A new report from SAFER States and the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition shows that states aren’t waiting for Congress to take action on toxic chemicals—they are taking matters into their own hands. Titled Healthy States: Protecting Families From Toxic Chemicals While Congress Lags Behind, the new report asserts that three factors are driving state legislators to take action on toxic chemicals:
- Mounting scientific evidence that exposure to certain chemicals is harming our nation’s health
- Loud public outcry against what are viewed as chemical intruders in the family home
- Deep frustration that Congress refuses to hold industry accountable for proving chemicals in products are safe before they arrive on store shelves.
Download the full report.
Download the Executive Summary.
Read the Press Release.
Read Campaign Director Andy Igrejas’ blog: States are getting tough on toxics — will Congress?
The report’s analysis of votes on state laws shows that both Republican and Democratic state lawmakers are taking a stand against toxins.
- Of the votes cast, about 99% of Democrats and 73% of Republicans favored stronger protections for children’s health and the environment from dangerous chemicals, with equal support from governors of each party.
The report shows state restrictions on toxic chemicals are on the rise, and will probably continue to increase until Congress overhauls failing federal legislation.
- In the last eight years, eighteen states have passed 71 chemical safety laws.
- The pace of state policy making on chemicals has more than tripled in eight years.
- Sixty-six laws banned bisphenol A (BPA) in baby and toddler products (with 98% support), phased out toxic flame retardants (PBDEs) in home products (93%), reduced children’s exposure from common products containing lead (88%) and cadmium (86%), and promoted green cleaning.
