Clean Car Campaign

Environmental Education

Greening Chemistry

Healthy Food in Healthcare

Safe Kids, Homes, Towns

Save Land, Build Community

Trash & Recycling

Ecology Center Campaigns

Media Contacts

Mike Garfield
Director
734-761-3186 x104 michaelg@ecocenter.org

Jeff Gearhart
Auto Project Campaign Director
734-761-3186 x117 jeffg@ecocenter.org

Mike Shriberg
Policy Director
734-761-3186 x108 mikes@ecocenter.org

Press Releases

2010

Oil Company Front Group Distorts Truth in Michigan Radio Ads to Avoid Responsibility for Carbon Pollution – Facts Show Low-Carbon Fuel Policy Would Create Jobs in State's Auto and Agricultural Sectors

An oil company-funded ad campaign in Michigan and other Midwest states is distorting the truth in order to keep Michigan addicted to imported oil. The ads are part of a $1 million dollar effort to strong-arm Senators Levin & Stabenow, along with other supporters, into opposing a federal Low-carbon Fuel Standard. Michigan's Senators rightfully claim that car companies aren't the only industry that should be required to cut emissions. They understand that low carbon fuels, such as advanced electric batteries and cellulosic ethanol, are good for Michigan's economy.

Ecology Center Applauds President Obama's Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing Efforts – But Michigan Needs Additional Policies to Ensure Demand for EV's

The Ecology Center applauds the Obama administration's support of U.S. advanced battery manufacturing initiatives, highlighted in the President's visit today to the groundbreaking of Compact Power's new lithium-ion battery assembly plant in Holland, MI.

Parents and Children’s Health Advocates Urge the Michigan Congressional Delegation to Protect the Great Lakes!

Backed by a 25-foot inflatable rubber ducky that has been touring the country, Michigan parents, political leaders, and health and children's advocates will come together to call for protecting our children and Great Lakes from further damage from toxic chemicals . The gathering comes just as Congress is debating a bill to reform Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the nation's primary law that has been failing to ensure that chemicals are safe. Michigan's Congressional delegation plays a critical role in shaping the federal debate.

New Study: Michigan Families Routinely Exposed to Hidden Toxic Chemical BPA in Canned Foods

Eating common canned foods is exposing consumers to levels of bisphenol A (BPA) equal to levels shown to cause health problems in laboratory animals, according to a new study released today by the Michigan-based Ecology Center and The National Work Group for Safe Markets, a coalition of public health and environmental health groups. The study, No Silver Lining, tested food from 50 cans from 19 US states, including Michigan, and one Canadian province for BPA contamination. Over 90% of the cans tested had detectable levels of BPA, some at higher levels than have been detected in previous studies.

Is the Capitol Toxic? Toxic Flame Retardants & Lead Found in Lawmaker Offices, Capitol

Samples taken from two lawmaker offices, the Capitol and Boji Tower contained significant levels of the toxic flame retardant deca-BDE and lead, study results released today revealed. The Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health unveiled these and other findings, increasing the urgency of its call for immediate passage of HB 4699, which would phase-out deca-BDE, and for the Children's Safe Products Act (HB 4763-69), which would give parents a right-to-know about the most toxic chemicals in children's products.

Great Lakes Groups Urge Congress to Protect the Lakes Through Chemical Reform Law

Prior to the expected release of major legislation this month, 60 Great Lakes groups sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to protect the Great Lakes region from the worst toxic chemicals as part of reforming our nation's chemical laws. The letters were signed by groups in all eight Great Lakes states, representing hundreds of thousands of residents in the region and widespread concern over past and present chemical contamination of the Lakes.

Historic New Fuel Economy Standards a Win-Win-Win for the Environment, Consumers, and the Industry

The Ecology Center applauds the final fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission rules announced by the Obama administration today. The rules represent a first-ever joint rulemaking between the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They also meet the requirements previously adopted by the State of California and by other states that adopted the California standards.

According to researchers at HealthyStuff.org, who have tested more than 4,000 children's products over the past three years, lead has been steadily decreasing in toys. In fact, the number of products with lead exceeding current federal standards for lead in toys (300 ppm) decreased by 2/3 (67%) since 2007. However, one in three of all toys tested (32%) this holiday season still contained one or more harmful chemical including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. Read more

January 27, 2010: Michigan House Overwhelmingly Passes Ban on Toxic Flame Retardant

Following the recommendations of the state's leading medical, health, and environmental organizations - as well as fire fighters - the Michigan House nearly unanimously passed HB 4699 (94-6), which would phase-out the toxic flame retardant deca-BDE. This long awaited bi-partisan vote follows on the heels of a voluntary agreement to end the manufacture, import, and sale of the chemical between three major manufacturers of deca-BDE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

January 21, 2010:Reductions in Toxic Chemical Exposure Would Make Michigan Healthier, Wealthier, New Report Finds

1/21/10 - Evidence is strong and growing that chemical exposures contribute significantly to the rise in many chronic diseases, according to a new report synthesizing peer-reviewed science released today. "The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act" finds that Michiganders and all Americans would be healthier if exposure to toxic chemicals was reduced. Michiganders could conservatively save over $150 million annually in health care costs.

2009

October 8, 2009: "Body Burden" Study Reveals Toxic Chemicals in Michigan State Rep & Prominent Pediatrician

The first national study of the toxic chemical "body burden" in health professionals found an array of hazardous chemicals in twenty doctors and nurses across the country, including state Representative Jimmy Womack, MD and the founder of MSU's Department of Pediatrics, Dr. William Weil.

