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Ban Flame Retardants
Chemical flame retardants are in sofas, mattresses, strollers, car seats, nap mats, electronics, and many other items. Over time, they get out of furniture and into our bodies, where they increase the risk of cancer, neurodevelopmental problems, and other harm. Thirteen states have banned chemical flame retardants, and it is time that Massachusetts joined them.
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Get PFAS out of food packaging
PFAS are a class of chemicals used to make products non-stick, water-resistant, and stain proof. For over 50 years, PFAS have been added to a wide variety of products, like non-stick cookware, fire fighting foams, clothing, carpets, and food packaging. These chemicals are in the blood of every American who has been tested. Low levels of PFAS have been shown to cause harm to animals, people, and the environment.
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We Should Know
What toxic chemicals are in your child’s toys? Or in the plastic balls at the day care center? What’s in your mattress? Or the shampoo you use? Manufacturers don’t want to tell us, but we should know if carcinogens and other toxic chemicals are in the products we use every day. Washington State requires manufacturers to report on the toxic chemicals added to children’s products. Don’t Massachusetts parents deserve the same right to know?
Mind the Store
Consumers have the power to demand safer products. We work with the national Mind the Store campaign to push big box retailers to get toxic chemicals out of their products. Staples, TJX Corporation, and Stop & Shop are all based in Massachusetts, and we’re leading the effort to get these major retailers to sell safer office supplies, furniture, clothing, and food.
This is a very difficult time. Too many people have gotten sick and died of coronavirus, and too many people are suffering economic losses.
Toxic chemicals are part of this story. PFAS chemicals reduce the body’s immune response; yet, PFAS are routinely added to products. While we look for a vaccine and other medical advances, we need to stop toxic PFAS from flooding the environment and our bodies.
See “Scientists Pin Blame for Some Coronavirus Deaths on Air Pollution, PFAS, & Other Chemicals”
Senators Comerford and Moore ask AG Healey to take action on PFAS
The cost of cleaning up PFAS contamination is enormous. Massachusetts Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton) and Senator Michael Moore (D-Uxbridge) have sent a letter to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, asking her to do what other state attorney generals have done: Take legal action to require the corporations that made billions polluting our state to take responsibility for PFAS contamination. Letter sent to the Attorney General urging action towards companies that have produced PFAS
Common fire retardants killing firefighters UVic report says
by Stephen Hume, Vancouver Sun, May 15, 2020 Flame retardants routinely added to common household products are killing firefighters, putting children and pregnant women at risk and contaminating the environment while not significantly improving safety, says a new report.Raising the Alarm: The Case for Better Flame Retardant Regulation in Canada was prepared by the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Centre for Local 730 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, which represents firefighters at the Victoria Fire Department. It surveyed…
Burning flame retardants = bad!
That’s why Clean Water Action and the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow delivered 433 letters to Governor Charlie Baker on Feb 14, 2020. Our message: Sign the Act to Protect Children, Families and Firefighters! It’s time to ban toxic flame retardants! Over a year ago, Baker vetoed a bill to ban 11 toxic flame retardants from upholstered furniture, children’s products, mattresses, carpeting, bedding, and window treatments. So, when the legislative session started up again, our champions Representative Decker and Cynthia…
Staples announces new chemicals policy
Staples launches new policy to drive toxic chemicals out of office supplies, electronics, textiles, and other products
