental Health Center,
- Sydney Engel, Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility
- Dr. Brita Lundberg, Massachusetts Medical Society Environmental Health Chair
- Erica Kyzmir-Mckeon, Eq. Conservation Law Foundation
- Laura Spark, Environmental Health Program Director, Clean Water Action
Why: Rates of serious illness among children and young adults have been steadily rising over the past several decades. Scientific research links these increases to early life exposure to toxic chemicals.
Thousands of children’s products, including toys, personal care products, mattresses and bedding, strollers, furniture, feeding implements, and jewelry contain toxic chemicals, exposing children day and night to chemicals known to cause health harm.
The Act relative to toxic free kids requires manufacturers to disclose toxic chemicals added to children’s products and to remove chemicals most likely to harm children.
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