Press Release: 5/28/2026

Physicians, advocates call upon Massachusetts legislators to get toxic chemicals out of children’s products





























Ask legislators to stop "ducking the issue" and pass Toxic Free Kids bill



 



May 28, 2026 



Media contact: Laura Spark, Clean Water Action



Email: lspark@cleanwater.org / Phone: (617) 637-7152



 



What:  Boston Children’s Hospital, Clean Water Action and Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility invite members of the press to a press conference and rally to call attention to the need to protect children’s health by passing An Act relative to toxic free kids (H4357/S2660).



 



Dr. Alan Woolf, Co-Director of Boston Children’s Hospital Pediatric Environmental Health Center will speak, along with physicians from Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, Massachusetts Medical Society and advocates from Conservation Law Foundation, and Clean Water Action. 



 



Speakers will be in front of the Massachusetts State House, next to a giant 30’ inflatable rubber duckie. Rubber duckies are a symbol of toxic children’s products, because these ducks are usually made of polyvinyl plastic and often contain chemicals of concern.



 



When: Wednesday, June 3, 2026, 12:00-12:30pm



 



Where: Sidewalk in front of Massachusetts State House



 



Who: A coalition of leading medical institutions and organizations including American Association of Pediatrics-Massachusetts Chapter, Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts Medical Society, Association of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Massachusetts Public Health Alliance, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition and environmental advocates including Clean Water Action, Conservation Law Foundation and Sierra Club, Massachusetts Chapter.



 



Why: Rates of serious illness among children and young adults have been steadily rising over the past several decades. Scientific research links these increases to early life exposure to toxic chemicals.



 



Thousands of children’s products, including toys, personal care products, mattresses and bedding, strollers, furniture, feeding implements, and jewelry contain toxic chemicals, exposing children day and night to chemicals known to cause health harm. 



 



The Act relative to toxic free kids requires manufacturers to disclose toxic chemicals added to children’s products and to remove chemicals most likely to harm children.



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Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is a physician-led non-profit advocacy organization with approximately 1,600 members. Our chapter includes experts in public health, cancer epidemiology, occupational medicine, environmental health, emergency medicine, and disaster preparedness. 



 



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Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility

PO Box 470563

Brookline, MA 02447

info@gpbsr.org

GBPSR.org