New Report Finds 81% of Dollar Store Products Tested Contain One or More Hazardous Chemicals Linked to Learning Disabilities, Cancer & Other Serious Illnesses, Says Campaign for Healthier Solutions

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Campaign for Healthier Solutions – a group of over 100 health, community, and environmental justice organizations nationwide – released a report today about toxic chemicals found in Dollar store products.  A Day Late and a Dollar Short includes testing results of dollar store products such as toys, jewelry, school supplies and other household items that found over 81% (133 of 164) contained at least one hazardous chemical above levels of concern. The full report, plus photos and other background materials, can be found at www.nontoxicdollarstores.org.

The campaign also sent a letter today to the CEO's of the four largest Dollar store chains -- Family Dollar (tentatively acquired by Dollar Tree on January 22), Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and 99 Cents Only – urging them to stop the sale of products with hazardous chemicals to communities of color and low-income families, who already live in more polluted areas and "food deserts," and adopt policies to protect customers, employees and their businesses. Combined these discount chains have sales totaling over $36 billion and operate more stores nationally than Walmart.

"People struggling to make ends meet are confined to shopping at the Dollar stores," said José T. Bravo, National Coordinator for the Campaign for Healthier Solutions.  "We are already disproportionately affected by pollution and lack of adequate medical care, and now we know we may be filling our homes and our bodies with chemicals released from Dollar store products. This needs to stop."

The chemicals of concern tested for this report include: phthalates, linked to birth defects, reduced fertility, cancer, learning disabilities, diabetes, and other health issues; polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC or vinyl), which creates hazards throughout its life cycle and has been linked to asthma and lung effects; and toxic metals such as lead, which harms brain development, leading to learning disabilities, lower IQ, and other serious health impacts, especially in children.

The new report also found that:

• 49% of products tested contained two or more hazardous chemicals above levels of concern;
• 38% of the products tested contained the toxic plastic PVC;
• 32% of a subset of vinyl plastic products tested for phthalates contained levels of regulated phthalates above the Consumer Product Safety Commission limit for children's products.

Fortunately, there is a growing movement by mainstream retail and manufacturing brands – including Target and Walmart – to respond to consumer demand for safer products with publicly-available corporate policies that identify, disclose, and replace priority toxic chemicals with safer alternatives. By failing to adopt similar policies, Dollar chains are not only putting their customers and employees at risk, they are exposing their businesses to the fate of companies like Mattel, which lost 18% of its value after recalling toys with lead paint, and Sigg USA, which went bankrupt after failing to disclose toxic BPA in its water bottles.

The Campaign for Healthier Solutions is asking that:

• Discount Retailers adopt comprehensive chemical management policies to identify, disclose, and remove hazardous chemicals from their supply chains and from all products in their stores.
• Local, State, and Federal Governments ensure that discount retailers comply with all relevant laws and regulations; and adopt public policies that require manufacturers and retailers to disclose hazardous chemicals in products and remove them when safer alternatives are available.
• Families and Communities let Dollar store chains know that they want safer products, and join local and national efforts advocating for nontoxic products.

SOURCE Campaign for Healthier Solutions