American Heart Association: Environmental toxins linked to heart defects

Dallas, TX – Children’s congenital heart defects may be associated with their mothers’ exposure to specific mixtures of environmental toxins during pregnancy, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2013.

Congenital heart defects occur when the heart or blood vessels near the heart don’t develop normally before birth. Defects may be caused by chromosomal abnormalities, but the cause is unknown in most cases. [Read more]

Consumer Reports’ tests find some items high in heavy metals are still on the market

Cell phone charm from Claire’s caused greatest concern

Yonkers, NY — Consumer Reports’ latest tests of 30 children’s and household products found three items containing worrisome levels of heavy metals: A metal and rhinestone hair barrette with a high level of total cadmium, a cell-phone charm with lead levels so high it would be illegal if it were considered a children’s product, and samples of a popular children’s vinyl raincoat that were purchased in late 2009 and had parts that exceeded legal lead limits for children’s products. The raincoat was reformulated and labeled “100 % lead free” and CR’s tests of the newer version showed it contained only low or trace amounts of lead.

Four years after CR began routinely checking consumer products for heavy metals, and two years after sweeping rules sought to limit lead in children’s products, CR examined a variety of children’s products and household items that seemed likely to contain heavy metals, based on past recalls and the magazine’s previous tests. Of the more than 30 products CR tested using an initial screening method called X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), 14 showed relatively high levels. They were sent for further testing to an outside lab to determine total amounts of lead, cadmium, and mercury. [Read more]