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That's exciting. Does anyone even have one anymore? What are my credit cards made of?<br>
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<div id="divRpF703789" style="direction: ltr;"><font face="Tahoma" size="2" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us [pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us] on behalf of DeBiasi, Deborah (DEQ) [Deborah.DeBiasi@deq.virginia.gov]<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, January 31, 2014 2:05 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> (pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us)<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Pharmwaste] Checkbook covers may soon be phthalate-free<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext; font-weight:bold">http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2014/jan/checkbook-covers-and-phthalates</span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><font size="6" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:24.0pt; color:windowtext; font-weight:bold">Checkbook covers may soon be phthalate-free
</span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">By Lindsey Konkel</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">Staff Writer</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">Environmental Health News</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">Jan. 31, 2014</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">Some checkbook covers may soon be free of a chemical linked to hormone disruption and cancer.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">A settlement between Deluxe Corp., a large, Minnesota-based manufacturer of checkbook covers, and a consumer advocate requires
the company to remove a phthalate from checkbook covers or label their products with a health warning.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">The suit was
<a href="https://www.chanler.com/blog/posts/new-proposition-65-settlement-will-affect-deluxe-corporations-checkbook-covers-thanks-cha" target="_blank">
<font color="blue"><span style="color:blue">settled</span></font></a> under a California law known as Proposition 65, which requires companies to inform consumers when selling products in California that contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive
harm.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">"The quality and safety of our products are paramount. We do not believe that the use of any of our checkbook covers, as intended,
creates any kind of health risk. We are providing warnings consistent with California law. We are taking steps to reformulate checkbook cover material in a timely manner," a Deluxe Corp. spokesperson said Thursday.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">In 2012, California resident Russell Brimer alleged in the lawsuit that Deluxe Corp. was selling checkbook covers containing traces
of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate. Known as DEHP, it is used to soften plastics. Chemical manufacturers have said that phthalates are safe at the small amounts found in vinyl products.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><font size="3" color="#057234" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:#057234; font-weight:bold">“Often companies will opt to reformulate products rather than adding warnings, resulting in safer products
for consumers.” –<i><span style="font-style:italic">Sam Delson, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment</span></i>
</span></font></b><font color="black"><span style="color:windowtext">DEHP is <a href="http://www.oehha.org/prop65/CRNR_notices/list_changes/6Ddehpnot.html" target="_blank">
<font color="blue"><span style="color:blue">listed</span></font></a> by California as a carcinogen and male developmental toxicant. It has been linked to lower testosterone and altered development of reproductive organs in studies of lab animals and people.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">The lawsuit alleged that testing showed that the levels of the chemical in the checkbook covers exceeded the amount that the state
deemed safe under Prop. 65. The settlement includes a commitment by Deluxe that all checkbook covers sold in California will not contain DEHP at a level exceeding 0.1 percent or they will contain health hazard warnings.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">“Often companies will opt to reformulate products rather than adding warnings, resulting in safer products for consumers,” said
Sam Delson, deputy director of the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, which determines which chemicals qualify for the law.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">Stephen Cohen, a senior attorney with Chanler Group, a Berkeley, Calif..-based law firm that filed the suit, estimates that millions
of checkbook covers will be affected. The suit includes covers as well as the plastic inserts inside.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">Deluxe Corporation, which says it is “America’s best-known check brand,” has 4 million small business customers and 6,200 financial
institution clients.</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; color:windowtext">As part of the settlement, Deluxe will pay up to $135,000 in fines, with a portion to be waived if the company meets a June, 2015
deadline of certifying that it at has reformulated at least 90 percent of its checkbook covers.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="#000099" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:navy">Deborah L. DeBiasi</span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:navy"><br>
</span></font><b><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:navy; font-weight:bold">Email: Deborah.DeBiasi@deq.virginia.gov</span></font></b><b><i><font size="2" color="red"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:red; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic"><br>
</span></font></i></b><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:navy">WEB site address:
<a href="http://www.deq.virginia.gov/" target="_blank">www.deq.virginia.gov</a></span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:navy"><br>
</span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:navy">Virginia Department of Environmental Quality</span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:navy"><br>
</span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:navy">Office of Water Permits
</span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:navy"><br>
</span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:navy">Industrial Pretreatment/Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program</span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:navy"><br>
</span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:navy">PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:navy"><a href="http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/PermittingCompliance/PollutionDischargeElimination/Microconstituents.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/PermittingCompliance/PollutionDischargeElimination/Microconstituents.aspx</a></span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:navy"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:navy">Mail: P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218</span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:navy"><br>
</span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:navy">Location: 629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219</span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:11.0pt; color:navy"><br>
</span></font><font size="2" color="navy"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:navy">PH: 804-698-4028 FAX: 804-698-4032</span></font></p>
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