Press Releases - Women's Voices for the Earth

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...

House Parties Launched to Detox Homes for New Parents

11 May 2012

Organization Women’s Voices for the Earth seeks to reduce exposure to unregulated toxic chemicals Contact: Sian Wu, swu@colehourcohen.com, 206-701-4734 Cassidy Randall, cassidyr@womensvoices.org, 406-543-3747 MISSOULA, Mont. –The national women’s health nonprofit Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) has come out with a fun way to get rid of toxic chemicals lurking in the home: throw a party. The organization has been working closely with parents concerned about disconcerting news that unregulated toxic chemicals, including carcinogens, can be found in everyday personal care products, cleaners, and other common household products. As a result, WVE developed the Green Momma Party. Designed for baby...

Tide Pressured to Reformulate After Laboratory Testing Finds Carcinogen in Tide Free & Gentle

23 Apr 2012

Procter & Gamble faces lawsuit in California Date: April 13, 2011 Contact: Sian Wu, swu@colehourcohen.com, 206-262-0363 x115 Erin Switalski, erins@womensvoices.org, 406-396-6324 Rachel Sarnoff, rachel@healthychild.org, 310-820-2030 SACRAMENTO—Today an alliance of health nonprofits and nurses associations issued a public letter to executives at Procter & Gamble, in an effort to pressure the corporation to reformulate its detergents, which were found to contain actionable levels of 1,4-dioxane under California law. The State of California’s Proposition 65 classifies 1,4-dioxane as a known human carcinogen. The alliance is especially concerned about the presence of the toxic chemical in Tide Free & Gentle®, a detergent heavily...