WASHINGTON STATE BANS FLAME RETARDANTS
Burned by Flame Retardants?: Science News Online, Oct. 13, 2001
Robert C. Hale of the Department of Environmental Science in Gloucester Point, Va., and his colleagues measured
PBDEs in U.S. sewage sludge. ...
www.sciencenews.org/20011013/bob18.asp - 55k - Cached - Similar pages
New Data Back Up Sludge Debate Rebecca Renner / Environmental ...
Hale and colleagues report that the contributions of PBDE congeners in the sewage sludge samples matched those in
the penta- commercial formulation, ...
www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/Sewage-Slduge-PBDEs.htm - 7k - Cached - Similar pages
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 3, 2007
CONTACT: Laurie Valeriano, Washington Toxics Coalition, 206-200-2824
Jamie Smith, House Democratic Caucus, 360-786-7631
Washington State Legislature Passes First-in-the-Nation Ban on Toxic Flame
Retardants
Measure Passes Senate 41 to 8, Goes to Governor for Signature
Olympia-The Washington State Legislature has passed the nation's first ban
on all forms of the toxic flame retardants known as PBDEs. The Senate passed
ESHB1024, sponsored by Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Medina), by a 41 to 8 margin at
noon today. Senator Debbie Regala (D-Tacoma) sponsored the companion bill in
the Senate.
"Washington state is leading the way for improving the health and safety of
our children," said Hunter, who has sponsored the legislation for three
years. "We've come up with a common-sense strategy for preserving fire
safety while getting rid of chemicals like PBDEs that build up in our
environment, in our bodies, and even in mothers' breast milk."
Major manufacturers, including HP, Dell, Sony, Panasonic, and Phillips, have
already stopped using PBDEs in their products. Sen. Regala applauded the
bill's final passage, saying "Companies have proven that we don't need toxic
chemicals like PBDEs to make effective products. It's up to us at the state
level to move the rest of the industry toward safer practices."
The Washington State Departments of Ecology and Health requested the
legislation, which is supported by Governor Gregoire, three state fire
associations, the Washington State Nurses Association, the Washington
Medical Association, and many others. The bill is the first one of the four
Priorities for a Healthy Washington to head to the Governor's desk. While
other states have passed bans on the penta and octa forms of PBDEs, which
have been phased out of manufacture, Washington is the first to act on the
deca form. Deca has by far the highest production volume of the PBDE forms.
"Fire fighters are concerned about preventing fires and reducing exposure to
toxic chemicals, because we're on the front lines in both cases," said Keven
Rojecki of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters. "Fire fighters are
already exposed to so many deadly carcinogens, it is critical that safer
alternatives be used to ensure products are fire safe. This bill is a
victory for protecting the health of firefighters and the public from
harmful toxic chemicals."
The legislation does the following:
* Bans the use of the penta and octa forms of PBDEs, with limited
exceptions, by 2008
* Bans the use of the deca form in mattresses by 2008
* Bans the use of the deca form in televisions, computers, and residential
upholstered furniture by 2011, as long as a safer, reasonable, and effective
alternative has been identified by the state departments of Ecology and
Health and approved by fire safety officials
"This legislation is about doing the right thing to protect families and our
environment from the harmful effects of PBDEs," said Rep. Skip Priest,
R-Federal Way. "We're doing the responsible thing-banning the chemical and
working with alternative fire retardants so we don't trade one danger for
another." Priest added that he was very concerned about the possible link
between PBDEs and irregular brain development in fetuses. This measure, he
says, is the only sure way to break that connection.
As the measure gained momentum, the bromine industry, the most significant
opponent to the legislation, employed tactics that included testifying as
fire safety organizations and widely distributing a mailer with misleading
information.
"With the passage of this legislation, Washington is a safer place to raise
children," said Laurie Valeriano, Policy Director for the Washington Toxics
Coalition. "Scientific facts and disease prevention won out today over
chemical industry scare tactics and hype."
Three hundred health care professionals signed a letter supporting the ban
on PBDEs, citing harmful health impacts from PBDEs including learning and
behavioral disorders, memory impairments, disruption of thyroid function,
reproductive effects, and cancer. The letter's authors note that substantial
evidence shows the buildup of PBDEs in people, orca whales, and the
environment, and new studies find that the deca form breaks down into other
forms of PBDEs that have already been phased out.
"This action by the Washington State legislature marks a crucial step
forward for the health, development and learning of Washington's children."
said Barry Lawson, MD, Immediate Past President of the Washington Chapter of
American Academy of Pediatrics said, "By phasing out PBDEs, we can
safeguard our children from exposures to these persistent toxic chemicals
and act on our responsibility to provide them with a healthier future."
"This is truly a case where prevention is essential," said Judy Huntington,
MN, RN, Executive Director of the Washington State Nurses Association. "By
passing this legislation, we are making vital progress in protecting our
state's children, families and workers from permanent yet preventable harm."
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Margaret Shield
Coalition Coordinator
Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., Suite 540
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 206-632-1545 ext 123
Fax: 206-632-8661
www.toxicfreelegacy.org
The Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition is a broad-based alliance of organizations
working to eliminate persistent toxic chemicals and promote safer
alternatives throughout Washington State.