posted June 13, 2000 01:08 PM
Fellow Environment & Children's Health Advocates -As you may have heard by now Public Citizen & Health Research Group has
filed a petition to issue a legally mandatory ban & recall on the use of
lead in candle wicks. I'm hoping to enlist your help by submitting your
comments in writing in support of enacting a mandated ban of lead in any &
all candles made or sold in the U.S. The deadline for comments is June 12th; however, a representative from the CPSC's Office of General Council contacted me last Friday to inform me that they would accept & consider late arriving comments submitted. Please try to get your comments in at your earliest possible convenience
*Read :
Comments Submitted by Public Citizen & Health Research Group http://www.citizen.org/hrg/PUBLICATIONS/1510.htm#Supplemental letter
This is an action that is so long overdue, necessary & attainable - but the deadline on June 12th is quickly approaching. Countries that are involved with free trade with the US are encouraged to submit comment as well. If you are active in other environmental & public health advocacy lists or groups or keep in contact with people that would support this - it would be so appreciated if you could circulate this with some of the groups you associate with. The petition needs all the support that can possibly be brought together. This is truly a case of every letter counts or they will & fully intend to sweep this again right under the rug with another unenforceable, voluntary and basically meaningless, ban, clearly this is not in the best interests or the safety and welfare of consumers, their families
& especially their children or even the "hands-on" candle makers themselves.
[The industry & their trade association are pushing for a more lax voluntary
action rather than mandatory ban.].
This was an issue back in 1973 & 1974 & should have been taken care of then
but in spite of the EPA Administrator at the time urging a mandatory ban...a
voluntary ban was approved and then not complied with or even monitored. The
EPA study that Mr. Train references was performed in 1974 & determined that -
"Burning only two candles three hours each day on a regular basis in the
home could increase exposure to airborne lead by a factor of 5 or more. This
exposure to lead from candles could equal or exceed the exposure to airborne
lead associated with the busiest freeways in America." [keep in mind this was a time when leaded gasoline was still fairly commonplace]. "Inhabitants of homes in which lead wick candles are burned could be exposed to substantial
incremental quantities of lead which, if continued on a regular basis would
pose a significantly high risk to health especially among children." Mr.
Train goes on to say: "In my opinion candles represent an unnecessary
incremental source of lead that can readily be controlled. It is my strong
recommendation that the Consumer Product Safety Commission do all in it's
power to prevent exposure to the substantial and unnecessary source of lead
in candles."
To read the complete copy of the referenced letter & other related documents* go to: http://www.fiscorp.net/iaq/docs/
* These are all copies of documents from 1973 & 1974.
If you would like to read more on the current pending petitions, these 2
links will fill you in on the details:
Petition to ban lead candles [http://www.citizen.org/hrg/PUBLICATIONS/1510.htm]
Millions of Dangerous Candles Sold Throughout U.S.; Lead Wicks Pose Major Health & Safety Hazard, Especially to Children
[http://www.citizen.org/press/pr-sid29.htm]
At any rate, the CPSC is accepting comments from the public regarding this
proposal. It's unbelievable that in the year 2000 we even
need a petition & comment period to ban an insidious poison consumers may
be
unwittingly releasing into their homes & attempt to fix an erroneous
policy on lead in candles from 26 years ago. But the fact remains that's
where we stand now. I hope I can count on your participation in submitting
comments, possibly even encourage like minded individuals to submit comments
as well by sending this out to the other groups & individuals to which you
are a member or have affiliations with.
The CPSC site also has a copy of the petition available:
Petition HP 00-3 Requesting a Ban of Candle Wicks Containing Lead and of Candles Containing Such Wicks - Comments accepted until 6/12/00
[http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr00/wicks.html]
The address where comments need to be sent:
ADDRESSES: Comments on the petition should be sent to:
E-Mail to: cpsc-os@cpsc.gov
With the subject heading: "Petition HP 00-3--Candle Wicks
Containing Lead."
Office of the Secretary
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, DC 20207
telephone (301) 504-0800
OR delivered to:
Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission
room 502, 4330 East-West Highway
Bethesda, Maryland 20814.
Comments may also be filed by
Fax (301) 504-0127
Comments should be captioned ``Petition HP 00-3--Candle Wicks
Containing Lead.''
Please be sure to CC the following addresses:
SWOLFE@citizen.org,
plurie@citizen.org,
RKFABF@aol.com
This whole issue was raised & attracted the attention of the media & public health officials by a Mom, how fitting it would be if a flood of comments from Mothers was responsible for instituting an enforceable ban & possibly a Federal Law...correcting the mistake of almost 3 decades of looking the other way. [see: http://www.fiscorp.net/iaq/docs/* These are all copies of documents from 1973 & 1974.]
After all when you think about it isn't it women for the most part that make this product [especially crafters] & purchase this product? Women are the ones that burn them, consequently women & their children face the most significant exposures. Since women & their children are the most affected by these products we need to have a voice for our children that sends a clear message for consideration on behalf of our families and the most vulnerable members of our families. For instance did you know that 7 out of 10 homes burn candles on what would be considered a regular basis, according to a Kline & Co. study.... Or that 96% of women have purchased scented candles in the past 12 months? If this isn't a women's & children's issue I don't know what is!
My heartfelt appreciation to those who take the time to respond in support of this petition. I will keep you apprised of the petition's progress if you like.
Feel free to contact me if you have any unanswered questions pertaining to the petition or the issue in general.
------------------
Cathy Flanders
IAQ List Manager & Moderator
E-Mail: iaq-owner@onelist.com
Fax # 781-394-8288
Personal E-Mail: RKFABF@aol.com
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posted June 13, 2000 01:08 PM