Bush expected to sign bill banning certain chemicals in children's products

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Bush expected to sign bill banning certain chemicals in children's products

Story Published: Aug 13, 2008 at 6:48 PM EST

Story Updated: Aug 13, 2008 at 6:48 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP)- President Bush is expected to soon sign a bill
seen as making the "most significant improvement to product
safety'' in decades.

The bill bans lead from children's toys and imposes the toughest lead standards for such products in the world. Lead paint was a major factor in the recall of 45 million toys and children's items last year. Many of those were from China.

Among other things, the bill also bans a chemical called phthalates, widely used to make plastic products softer and more flexible. It also doubles the budget for the agency charged with keeping an eye on such hazards, the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The CPSC estimates there are about 28,000 deaths each year from unsafe toys and other products in the U.S.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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