Date: Monday June 14, 2010

Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Location: Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center, 156 Prospect Street,

Mill Woods Pond, Wethersfield, CT 06109

Refreshments and babysitting will be provided. This will be a fragrance-free meeting

 

"Everyday we are exposed to a variety of chemicals in our homes, work, or

school environments",   said Carolyn Wysocki President of ECHO, one of the

co-sponsors of the Community Conversation. "We need to get together and talk about how chemicals can effect our health and what we can do to make our environments safer and healthier".

 Over the past few decades, several laws have helped to reduce exposures to some well known, harmful chemicals. Connecticut has been a leader in reducing toxic exposures through passages of legislation. In 2009, Clean Water Action, ECHO and Coalition for a Safe & Health Connecticut advocated the passage of Public Act 09-103, which became the nation's most health-protective state or local policy on BPA in food and beverage containers. Starting on October 1, 2011, no reusable food or beverage containers or infant formula or baby food cans or jars that contain BPA will be permitted in Connecticut. An Executive Directive to Connecticut State agencies was issued for the t use non toxic cleaning products in state agency buildings..

 Last week Governor Rell signed a bill into law that will ban use of cadmium in children's jewelry. On the same day McDonald's restaurant chain announced it will recall 12 million glasses that contain the human carcinogen cadmium, Another bill awaiting the Governors signature is the creation of a Chemical Innovations Institute to be developed at the UCONN Health Center.

Citizens can help protect public health by joining the National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures. The National Conversation is a 2 year initiative to create an action agenda of recommendations to help ensure chemicals are used and managed in ways that are safe for everyone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry support this project. It is designed to collect input from many organizations and individuals at the local level.

By participating in this facilitated discussion participants will share their knowledge, experience, and opinions on issues relating to chemical exposures and public health. Afterwards, a brief summary report will be sent to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances who will then generate a larger report for the whole nation based on these local conversations.