With decades of scientific evidence from animal studies and emerging human studies showing phthalates can interfere with development of the male reproductive tract, it is surprising that anyone, even Patrick Moore, would argue in your pages that children's toys should contain phthalates (``Activists would take kids' toys,'' Perspective, Nov. 28, Page 6).
In future references, Plastics News should identify Moore as not just ``chief scientist of Greenspirit Strategies,'' but also as ``on the Vinyl Institute payroll'' - as he was when he lobbied at VI expense against the Boston Dioxin Resolution in 2003. With Microsoft, Wal-Mart, Kaiser Permanente, Catholic Healthcare West and other large companies phasing out vinyl due to health and environmental concerns, and with major cities such as Boston and San Francisco changing their purchasing practices to favor safer, nondioxin-producing products, the writing is clearly on the wall for vinyl.
We urge toy and plastics manufacturers to provide American kids with safer, nontoxic, non-PVC, phthalate-free toys.
Stacy Malkan
Health Care Without Harm
Arlington Va.