CONTACT: Erika Schreder or Carina Wells, Toxic-Free Future | 206.632.1545
OR James Boyd, Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs | 812.856.5490
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(Seattle, WA) – Toddlers and young children spend much of their day crawling, playing and climbing. For parents and childcare providers, that means constant mopping and dusting to keep floors and furniture clean and safe. But a new peer-reviewed study suggests high levels of dangerous contaminants known as PFAS are finding their way into childcare centers through the very products intended to keep children healthy. According to a Washington State proposal, regulators tasked with phasing out PFAS aren’t planning to look at those products—yet. Continue reading
Polishing Over the Effects of PFAS
House Approves Stronger Ban on PFAS in Firefighting Foam
CONTACT: Laurie Valeriano, Executive Director of Toxic-Free Future, 206-200-2824, OR Jaime Smith, Grit City Strategy & Communications (on behalf of TFF), 253-334-5670
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OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State House of Representatives passed a bill Sunday that strengthens the state’s ban on toxic PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam. Continue reading
State Legislatures Take the Lead on Turning Off Tap on Toxic Chemicals
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Gretchen Salter, Safer States, 206- 619-0973
(Portland, OR) –States are stepping up to protect public health from harmful chemicals, according to an analysis by Safer States. The analysis found that at least 29 states will consider more than 180 policies to require companies to disclose what is in their products as well as limit exposures to toxic chemicals. These policies include bans on PFAS in food packaging and firefighting foam as well as bans on toxic flame retardants in electronics. The analysis, including a searchable database, is available online at SaferStates.org/bill-tracker.
New Ecolabel Meets Demand for Identifying PFAS-Free Firefighting Foam Products
Somerville, MA—As global concerns grow around the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—known as the ‘forever chemicals’ because they can persist for thousands of years in the environment—Clean Production Action today released GreenScreen Certified™ Firefighting Foam, the first ecolabel for PFAS-free* firefighting foam products. Continue reading
Community-Led Solutions to Disparities in Lead Exposure
Lead hazards are alive and well in King County, Washington, especially those due to household paint in homes built before 1978. Though a lot of progress has been made in the US bringing down blood lead levels in children through policy solutions including removal of lead from gasoline, household paint, and many consumer products, lead’s lasting impact lives on. And, lead hazards impact communities of color and low income communities in a disproportionate way.1,2,3,4 For example, a higher percentage of black children have concerning blood lead levels than white children, as do children living in lower income families vs. higher income families.3 Continue reading
Washington State Legislature Proposes More Action on Toxic PFAS
Olympia, WA—Yesterday, the Washington State House of Representatives kicked off the 2020 legislative session by hearing a bill in the Environment and Energy Committee to take more action on toxic PFAS in firefighting foam. Continue reading
Congress Follows Washington State’s Lead and Bans PFAS in Firefighting Foam
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This morning, the U.S. Senate voted to approve the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes several important provisions that begin to take action on the PFAS contamination crisis. The final NDAA includes important provisions to phase out the military’s use of firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals, which has led to contamination of water supplies for millions of Americans. At the same time, key provisions were left out of the bill that would have required cleanup of PFAS-contaminated communities and industrial water pollution. Continue reading
New Study Finds Lead in and Around Puget Sound Homes
CONTACT: Carina Wells, cwells@toxicfreefuture.org, 206-632-1545 x 112
Seattle, WA – In a study released today, environmental health advocacy group Toxic-Free Future found lead in house dust, soil, and drinking water in and around Puget Sound area homes. The report Hidden Danger: Lead in Puget Sound Homes assesses key sources of children’s exposure to lead in the home environment. Continue reading
NDAA Conference Report Will End Military Use of PFAS Firefighting Foam, Fails to Include PFAS Clean-up Measures
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last night, Congressional negotiators finalized the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which now includes several important provisions that begin to take action on the PFAS contamination crisis. At the same time, the conferees left out key provisions that would have required cleanup of PFAS-contaminated communities and industrial water pollution. The final NDAA includes important provisions to phase out the military’s use of firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals, which has led to contamination of water supplies for millions of Americans. Continue reading
Washington-Based Retailers Trail in Race to Prevent Harmful Chemicals in Products
In Washington state, innovation, disruption and hyper-competition thrive. But when it comes to being at the leading edge in making and selling the safest stuff for our health and the planet, Washington-based retailers are mediocre at best and failing at worst. Continue reading