From women’s handbags to pet toys, many of the everyday products that consumers use contain toxic chemicals like lead and arsenic, the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center said in an announcement Wednesday.

The environmental group released a new Web site, www.HealthyStuff.org, to host a database full of products they tested for toxic chemicals. The database will have more than 15,000 products listed in the database, including 5,000 common household items.

They announced the new Web site in a press conference at the The Doll Hospital and Toy Soldier Shop in Berkley today.

"One thing it shows there are good alternatives. We've found many, many products that don't have hazardous chemicals," said Mike Shriberg, spokesman for the Ecology Center. "Now, you can actually do your shopping based on minimizing your exposure to these chemicals.

"But our ultimate goal is moving our economy away from using these toxic chemicals."

The Ecology Center came out with HealthyToys.org in 2007 to highlight chemicals, such as lead, cadmium and mercury, they found by testing children’s toys. It also came out with vehicle testing on the Web site www.HealthyCar.org that same year.

Through its testing, Shriberg said, was the center found nearly half of pet chew toys had at least one hazardous chemical. "We have a problem in our system that allows these products," Shriberg said.

The announcement of the expanded database was made to coincide with the release of a letter from a group of independent toy store owners asking the Michigan senate to pass pending legislation that would require manufacturers to identify products made with toxic chemicals in them.

Tina Reed covers health and the environment for Ann Arbor.com. She can be reached at tinareed@annarbor.com or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.