Comments on: Toxic Chemicals Again http://citizenreporter.org/2007/10/toxic-chemicals-again/ Under-reported news and global concerns by the one they call Bicyclemark, a podcasting Portuguese-American, radical, activist-journalist, and media hacker; in Amsterdam. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:03:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Amanda@EWG http://citizenreporter.org/2007/10/toxic-chemicals-again/#comment-160566 Amanda@EWG Fri, 02 Nov 2007 20:23:13 +0000 http://bicyclemark.org/blog/2007/10/toxic-chemicals-again/#comment-160566 Aw, shucks! Thanks for the support, Mark. Aw, shucks! Thanks for the support, Mark.

]]> By: DRock http://citizenreporter.org/2007/10/toxic-chemicals-again/#comment-160560 DRock Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:18:24 +0000 http://bicyclemark.org/blog/2007/10/toxic-chemicals-again/#comment-160560 I know little about the specifics but states are generally allowed increase consumer protections beyond the federal level which works as the starting point. Like water quality – there’s the federal limit of nasty stuff allowed in the water but states are allowed to increase the quality of their water. I know certain chemicals, building methods, additives (like trans fat) even plastic bags in supermarkets are band from state to state and even city to city. It’s often difficult for Europeans to conceptualize American federalism and consider amount of autonomy and authority that each state, county and municipality retains in law and regulation making. The Washington, D.C. line is 500 yards from my front door in Silver Spring, MD but it might as well be a world away when it comes to effectiveness of local government, school quality, road construction etc. I know little about the specifics but states are generally allowed increase consumer protections beyond the federal level which works as the starting point. Like water quality – there’s the federal limit of nasty stuff allowed in the water but states are allowed to increase the quality of their water. I know certain chemicals, building methods, additives (like trans fat) even plastic bags in supermarkets are band from state to state and even city to city. It’s often difficult for Europeans to conceptualize American federalism and consider amount of autonomy and authority that each state, county and municipality retains in law and regulation making.

The Washington, D.C. line is 500 yards from my front door in Silver Spring, MD but it might as well be a world away when it comes to effectiveness of local government, school quality, road construction etc.

]]> By: bicyclemark http://citizenreporter.org/2007/10/toxic-chemicals-again/#comment-160559 bicyclemark Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:59:52 +0000 http://bicyclemark.org/blog/2007/10/toxic-chemicals-again/#comment-160559 Hmm.. I should do some reading into that federal threshold in different states. What kind of products if I may ask? Metals? Cloths? Be careful dude! Me, Im ready to get read of my PVC shower curtain.. which is probably poisoning me. Hmm.. I should do some reading into that federal threshold in different states. What kind of products if I may ask? Metals? Cloths? Be careful dude! Me, Im ready to get read of my PVC shower curtain.. which is probably poisoning me.

]]> By: DRock http://citizenreporter.org/2007/10/toxic-chemicals-again/#comment-160558 DRock Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:37:14 +0000 http://bicyclemark.org/blog/2007/10/toxic-chemicals-again/#comment-160558 Well duh - of course we have more dangerous products on our shelves here in the US than in Europe…That’s because we’re more free. Fire crackers, fire arms, toxic chemicals, dangerous toys, hell I’m sure you can even buy hand grenades on ebay…apparently our freedom is way too much for you to handle We don’t have some faceless unelected government hack telling us our toys are made with lead paint – we are free to find that out ourselves. Kids have too many toys as it is…with the lead paint in them parents now have an additional reason not to buy their whiny kids things. Just kidding – I’ll check out the link. When I lived in Holland pot, mushrooms and prostitutes were there for the purchase but if you wanted to get aspirin at the supermarket there was a procedure that involved numerous employees and a locked case. Also, my Dutch friend asked me if I could bring bottles of Visine with me to Holland because you needed a prescription for eye drops there. I thought that was weird. While I don’t doubt that many EU laws are much stricter on consumer protection there did seem to be some very odd cases. Also, keep in mind there is a federal threshold and then states are allowed to increase protections. Many items that I list above (fire arms, fire crackers, chemicals etc.) purchase of them is either illegal or very regulated in many states. Like there are car and motorcycle products I have in my garage that say “not for sale in CA” Well duh - of course we have more dangerous products on our shelves here in the US than in Europe…That’s because we’re more free.

Fire crackers, fire arms, toxic chemicals, dangerous toys, hell I’m sure you can even buy hand grenades on ebay…apparently our freedom is way too much for you to handle

We don’t have some faceless unelected government hack telling us our toys are made with lead paint – we are free to find that out ourselves. Kids have too many toys as it is…with the lead paint in them parents now have an additional reason not to buy their whiny kids things.

Just kidding – I’ll check out the link.

When I lived in Holland pot, mushrooms and prostitutes were there for the purchase but if you wanted to get aspirin at the supermarket there was a procedure that involved numerous employees and a locked case. Also, my Dutch friend asked me if I could bring bottles of Visine with me to Holland because you needed a prescription for eye drops there. I thought that was weird.

While I don’t doubt that many EU laws are much stricter on consumer protection there did seem to be some very odd cases.

Also, keep in mind there is a federal threshold and then states are allowed to increase protections. Many items that I list above (fire arms, fire crackers, chemicals etc.) purchase of them is either illegal or very regulated in many states.

Like there are car and motorcycle products I have in my garage that say “not for sale in CA”

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