I had to do a double take last month when I read an article about new research in the Journal of Pediatrics showing that more than one in ten girls are starting to develop breasts by age seven, with even higher rates in some communities. [1]

Seven year old girls should be able to focus on playing with friends and learning to read, not having to deal with the complex physical and mental effects of puberty.

Tell Congress to protect the healthy childhoods of America’s children by co-sponsoring an update to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

What does updating the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) have to do with preventing early onset of puberty?

One of the many contributing factors to the rise in early puberty is that young children are exposed to dozens of potentially toxic chemicals on a daily basis.  In fact, endocrine disruptors, which are chemicals that mimic and interfere with hormones, show up in a wide variety of everyday items including: household cleaners, air fresheners, cosmetics, canned foods, and school supplies. These endocrine disruptors can cause the early onset of puberty. [2]

Updating the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is crucial to the health of our kids because, currently TSCA lacks a requirement that chemicals be tested to assess their ability to disrupt hormones.  This means that many of the chemicals we encounter every day have never been tested for safety.  In fact, since the passage of TSCA in 1976, the EPA has required testing of less than 1 percent of the chemicals in commerce!
The TSCA update would require chemical manufacturers to provide basic health and safety information for all chemicals as a condition for staying in or entering the marketplace. It would also, for the first time, make that information public. [3]

It's time for us to take action and support updating TSCA.  Our daughters deserve better!  The physical and mental ramifications of early puberty are substantial. Girls who begin puberty at an early age are more likely to experience low self esteem, poor body image, and depression. Physical side effects include an increased risk for breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and elevated blood pressure.

This September, our children need more than just new school supplies: They need new toxics legislation to protect their growing bodies.

Tell your members of Congress to co-sponsor an update to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)!

Early puberty is just one of the many frightening health effects which can be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals. Our broken chemical screening system also puts our families at risk for cancer, learning disabilities, infertility, and more.

We can’t protect our kids and families from toxics without updating legislation like the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Please share this blog post with the Share links below so your friends and families can take action too!

Here's that action link again so you have it handy: http://action.momsrising.org/go/NewTSCA1/360?akid=2306.12456.AVoJY5&t=6

Together we are a powerful force for families!

[1] "Some girls' puberty age still falling, study suggests":  http://action.momsrising.org/go/361?akid=2306.12456.AVoJY5&t=8
[2] "Pubertal Assessment Method and Baseline Characteristics in a Mixed Longitudinal Study of Girls":  http://action.momsrising.org/go/362?akid=2306.12456.AVoJY5&t=10
[3] "Recent Findings on Early Puberty in Girls Highlight Urgent Need for New Chemicals Policy": http://action.momsrising.org/go/363?akid=2306.12456.AVoJY5&t=12