National Latina Institute Joins Call for Common Sense Limits on Toxic Chemicals

Today, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) celebrates Earth Day 2012 by joining a national call for common-sense limits on toxic chemicals—limits that would reduce the disproportionate impact of toxic chemicals on the reproductive health and well-being of Latinas, our families, and our communities.

"Latinas have a special stake in toxic chemical reform—particularly as it relates to reproductive health. We are overrepresented in jobs like agriculture, hospitality, and health care—jobs that come with high exposures to pesticides, toxic cleaning products, and other dangerous materials. We are less likely to have the resources to buy the safest products for our homes and families, and we are also less likely to have access to health care to treat chronic disease," said Jessica González-Rojas, executive director of NLIRH.

NLIRH joins the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition amid mounting scientific evidence that toxic chemicals in everyday products are harming reproductive health, and that women of color are disproportionately affected. Chemicals like BPA in plastic food cont women's jackets ainers, phthalates in shampoo and body wash, and toxic flame retardants in kids clothing, and others, have been linked to a range of reproductive health problems like infertility, early puberty, and breast cancer.

"Latinas already face disparities in health outcomes and toxic chemicals undoubtedly add to this problem," González-Rojas continued. "Today we stand united with our brothers and sisters in the environmental justice and public health fields in calling on Congress to pass chemical policy reform now."

The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition represents more than 11 million individuals and includes parents, health professionals, reproductive and environmental justice advocates, environmental advocates, and businesses from across the nation.

The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health is the only national organization working on behalf of the reproductive health and justice of the 20 million Latinas, their families and communities in the United States through public education, community mobilization and policy advocacy.