Report Back from the Toxic Red Carpet

Red carpet events are common enough, but none are quite like “The Toxies.” Costumed characters,  dressed up to personify common toxic chemicals found in consumer products, accepted awards on Thursday evening for their prevalence in our daily lives and their linkages to harmful health effects.

In Minnesota, we recognized four of the chemicals nominated at the national level that are also on the Minnesota priority chemicals list. The nine chemicals on this list are found in children’s products and are linked to harmful health effects. They are: Formaldehyde, Lead, Bisphenol A and decaBDE (representing the Halogenated Flame Retardants, a whole class of chemicals). 

While all of the toxic, bad actor nominees deserve our attention, they couldn't all win an award. Here's the breakdown on who took home the trophies:

1. Most Annoying Priority Chemical of 2011: decaBDE. Minnesota has banned the use of penta and octa BDE, but a close relative of those chemicals, decaBDE is still in use, landing it a spot on the “priority chemicals” list. DecaBDE is a chemical flame retardant and is part of a larger group of halogenated flame retardant chemicals that are persistent in the environment and are linked to several negative health problems like cancer, thyroid hormone disruption, and adverse impacts on learning and development.
2. MN People’s Choice Award for Worst Performance of the Year: Bisphenol A (BPA). Minnesota was the first state in the nation to ban BPA from baby bottles and sippy cups, a step which has contributed to manufacturers removing those products from the shelves across the country. However, other exposures to bisphenol A remain through products like the linings of food and infant formula cans, receipt paper, dental sealants and more. BPA is linked to serious health effects including early onset of puberty, certain types of cancers, obesity and diabetes.

You can watch their acceptance speeches here.

We also had the great fortune to honor Representative Kate Knuth with the "Best Performance in a Legislative Session" for her work on the Toxic Free Kids act in 2009, which culminated in the Minnesota Department of Health creating the "priority chemicals" list earlier this year. Rep. Knuth has been a champion on this issue and continues to work for policies that will protect children's health from toxics. Take a look at the presentation of her award!

 

The Toxies are Coming to Town!

You've heard of the Oscars, the Emmys and the Grammys, but now there's a new, up-and-coming awards ceremony: The Toxies. Join us for this free event on Thursday, June 16th at Intermedia Arts (map) from 5:15-7:30 pm. From 5:15-6:00 there will be a reception with light appetizers and drinks. The awards show will begin following the reception. RSVP now!

The Toxies is a satirical awards show that recognizes “bad actor chemicals," referred to as such by researchers due to their harmful effects and prevalence in our lives. Formaldehyde, Bisphenol A (BPA), Lead and others will be in attendance. These chemicals—portayed at the show by actual, good actors—are known to contribute to certain types of cancer, development disorders, infertility and other health problems. They are in our homes, workplaces and schools, and it’s time they are recognized for their harmful effects.

Help raise awareness around the important issue of toxic chemicals in our every day products. RSVP now to this limited-seating event for free!

And don't forget to vote below for Minnesota's People's Choice Award for Worst Performance of the Year by a toxic chemical. The winning toxic chemical will receive a Minnesota Toxie Award live at the event.

Need help choosing? Watch videos from the chemicals themselves on why they should win, or read The Toxie Diaries, blog posts from the chemicals on what they've been up to.

The Toxie Diaries: Halogenated Flame Retardants

"Super Hot Mess"

That's the category we're nominated for at The Toxies! Love, love, love it! Will you be at the screening in Minneapolis?

Hey all! It's Deca-BDE -- that is, Minnesota Priority Chemical Deca-BDE -- here to give you an update on what all us Holgenated Flame Retardants have been up to. (The beautiful lady pictured here will rep us at the national awards!!)

Finally the whole family is being recognized for our important work, like affecting how childrens' brains develop, decreasing IQs and contributing to poor motor development.

And then there's that whole "linked to cancer" series we've been working on for quite some time.

What can I say, we have staying power. Once we're introduced on the scene, it takes a looooong time to for us to get out of people's bodies, like a song you can't get out of your head. "HBCD! It's easy as PBDE! As simple as TDCP, TCEP, TBBPA, Baby you and me girl!"

See what I mean?

