Shouldn’t you know if toxic chemicals are in the shampoo that you use on your baby? The car seat you use? Or your baby’s mattress? What about the lotion you rub into your child’s skin?
Pregnant women, infants and children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals–in air, water, dust, food, and consumer products. We should be able to keep our children safe, but, often we don’t even know what is in products our children use every day.
Companies that manufacture children’s products should be required to tell the state what toxic chemicals are in the toys, teethers, infant clothing, diapers, strollers and other products marketed for children under age 12, and to make the products safe.
States like New York, Oregon, and Washington have already taken action to require companies to be transparent about the hazardous chemicals they put in children’s products—and it’s time for Massachusetts to do the same.
In the 2023-24 session, Clean Water Action supported An Act for Toxic Free Kids (S2564) which would have required businesses that make or sell children’s products in Massachusetts to disclose toxic chemicals added to those products. It would also have banned toxic PFAS in children’s products, including artificial turf, and established a process for banning additional toxic chemicals. No one should have to wonder if their child’s clothing, toys, art supplies, or bedding contain toxic substances.
Check out our fact sheet on the proposed 2023-24 legislation, An Act for Toxic Free Kids, to read more about what strong legislation to protect kids from toxics should look like.
We will continue to push the Massachusetts legislature in the 2025-26 session because parents and caregivers should never have to wonder if their children's products are safe.
Want safer children’s products? Become a supporter of Clean Water Action Massachusetts. We will send you updates about the Toxic Free Kids campaign and let you know about opportunities to get involved.