Dear CA MomsRising Member,

In June thousands of us sent letters to our legislators supporting AB 706, which bans toxic fire retardants in our furniture. We are happy to report that with your help the legislation passed the Assembly and all Senate Committees even though it had powerful opposition.  Now we need to make sure that Gov. Schwarzenegger supports this important bill and signs it into law. Thus far, a number of state agencies have been directed to oppose AB 706. This is wrong! California must not continue to poison our kids and the rest of the nation because of our unique requirement for fire retardants in furniture foam with no restrictions on the toxicity of those fire retardants?

*URGE THE GOVERNOR TO SUPPORT AB 706 & STOP KILLER COUCHES NOW BY CLICKING HERE:
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/momsrising/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=12357

You can also read more and comment on this issue on the Huffington Post, in the Killer Couch Chemicals blog, by clicking here: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arlene-blum/killer-couch-chemicals_b_60754.html  

* Send an email to the Governor!

THE LOWDOWN: California furniture manufacturers are required to use potentially toxic chemicals which are bad for children, and are being found in the milk of breastfeeding mothers--the very same chemicals that were removed from children's sleepwear thirty years ago! All this in the name of fire retardancy which can be achieved without toxic chemicals. Now the chemical industry wants to put similar chemicals in bedding and pillows as well.

Assemblymember Mark Leno explains, "These toxic chemicals have been shown to cause cancer, reproductive problems, learning disabilities, and thyroid disease in laboratory animals and house cats. At the same time, these chemicals are climbing the food chain in increasing concentrations and are found in fish, harbor seals in San Francisco Bay, polar bears, bird eggs, and the animal at the very top of the food chain - breast-fed human babies."

We need to make it crystal clear that we immediately want furniture that is free of toxic chemicals. And we need this to be a massive outcry.

"I'm upset that my children carry these chemicals in their bodies, and angry that I can't even buy replacement chemical-free furniture with confidence unless I only allow exclusively wood furniture into my house." -- Joan

*Don't forget to email your letter to the Governor urging him to support the "California Furniture Safety and Fire Prevention Act" (AB 706) and tell your friends & family to send one as well.  To do so, just go to: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/momsrising/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=12357  

With deep appreciation for your participation -- Joan, Ashley, Donna, Mary, Kristin, Katie

p.s. Our thanks to Friends of the Earth and Making Our Milk Safe (MOMS) for their leadership in working to get AB 706 passed.

p.p.s. TOXIC FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
     * The chemical Chlorinated Tris was removed from children's sleepwear 30 years ago after it was determined to be a mutagen.
     * Today, chlorinated tris is the second most-used fire retardant in furniture, and was recently deemed by the consumer product safety commission to be "a probable human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence in animals."
     * Since the 1970s, PBDEs (brominated fire retardants) have increased 40-fold in human breast milk. PBDEs have the potential to disrupt thyroid hormone balance and contribute to a variety of neurological and developmental deficits, including low intelligence and learning disabilities. Women in North America have, on average, ten times to forty times the levels PBDEs in their breast milk as do women in Europe or Asia.
     * We can prevent fires without poisoning our families. Equally effective and affordable methods are available right now.  Alternatives include naturally flame resistant materials like wool, metals, and woods, inherently flame resistant barriers, and alternatives including silicon, boric acid, and phosphates.