Googie vs. Goliath

The old Denny's at the corner of 15th and NW Market in Seattle is boarded up and ready for the wrecking ball. Not so fast! The former fast food refuge is at the center of a war between developers and historic preservationists. What's historic about a Denny's? It's Googie, a type of architecture from the '50s and '60s featuring colorful signs, plate glass and pop culture imagery. Think of the Space Needle or the Jetsons and you've got the idea. On the next KCTS 9 Connects, see how this former omelet outlet has become an unlikely icon for the city. How it's at the heart of a debate between saving history and building for the future. And how it has exposed a little-known secret of the landmarking process developers who buy property and nominate it to be an historic landmark, but hoping it will be rejected so they can demolish the existing structure without future interference.

Phthalate Risk: Questionable Chemicals in Your Home and Your Children

A new health study released this week finds that some widely used baby products, such as baby powder and baby lotion, might be exposing children to a chemical that could be hurting their health and bad for the environment too.

The chemicals in question are called phthalates. Phthalates are a group of chemicals, sometimes referred to as "plasticizers," that are added to plastic or vinyl products to make them more flexible. They also help fragrances last longer, so they are used in air fresheners and perfumes. And phthalates are used in some cosmetics because they help lotions and other products soften and penetrate your skin.

But numerous studies have linked phthalates to a variety of health concerns. Phthalates have been found to cause reproductive problems in lab rats. Other studies have linked phthalates to allergies, childhood asthma, and even obesity.

In the latest report issued this week, researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine detected elevated levels of phthalates in infants who had recently been powdered, lotioned or shampooed with baby products. The report warns parents to limit the use of such products on infants, except where determined to be "medically necessary." Parents are especially urged to use restraint when using these products on babies under 8-months-old, when critical body systems such as brain function are still developing.

The American Chemistry Council disputes the study, claiming:

In fact, the science on phthalates is not altogether conclusive. The Centers for Disease Control admits that more research is needed on the health effects of phthalates on people.

The Phthalate Information Center, and industry group, says findings of adverse health effects on people

While the debate continues about the danger of phthalates, there is no question that the chemicals are ubiquitous. The CDC says a majority of Americans are routinely exposed to at least five different phthalates. Another study estimates that 75 percent of Americans have phthalates in their system at any given time. One European study even found detectable levels of phthalates in dust in people's homes, and in air samples take from around the world.

So how do you know a product has phthalates? Right now it's tough to tell. Manufacturers are not required to list phthalates on product labels. One giveaway is the word "fragrance." That is usually an indicator of phthalates. Or you can call a specific company and ask them if they have phthalates in their product. Some manufacturers aware of the controversy have begun including the words "Phthalate Free" on products that do not contain phthalates.

But even if a product doesn't contain phthalates, the container might. Since phthalates are used to soften plastic, they are often found in flexible plastic containers. These phthalates can leach into products. Infants who chew or mouth on plastic containers can also be affected.

The chemical industry maintains that phthalates are not a serious health risk because they do not build up in a person's body. Phthalates are excreted from the body in urine 24 to 48 hours after exposure. But health experts maintain that the risk comes from nearly constant and repeated exposure to phthalates, not from a build-up in the system.

There's an environmental component too. In a recent KCTS 9 Connects story about pollution in Seattle's Duwamish Waterway, experts expressed concerns about phthalate levels in the river. "We flush these down our drains all the time," says B.J. Cummings, with the Duwamish Cleanup Coalition. "Try not to use products with phthalates because they're ultimately going to wind up going down the drain or down the storm drain outside."

Europe has taken a strong stand against phthalates. The European Union banned the use of five phthalates in children's toys in 1999, because of concerns about reproductive damage, genetic mutations, and cancer. In Europe, many chemicals are banned if they are even suspected of causing harm, contrary to the U.S. where the government generally must prove that a chemical is harmful before it is restricted.

But awareness about phthalates is growing. The state of California has passed a law banning phthalates in children's toys. That law takes effect in January, 2009. In Washington State, a bill that would ban phthalates and other toxins in toys and baby lotions seems to be advancing in the legislature. Click here for the Senate bill SB6530 or click here for the House bill HB 2647.

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