Oh, it's gonna be great to have the whole gang together again for The Toxies. I'm curious to hear what roles Chlorinated Tris has nabbed since he was phased out of children's pajamas in the 70s. (Probable carcinogen.) I hear he's moved on to other nursery products, like car seats and nursing pillows.

It turns out we have more roles than some folks originally thought! A new study found us in 80% of baby products tested! What can we say, we're popular with the young crowd.

Anyway, before I take off, you should check out this video starring yours truly and my sis HBCD. It's gonna be on fire ALL OVER the interwebs!

The Toxie Diaries: BPA

Hey everyone! Have you heard the big news? Soooo excited. I've been nominated and will be  appearing at The Toxies this year! Soooo pumped. Y'all should come to the awards on June 16 to see me in all my plasticky glory. RSVP here.

So what if it's for the "Least Sexy Performance" award? I know I'm hot. No one wants to give me love right now, since I'm all "toxic." 

I wasn't too sure if I'd get recognized this year, what with the increasing number of states banning me in baby products, but it turns out I'm in soooo many other things. Like, did you know I'm in aluminum cans? I line the insides of canned vegetables, fruits and soups. Yup, you'll be getting a dose of homestyle BPA with those green beans.

I was also glad people scoffed at Maine Governor Paul LePage's statement on me. Can you believe what he said? "[T]he worst case is some women may have little beards.” Beards. Really? How can he not know about the nasty health effects I'm linked to? How about those links to breast and prostate cancer? Or diabetes? Heart disease? Miscarriage? Do your research, people! It's all over the news. He's just trying to steal my thunder! Soooo annoying. 

They call me an "Endocrine Disrupter," which totally sounds like some kind of awesome monster truck or something. Soooo awesome.

OMG you guys, The Toxies are gonna be off the hoooooook!! Hope you all can make it. I'm gonna be all, "BPA is money! Seriously, I'm all over paper currency!" Oh that's hilarious, I'm gonna write that down.

Well, I should head out. I have a full day of causing hormone disruption, and contributing to reproductive disorders and breast cancer. Oh, before I go, I made this video after I found out about my nomination. Check it out!!

Yeah, I'm totally going to win, and I deserve it! See you at the Toxies on June 16!

The Toxie Diaries: Formaldehyde

Hey Formalde-fans!! Been awhile since I’ve written, so I decided to update all my followers on what I’m up to.

So, where have I been? Well, if you keep up with the news you’d know I’ve been pretty much everywhere. (Remember when I showed up in those FEMA trailers for the Hurricane Katrina victims, causing respiratory complaints among inhabitants? Oops!!) Even though the EPA tells people I’m known to cause cancer, they can’t do anything about it! I’m still pretty much all around, partying, you know, havin’ a good time. Don’t tell my publicist :).

Anyway, went to the nail salon the other day. I feel like I’m there all the time! Remember when people only knew me as that reeking chemical in high school science class? I’ve come such a long way since then: carpeting, particleboard, personal care products – I’m even showing up in cribs and changing tables, leaching out into the air to be breathed in by little babies. I’m so well known, I can’t wait to show up at my high school reunion and surprise everyone with my overwhelming success and stench! Ugh...do I smell!

Is there a more versatile toxic chemical than me? I’ve made so many lists, it’s hard to keep track.

Oh, news item! I was just put on the Minnesota Priority Chemicals List! “Priority Chemical” – not bad, huh? I guess it has something to do with how I’m a toxic chemical or whatever. Not sure if I get a certificate or trophy or anything for it, but it’s cool to be recognized. And I just want to thank all my victims and the shameless drive for profit over health that’s gotten me to where I am!

And BTW: I’m in the running for a Toxie Award this year—yes! So well deserved! Check out this sweet video of me talking about why the Toxie is mine. You can attend the Toxies and see me in all my glory.

Well, I should run–I’m having lunch with a few friends. (I’ll surprise them in their new clothes.) I hope it goes better than last time. They were all coughing and wheezing the whole time. Okay, I get it, I worsen asthma symptoms, and irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Ya don’t have to make such a big deal about it.

See you, well, pretty much all over the place! Byeeeee!!! <3 <3 <3

 

This blog was authored by Jacob Taintor

The Toxies by Physicians for Social Responsibility-LA and Californians for a Healthy and Green Economy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.changecalifornia.org.