GENEVIEVE REILLY greilly@ctpost.com

TRUMBULL — Environmentalists are aiming at Target stores nationwide.

About a half-dozen members of the Fairfield County Environmental Justice Network and the East End Community Council passed out fliers Wednesday afternoon in front of the Hawley Lane store in an effort to get the retail chain to rid its stores of polyvinyl chloride.

Similar protests were held all over the country in front of Target stores.

The demonstrators said the PVC, used in packaging and such items as shower curtains and teething rings, is linked to cancer and other health concerns.

"I was a little bit aware," said Guilford resident Lori Craig as she left the store. "When I had babies I remember going on- line and reading about it, but I don't know if I made a lot of changes."

Now, she said, the demonstration may influence what products she buys.

According to Katherine Woodhead, of the Fairfield County Environmental Justice Network, other businesses including Wal-Mart, Nike, Microsoft, Ikea, H&M and Johnson & Johnson, are all phasing out PVC in products and packaging, but Target refuses to do so.

In a statement released Wednesday, Target's media relations department said the company is "very disturbed by the gross misrepresentation" of Target's use of PVC.

Target is "committed to exploring alternatives to PVC. We need first to understand the availability of alternatives and suitability for mass production applications across a large number of product lines in order to make an informed decision about PVC."

The protesters were only able to pass out their information for about 20 minutes before being asked to leave by store management because of the store's policy barring solicitation.

"I think we did some damage," said Bridgeport resident Elaine Ward, who'd been buttonholing shoppers, especially those with small children in tow.

After being told to stop passing out fliers and disturbing customers, the group waited for the store's manager so they could hand deliver a letter about the PVC protest.

"They can still see the signs," Ward said.

Both Ward and fellow Bridgeport resident Mildred Williams just found out about the possible dangers of PVC a few days ago, they said.

Williams, whose son has asthma, said she wants to do anything she can to take toxins out of the air.

When PVC is incinerated, it releases dioxins.

In Connecticut, 16,257 tons of PVC was incinerated in one year, according to information handed out b the justice center.

"I didn't know how long we'd be able to hand out our fliers," Woodhead said. "But we did get the word out. Between all of us, we talked to a lot of people and I'm satisfied with that."

She said the simultaneous demonstrations across the nation "should have a cumulative effect and let Target know we're serious."

The Fairfield County group is part of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice, a group that says its mission is to protect urban environments through education and the promotion of policy changes. It also tries to promote individual, corporate and governmental responsibility toward the environment.

Target said it has a "solid track record of environmental stewardship" and the safety of its customers and the well-being of the communities it serves are a priority.