Author: Stephanie Stohler

Not good enough: Washington state chemical action plan on PFAS is falling short

Stephanie Stohler | 
Little kid in a raincoat and boots walking outside

It’s crystal clear now that PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) are bad-actor chemicals that need to be eliminated. But with federal action slow and inadequate, it’s up to states like Washington to step out and show how we can turn off the tap, stopping PFAS at the source and cleaning up contamination. The Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) current draft chemical action plan (CAP) to address PFAS falls short by taking too long to take action on important PFAS sources and it is not comprehensive enough to end the PFAS contamination crisis. But we have a chance to improve it now with strong public support.

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Washington needs to tackle toxic PFAS in firefighting gear

Stephanie Stohler | 
Firefighters spraying water on a fire

With fires raging all along the west coast this season, the importance of firefighters’ work has never been more clear. But beyond the obvious dangers are the toxic hazards they face at work. For many, one of their greatest concerns is the chemical exposures they get on the job and the potential for those exposures to lead to cancer. Cancer is now the leading cause of death among firefighters, and they have higher rates of cancer than the general population. 

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Letters Opposing the Nomination of Nancy Beck as CPSC Chair

Stephanie Stohler | 

The following letters were sent to the Senate Commerce Committee’s Chairman Roger Wicker and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, opposing the nomination of Nancy Beck to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Earth Day at home: 10 films to make you laugh, cry, and yell

Stephanie Stohler | 

In Seattle, we are proud to be the home of Denis Hayes, founder of Earth Day and current President and CEO of the Bullitt Foundation. Denis recognized decades ago how critically important it is to end the unnecessary use of dangerous chemicals that contribute to chronic disease. Now more than ever, this must be a public health priority because people with chronic diseases are at increased risk of dying from COVID-19.

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Eight reasons to actually celebrate on National Teflon Day

Stephanie Stohler | 

Editor’s Note: This post was written by Beth Kemler of Safer Chemicals Healthy Families.

Today is National Teflon Day—but that is NOT cause for celebration. It is one of the worst “holidays” we can imagine because it’s the anniversary of the accidental invention of the first non-stick chemical that would eventually become Teflon in 1938. Since then, chemical companies have invented many other chemicals in the same class—per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). And these chemicals, which are used for stain, grease, and water resistance, have gone on the market with little to no testing, ending up in everyday products and contaminating our food, air, water, and bodies. Scientists have found links between PFAS chemicals and health problems such as cancer, hormone disruption, and harm to the immune system. Some PFAS never break down in the environment, leading scientists to call them “forever chemicals.” Continue reading →

Inslee signs nation-leading bill to end exemptions for biggest users of PFAS in firefighting foam

Stephanie Stohler | 

Contacts: Laurie Valeriano, Executive Director of Toxic-Free Future – 206-200-2824; Jaime Smith, Grit City Strategy & Communications (on behalf of TFF) – 253-334-5670

(Olympia, WA) – Gov. Jay Inslee today signed legislation that puts Washington State at the forefront of the effort to phase out PFAS in firefighting foam. The state Legislature in 2018 passed a first-in-the-nation ban on the sale of PFAS-containing firefighting foam for most uses, but exempted some of the biggest contributors such as oil facilities, chemical plants and airports. The Safer Firefighting Foam Act signed today eliminates those exemptions and creates the strongest state ban in the country. Continue reading →