Mortgage, Loans, Insurance, Real Estate, Investment, Tax and Financial Services

Scientists, Researchers, NGOs, & DCA Lead Electronics Industry to Environmental Victory; The Unnecessary Use of Potentially Toxic Fire Retardants in

San Francisco (PRWEB) May 6, 2008 -- Dr. Arlene Blum, a visiting scholar in the Chemistry Department at the University of California at Berkeley; Friends of the Earth; Design Chain Associates, LLC; the Center for Environmental Health; the Initiative for Green Science Policy; and a worldwide coalition of scientists, physicians, and NGOs have achieved what was thought to be impossible. A proposed new draft standard by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), IEC 62368 "Audio/Video, Information and Communication Technology Equipment - Safety - Requirements," which could have led to the introduction of hundreds of millions of pounds of potentially toxic fire retardant chemicals into consumers' homes and bodies, has been defeated. Eighteen of the 31 voting countries, or 58%, voted against the IEC draft standard based on new information provided by the coalition. This was far more than the 25% needed to defeat the standard.

The majority of IEC 62368 improves existing standards for electronic product safety; however Clause 7, a part of the standard which would have required plastic enclosures for household electronic products to withstand candle flame ignition, had no valid fire safety rationale, but enormous potential negative consequences. The Clause, which was promoted as an enhanced fire safety standard, in fact had limited potential to affect fire safety, as appliance fires represent only a small number of the total candle fires in the US each year. In the US - which has the best fire data in the world - appliance fires caused by candles, which represent a far broader scope than was covered by this draft standard, amount to only 3% of total candle fires, result in no deaths, and cause only $5M of property damage a year according to a 2007 report by the National Fire Protection Association.

In order to meet the requirements outlined in Clause 7, producers would likely have used hundreds of millions of pounds of potentially toxic fire retardant chemicals that can migrate out of consumer products into dust, humans, and animals where they persist and bioaccumulate. Many dozens of peer-reviewed scientific papers provide evidence of environmental toxicity as well as negative health impacts in many species, including humans. Fire retardant chemicals that are used in electronics and many other products can cause neurological and reproductive impairments such as hyperactivity, mental retardation, reduced sperm count, reproductive dysfunction, thyroid abnormalities, endocrine disruption, and/or cancer in animals exposed to them. These negative impacts have led to an ongoing stream of restrictions by governments around the world on the use of a series of fire retardant chemicals in consumer products.

Dr. Arlene Blum, who is working with the coalition of scientists and physicians who studied the impacts of Clause 7, noted, "My colleagues and I are delighted that the IEC committees didn't move forward with this potentially destructive standard without considering current health and environmental information." Dr Blum coordinated the research and writing of the "The Case against Fire Retardant Electronics, an extensive report (available at http://greensciencepolicy.org/standards.shtml) which summarizes scientific research showing that the fire retardant chemicals currently in use could have negative environmental and health consequences, and also highlights the lack of a well-documented fire safety rationale in Clause 7.

The fire retardant chemical industry does not provide adequate information about the chemical composition or toxicology of its products, nor does it acknowledge the extensive literature of scientific publications showing environmental and health/safety problems. Clause 7 was initiated and promoted by this industry through the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) which is housed in the office of the fire retardant industry's Washington, DC-based lobbyist, Peter Sparber and Associates.

"Through deceptive and incomplete data, and sheer force of will, the fire retardant industry has, over the past several years, very nearly succeeded in making this candle flame ignition requirement a fait accompli", said Mike Kirschner of Design Chain Associates. "The electronics industry's desire is to improve environmental performance of its products and this would have driven it in the other direction for no good reason."

Following a decision last December by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to not move forward with an open flame standard for furniture foam due to health and environmental concerns, CPSC Commissioner Thomas Moore said, "No one wants to trade fire risks for chemical toxicity risks." No one, that is, except the fire retardant chemical industry.

"Fire retardant chemicals are building up in our bodies at astonishing rates, with children now showing the highest levels. This is of great concern given that these chemicals have not been proven safe," said Sara Schedler, of Friends of the Earth. "We cannot continue to allow consumers to be the test subjects for untested chemicals."

