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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="#000099" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://www.ecori.org/public-safety/2014/4/16/concerned-consumers-demand-walgreens-reduce-sale-of-products.html">http://www.ecori.org/public-safety/2014/4/16/concerned-consumers-demand-walgreens-reduce-sale-of-products.html</a></span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
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<font size="4" color="#1f4079" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:14.5pt;color:#1F4079"><a href="http://www.ecori.org/public-safety/2014/4/16/concerned-consumers-demand-walgreens-reduce-sale-of-products.html"><font size="5" color="#000c58"><span style="font-size:15.5pt;color:#000C58;background:white;text-decoration:none">Concerned
Consumers Demand Walgreens Reduce Sale of Products Containing Toxic Chemicals</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<font size="3" color="#010101" face="Georgia"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#010101">By ecoRI News staff<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<font size="3" color="#010101" face="Georgia"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#010101">PROVIDENCE — Concerned activists recently descended on the Walgreens at 333 Atwells Ave., saying the company has failed to take
action to reduce the sale of products containing toxic chemicals. The shoppers pointed to a new study showing that some of the company’s products contain harmful chemicals linked to cancer, learning disabilities, infertility and other serious health problems.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<font size="3" color="#010101" face="Georgia"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#010101">The April 16 event was part of a national “<a href="http://mindthestore.saferchemicals.org/" target="_blank"><font color="#608ccb"><span style="color:#608CCB;background:white;text-decoration:none">Mind
the Store</span></font></a>” day of action to raise awareness of toxic chemicals in consumer products. Similar events took place at some 35 Walgreens nationwide.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<font size="3" color="#010101" face="Georgia"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#010101">“Legislation on chemical safety is decades old. Other companies are making policies that end the use of hazardous chemicals in
their products,” said Kassi Archambault, a Clean Water Action organizer. “Stores that take this family friendly step in consideration of their customers’ health will get my business and will tap into the support of legions of concerned families across the
country. It's that simple.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<font size="3" color="#010101" face="Georgia"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#010101">The action was in response to a
<a href="http://www.healthystuff.org/findings.04162014.walgreensMTS.php" target="_blank">
<font color="#608ccb"><span style="color:#608CCB;background:white;text-decoration:none">study</span></font></a> by HealthyStuff.org, a project of the Ecology Center, that found that many Walgreens products contain hazardous chemicals. Parents returned the products
containing toxic chemicals, and delivered postcards to the store manager signed by concerned customers.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<font size="3" color="#010101" face="Georgia"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#010101">“We should be able to trust that a store like Walgreens in our neighborhood has safe products on their shelves that don’t contain
the most hazardous ingredients, like lead or triclosan,” said Jamie Rhodes, a Warwick father and Clean Water Action Rhode Island director. “We want to support stores that show this level of caring for our families and our pets, and are frankly surprised that
Walgreens isn’t taking more of a step in this direction. Scouring the fine print on labels, hoping to leave the store with safe products, is simply not practical or feasible.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<font size="3" color="#010101" face="Georgia"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#010101">Since last April, more than 60,000 customers have sent Walgreens letters urging the company to create an action plan on the “Hazardous
100+” toxic chemicals. To date, the company hasn’t responded to the Mind the Store campaign’s letters or requests to meet.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<font size="3" color="#010101" face="Georgia"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#010101">Similar events took place in neighboring Massachusetts.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<font size="3" color="#010101" face="Georgia"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#010101">“Preventing harm to our health from toxic chemicals is a moral imperative," said Rev. Laura Everett, executive director of the
Massachusetts Council of Churches. “We know that the most vulnerable among us to these chemicals include pregnant women, young children, and communities of color already overburdened with pollution. We hope that Walgreens takes this into account and moves
forward with a more health protective store policy.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<font size="3" color="#010101" face="Georgia"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#010101">Scientists at HealthyStuff.org tested 44 products from Walgreens, including household cleaning products, school supplies, pet
toys and everyday consumer products. Many were found to have one or more chemicals, including PVC (vinyl) plastic, phthalates, organotins and heavy metals that have been identified to be toxic to public health.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<font size="3" color="#010101" face="Georgia"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#010101">Walgreens also carries a broad selection of personal care products that contain chemicals linked to cancer and reproductive disorders,
such as triclosan in toothpaste, lead in lipstick and formaldehyde releasers in baby shampoo.<br>
<br>
Laboratory testing identified high levels of phthalates in a number of products sold at Walgreens, including a 3-ring binder, vinyl shower curtain, iPod/iPhone charger and a handbag. Of the 13 vinyl products screened for phthalates, all 13 tested positive for
regulated phthalates at levels greater than 10,000 parts per million.<br>
<br>
About 30 percent (13 of 44) of the products tested contained high chlorine levels, suggesting they may be made of the toxic plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC). A pet tennis ball contained elevated levels of lead. About 27 percent of the products tested contained
antimony-based flame retardants, and 20 percent of the products tested contained organotins.<br>
<br>
“Retailers like Walgreens have the responsibility to sell products that are safe, not toxic,” said Mike Schade, Mind the Store campaign director for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families. “While other big retailers are beginning to tackle toxic chemicals, Walgreens
has yet to develop a comprehensive plan of action to address unnecessary dangerous chemicals in the products they sell.”<br>
<br>
In recent months, several major national retailers including Walmart, Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond have announced initiatives to disclose and limit the use of chemicals that are known hazards and appear on the Mind the Store’s
<a href="http://mindthestore.saferchemicals.org/hazardous100+" target="_blank"><font color="#608ccb"><span style="color:#608CCB;background:white;text-decoration:none">Hazardous 100+</span></font></a> list.</span></font><font size="1" color="#010101" face="Georgia"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#010101"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="#000099" face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="#000099" face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></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/">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<o:p></o:p></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">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"><o:p></o:p></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<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="#000099" face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
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