October 7, 2009: Midwest Clean Energy Proposal Sets New, High National Standard, Groups Say

A blueprint for making robust investments in clean energy and energy efficiency — shaped jointly by utilities, environmental and farm groups, industry, labor unions, and state government — would catapult the Midwest ahead of other regions in generating economic development from technologies that combat global warming, according to observers of the Midwestern Governors Association's (MGA) Jobs and Energy Forum Wednesday.

September 16, 2009: New Database on Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products Reveals Lead, Arsenic, PVC, & Hazardous Flame Retardants in School Supplies, Pet Products, Cars, and More

HealthyStuff.org Urges Government and Manufacturers to Phase Out the Most Hazardous Substances Immediately

A nonprofit environmental research organization released results today on over 900 common products tested for toxic chemicals including lead, cadmium, mercury, bromine, chlorine (PVC) and arsenic. Using an XRF analyzer, researchers at the Ecology Center analyzed the ingredients of pet products, cars, women's handbags, children's car seats and more, creating the largest database yet of independent tests of toxic chemicals in consumer goods.

September 8, 2009: New Study Finds Low-Carbon Fuels Policy Essential to Michigan's Leadership Role in Breaking America's Oil Addiction

By redirecting even a portion of the over $14 billion that leaves our economy each year to import petroleum products, Michigan could become a leader in developing and using sustainable homegrown fuels and advanced battery technologies.

August 26, 2009: Environmental Protection Agency Moves to Ban Sale of Toxic Lead Tire Balancing Weights for Cars

In a decision issued today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reversed its 2005 decision and accepted a petition from a dozen environmental and public health organizations to immediately begin rulemaking to ban lead wheel balancing weights.

August 13, 2009: Groups Demand That GM Fulfill Its Obligation to Recover Mercury From Old Vehicles

Environment groups expressed concern and dismay with the "new" General Motors (GM) claim that it's not responsible for funding the recycling of mercury switches from its old vehicles. The groups are demanding that the company continue meeting its obligations to fund legacy mercury recovery costs from GM end-of-life vehicles.

July 30, 2009: Climate Council and Gov. Granholm: Michigan must forge ahead with ambitious plan to cut greenhouse gases, become energy independent and create jobs

Governor Jennifer Granholm's Executive Directive (2009-4), released today, reflects the unique consensus on Michigan energy policy reforms reached recently by a diverse group of leaders from manufacturing, automotive industries, utility companies, environmental groups, universities, and government.

May 27, 2009: Coalition Calls for Mayor Bing to do the Right Thing: Outrage at Council’s reversal on New Business Model for Solid Waste and Ending of Incineration

During the mayoral campaign, Mayor Dave Bing stated that he supports an end to incineration of Detroit's trash, "The City cannot sell what it burns," in his support for the New Business Model for Detroit Solid Waste. Mayor Bing's immediate action on the proposed City Budget is crucial to ending incineration of Detroit trash and expanding the business opportunities based on materials recovery.

May 14, 2009: Huge Dow Shareholder Vote Urges Transparency on Cleanup

Almost 30 percent of Dow's voting shareholders voted to urge the company to report on progress to clean up a massive contamination site at Dow's mid-Michigan global headquarters. This is the third year in a row that this resolution has received significant support from shareholders.

May 13, 2009: House Passage of Landmark Children's Safe Products Act Hailed by Health & Environmental Organizations, Parents & Toy Store Owners

The state's leading health, medical, health-affected, and environmental organizations as well as thousands of parents celebrated today's House passage of the Children's Safe Products Act (HB 4763-69) as a first step toward protecting children from toxic chemicals in children's products.

April 20, 2009: Safe Children's Products Act Hailed by Health & Environmental Groups

Backed by a 25-foot inflatable rubber ducky at press events around the state, some of the state's leading health, medical, health-affected and environmental organizations enthusiastically supported the recently introduced Safe Children's Products Act as a first step to protecting children from toxic chemicals in children's products. The Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health will be holding an Earth Day (April 22) citizen action day at the Capitol to help move the bills (HB 4763-69) swiftly.

April 8, 2009: Green Chemistry - The Next Big Thing for the New Green Economy

The annual membership meeting of the Ecology Center will feature acclaimed investigative scientist John Warner, co-founder of the field of Green Chemistry, and founder and chief of the world’s first green chemistry institute, the Warner Babcock Institute, in Massachusetts. The event takes place on Thursday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m., in the Pendleton Room of the Michigan Union, 530 S. State Street, in Ann Arbor.

March 25, 2009: Bill to Restrict Toxic Flame Retardant Introduced

HB 4699 -- which would phase-out a toxic flame retardant (Deca-BDE) in mattresses, residential furniture, televisions, and computers -- was introduced today by Representative Deb Kennedy and a bi-partisan group of 21 cosponsors and referred to the House Committee on Great Lakes & Environment.

March 17, 2009: Michigan House Votes 88-20 to Restrict Pharmaceutical Pesticide Lindane

Leading health, medical and environmental groups in Michigan praised today’s 88-20 bipartisan vote to help protect children and our Great Lakes from an outdated treatment for lice and scabies. The Michigan House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HB 4402 to restrict pharmaceutical use of the toxic pesticide lindane.

March 11, 2009: House Committee Overwhelmingly Passes Restrictions on Dangerous Pesticide Lindane

Health, medical and environmental organizations praised the Michigan House Great Lakes & Environment Committee for overwhelmingly advancing important legislation (HB 4402) protecting children's health today.

February 3, 2009: Granholm Slams Brakes on MI Coal Rush

Citizens today applauded Gov. Jennifer Granholm's far-reaching announcement to fundamentally change how Michigan fuels its energy needs. The new plan, which prioritizes clean energy, has put Michigan's coal rush on hold, requiring all new and expanded coal plant developers to go back to the drawing board and consider cleaner energy alternatives to the coal plants.