"We are pleased that the chemical industry failed in its attempt to use false claims about fire safety as a way to sell more hazardous chemicals," said Judy Levin, of The Center for Environmental Health. "Consumers deserve safe electronics made without unnecessary chemical threats."

The efforts of the fire retardant chemical industry to promote candle standards for consumer electronic housings through the NASFM are not over. There are two other draft IEC standards, revisions of IEC 60065 (TV and audio equipment) and IEC 60950 (IT equipment), that incorporate this same Clause 7 candle flame resistance requirements. In addition, the NASFM has introduced the requirement in Canadian CSA and American UL standards which have votes scheduled for May 19. We urge members of all committees to vote against all of these harmful and unnecessary standards.

?

The Initiative for Green Science Policy's mission is to interface between academic scientists and engineers and industry to provide current objective research results and data to help industry move to less toxic chemicals and means of production. It will serve as an interface between scientists and the policy needs of national, state, and local governments and will educate undergraduate and graduate science and engineering students to understand and include environmental and health impacts of chemicals and materials in their research.

?

Friends of the Earth (FOE) is a 39-year old international environmental nonprofit organization with U.S. bases in Washington D.C. and San Francisco. FOE conducts major campaigns on global warming, human health and toxics elimination, cleaner energy and transportation. FOE's Safe Kids campaign protects public and environmental health by working towards chemical policy reform and the immediate phase-out of highly toxic chemical fire retardants called halogenated fire retardants from consumer products.

?

Design Chain Associates, LLC provides services that help Electronics OEMs increase engineering, procurement, and production efficiency, product and operational environmental performance, and corporate profitability by ensuring that the right decisions about supply base and the environment are made during the earliest stages of the product lifecycle, and are built-in to corporate strategies and tactics. We focus on helping manufacturing clients understand, comply with, track, and develop profitable strategies around and beyond emerging environmental regulations like RoHS, WEEE, EuP, and REACH.

Center for Environmental Health: For over ten years, the Center for Environmental Health has worked at the intersection of public health and the environment, reducing pollution and promoting alternatives to the many chemicals that cause cancer, asthma, learning disabilities, birth defects, and other illnesses. For the past three years, CEH has been working on minimizing the environmental and public health impacts of electronics throughout their lifecycle. Our cutting-edge work moves major industries to greener practices, demonstrating the value in business that protects public health.

###

Student loan consolidation with federal debt program
If you are a college student (parents please take note), this Federal Government program can help you cut monthly payments on your student loans. You can consolidate now and lock in a low fixed rate. When you consolidate student loans with a Federal Consolidation Loan, you not only can take advantage of these low rates, you can lock in that rate for the life of your loan. One easy process, one low fixed rate, one low monthly payment, one lender. This is a free U.S. Government program (no fees or other charges). Really Great Rate is an authorized agency for this program - you can check your eligibility in a minute or two, with no obligation

Home Equity Loans: Expert Tips and Advice
Get expert advice, tips, and timely information. Manage your own Real Estate and Investment Portfolio to generate an income so you can take control of your financial life and do the things you want to do.

MORE ARTICLES:

Is It Still Possible To Work And Make Money at Home?
Everyone pretty much falls into two categories;(1) Web masters (those who know everything about web site creation, optimization, and promotion), and (2) the rest of us. Although I have put together a few of my own sites, they are very basic, and I would never claim to be a master! So those of you who are like me fall in the second category, read on!Anyone heard of online surveys? Work at home moms and dads can earn supplemental, or even a full time income from filling in company surveys.

Michael Shaw Photography Expands Their Services
Well-established wedding photographers link with master Wedding Videographer. Professional wedding and portrait photographers Michael Shaw Photography and Nick Stubbs of Pan Photography are now linked with Master Wedding Videographer, Graham Mackay of the Mackay Multimedia Group.

Mortgage Insiders Change Sides to Help Consumers Fight Foreclosures
A group of mortgage industry executives and lawyers have formed a new company to offer assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure due to the mortgage industry collapse. Using their knowledge of mortgages and their relationship with lenders they are helping borrowers keep their homes, and work out new loan arrangements to avoid foreclosure, bankruptcy and financial ruin.

