I learned a devastating fact this month: rates of thyroid cancer have tripled in the last 30 years and researchers have linked the increase to high levels of toxic flame retardants in house dust. Toxic flame retardants get into our homes when they escape products like TVs – one of the largest uses of toxic flame retardants in consumer products. Simply put, your TV could be poisoning your home. It’s infuriating that harmful chemicals like toxic flame retardants have been allowed on the market and in our homes! I knew these chemicals were bad when we banned some of them in products like TVs in 2007, but chemical makers keep substituting chemicals that are equally bad or worse. We shouldn’t have to wonder whether a TV contains chemicals that could cause devastating health effects for our families and leave a toxic legacy for future generations. But these studies also strengthen our resolve at Toxic-Free Future to continue advocating for and winning stronger protections against toxic chemicals. And we’ve been busy this month doing just that!
- Program Director Nancy Uding testified in Olympia in favor of strengthening the state’s program that requires makers of kids’ products to publicly disclose the chemicals they use. Campaigner Anya Callahan organized supporters to provide comments in person and online too.
- I met with policymakers to discuss the state’s next steps in developing a phase out plan for toxic stainproof chemicals (PFAS chemicals) that are showing up in drinking water and food.
- Science Director Erika Schreder travelled to York England where she presented at BFR 2017 – the 8th International Symposium on Flame Retardants.
I also want to thank everyone who gave to Toxic-Free Future on GiveBIG. Together we smashed our goal and raised over $30,000. Your generous donations make it possible for us to do our work and create a toxic-free future for all of us.
Thank you,
Laurie Valeriano
Executive Director
Executive Director
Laurie Valeriano is Toxic-Free Future's executive director. Laurie has worked at Toxic-Free Future for over 25 years, working to advance precedent-setting state environmental health policies that protect people and the environment.
