"Moorhead, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Health on Thursday released a list of hundreds of chemicals that pose a potential health risk.

The state's list includes 1,755 substances, among them lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium. But it also includes many other organic chemicals that include pesticides, flame retardants, dyes and other chemicals used in industry or found in consumer products.

Over the next few months that list will be narrowed to a handful of priority chemicals that pose the greatest health risk.

New legislation requires the agency to identify chemicals that might affect the health or development of children. State legislators passed the Toxic Free Kids Act in 2009 in part because of concerns about Bisphenol A, a chemical used to harden plastics. Research found it was leaching into food and beverages stored in plastic containers. "

Dan Gunderson reports for Minnesota Public Radio July 1, 2010. [2]