Fast Payday Loan
A fast payday loan or quick payday loan is actually a small, high rate, and short term type of loan that allows you to borrow money on the strength of your next pay check. This type of loan is now commonly advertised on television, radio, the Internet, and even the email that many people are highly familiar with it. However, does fast payday loan really fast? This is just the common question among many customers, and this indeed need answers.

Getting Ready to Sell Your Santa Monica Home
So you?ve been thinking about a new home lately It happens every day

Get Out Of The Rat Race  Start A Home Business
Some wise guy out there once said that it doesnt matter if you are ahead in the rat race, the fact that you are in that race means you are a rat. He meant it figuratively of course but the message is, as long as you are an employee, somebody higher ranked than you are will always call the shots and you can either quit your job or follow his or her commands. Do you have any other choice? Of course you do, you can always fire your boss and start your own home business.

How to Find the Perfect Home
Your home is so much more than a building of brick and stone. It is a huge investment not only financially but emotionally and time wise as well To assure that your purchase is a match to what you have dreamed of, there are certain steps that you can take. Sit down and make a list for yourself of what you are thinking of when you see your home in your minds eye. Is it a pre-built condo, or a pre existing house that your are thinking of. Do you want a gated community, where security and other benefits are added for your convenience? Preexisting homes are for sale in community builds all the time. Know in your mind what your perfect home really is where would it be, and what would it look like. Is it a condominium, or is it a two story farm...

Strong Growth a Result of RemitPro’s Innovation in Providing On-Demand Services for Mission-Critical Payments Applications
Strengthening its category leadership in the financial services marketplace, RemitPro today announced outstanding revenue, customer and volume growth in 2005 for its Remote Deposit Capture Check21 application and services.

JK Harris & Company Saves Beaufort Man in Excess of $125,000
JK Harris submitted an Offer in Compromise to the IRS on behalf of client and saved him more than $125,000.

Choose Your Mortgage Protection Insurance Wisely For The Best Deal
When it comes to getting the best deal and the cheapest premium on your mortgage protection insurance then without a doubt the only way to go is to shop around and go with a specialist provider. A specialist provider can make sure that you understand the policy and that it is suitable for your particular needs, as well as highlighting any exclusion within them. Of course, you should always make sure that you read the small print too to make doubly sure that the policy is right for you.

MLM Training For MLM Lead Generation
When I first got started in network marketing, I was told to buy generic leads from lead vendors and start cold calling them weekly. This is what my upline told me when it came to my mlm training with my team. After a year or so I became very good at it. In Fact I recruited over 150 people into my team. However what I found was that buying leads and cold calling was not as duplicable as my upline lead it to be. However I also noticed that all the people that I recruited from cold calling lead list were not duplicating as well.

Used Car Loan ? Drive Money Home in a Used Car
Driving a car home has always been a dream for all of us. If you want to buy a used car and need financing for that then used car loan will prove to the best among different types of loans available nowadays. Used car dealer are exclusively providing used car loans with various flexible packages and it?s becoming more and more popular among car buyers. Normally you will find this loan in two forms ? secured and unsecured. Going for secured used car loan will force you to pledge some security as collateral against the financing. This security can be any of valuable assets like your home, real estate or jewelleries etc. On the other hand unsecured one does not require any collateral to be pledged. So people who are not having any property ...

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. Retains Media Consultants to provide Communication services and Redesign Company Website
Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. (Amex: ZN), announced that is has retained media consultants New Day Media of Tulsa, Oklahoma to provide Zion with services related to traditional and internet media and also public relations. Increased media coverage will help Zion build both investor awareness and future business relationships. To that end, Zion will be attending the NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) 2008 Exposition.

WSI (We Simplify Internet Marketing) Enters Dayton's Professional Services Website Design Field
Julie Murphy, WSI Internet Marketing Consultant, announces today the company's launch of its professional services website development project, http://www.thegrowthcoach-mehrler.com.