Press Releases - Women's Voices for the Earth

California Attorney General’s Office Says Brazilian Blowout Products Violate California Air Quality Law, Must be Removed from Marketplace

22 Oct 2012

Company violates agreement with State of California For immediate release: October 22, 2012 Los Angeles—The California attorney general is asking a Superior Court in Los Angeles to order the manufacturers of Brazilian Blowout hair straightening solution, GIB, LLC (GIB) to stop selling its product in California. According to the attorney general’s court papers, testing by three different laboratories shows that GIB’s hair straightening product violates California air quality law and emits smog-forming pollutants at levels higher than allowed by the California Air Resources Board. Formaldehyde, a human carcinogen, is a major ingredient in Brazilian Blowout. “Brazilian Blowout continues to expose...

Led by Representative Rehberg, Congress Once Again Attacks Program to Identify Cancer-Causing Chemicals

05 Sep 2012

Scientists, Physicians, Consumer Advocates, Business Community, Parents Outraged   For immediate release: September 4, 2012 Missoula – Representative Denny Rehberg has authored a rider for the Labor, Health and Human Services (LHHS) funding bill for 2013 that would effectively deny funding for the Report on Carcinogens (ROC) produced by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The Report on Carcinogens (ROC) is an informational report on chemicals that are “known” or “reasonably anticipated” to cause cancer in humans and provides essential information to the public. Many chemicals listed in the report are in products that have historically been used...

New Report Finds Hidden Toxic Chemicals Linked to Asthma and Birth Defects in Children’s Back to School Supplies

27 Aug 2012

Lab tests reveal higher levels than deemed safe in toys New guide to safer school supplies released For immediate release: August 27, 2012 MISSOULA – A new report reveals toxic chemicals linked to asthma and birth defects that are banned in toys were found to be widespread in children’s vinyl back-to-school supplies. Twenty different children’s school supplies were shown in laboratory tests to have elevated levels of toxic phthalates in popular Disney, Spiderman, and Dora branded school supplies, including vinyl lunchboxes, backpacks, 3-ring binders, raincoats, and rain boots. All of the products were purchased during the 2012 “back-to-school” shopping season. ...

Johnson & Johnson Makes Historic Commitment to Remove Cancer-Causing Chemicals

15 Aug 2012

Other Cosmetics Giants Challenged to Follow Suit For Immediate Release: August 15, 2012 San Francisco — Prompted by growing concerns raised by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), makers of Aveeno, Neutrogena, and Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, announced today that it will be removing carcinogens and other toxic chemicals from its baby and adult products globally. “This is a major victory for public health,” said Lisa Archer, director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund, a co-founder of the campaign. “We applaud Johnson & Johnson for its leadership in committing to remove cancer-causing...

Salon Workers Expose Ugly Side of Beauty Industry to Lawmakers

23 Jul 2012

Horror stories, health risks spur calls for reform For Immediate Release: July 23rd, 2012 WASHINGTON DC – This week, dozens of salon workers and advocates from all over the country will be descending upon D.C. for a day of action to raise awareness about toxic chemical exposure in the workplace. Workers will meet with lawmakers and share personal stories of the negative health impacts they have suffered as a result of working with salon products that contain toxic chemicals, including the still popular hair treatment Brazilian Blowout that was found last year to contain very high levels of the carcinogen...

Local Organization Wins 2012 Women’s Empowerment Award

28 Jun 2012

Women’s Voices for the Earth recognized for national campaigns to protect women’s health from toxic chemicals For immediate release: June 26, 2012 Contact: Erin Switalski, (406) 543-3747, erins@womensvoices.org MISSOULA – Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE), a national women’s health organization based here in Missoula, is a recipient of the 2012 Women’s Empowerment Awards and has been named to a new list of top-rated groups by GreatNonprofits. “I’m proud that WVE is here in Montana representing influential national work on women’s health issues and toxic chemicals,” said Erin Switalski, executive director of Women’s Voices for the Earth. WVE was founded...