Press Releases
Advocates call on EPA to finalize proposed ban, protect Americans from toxic products
A report released today reveals that major retail companies are making slow but meaningful progress at improving the chemical safety of the products, food, and packaging they sell, but nearly half of those scored -- including every restaurant chain evaluated -- have failed to take any public measures to help eliminate toxic chemicals from the products they carry.
Washington, D.C. — Today, Latino workers, environmental and public health advocates, and the mothers of two young men who recently died from methylene chloride exposure notified the Trump administration of their intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its failure to finalize a ban on the use of this lethal chemical in paint strippers.
Congress directed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to allow airports to use firefighting foam free of highly fluorinated chemicals or PFAS, paving the way for Washington State’s ban to eventually apply to most of the state’s airports.
Walmart announced today that it will phase out the use of the toxic chemicals methylene chloride and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) in paint removal products it sells in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America, and on walmart.com by February 2019.
Nationwide actions urge ban on toxic methylene chloride after four consumers died since EPA proposed restrictions.
Attention Reporters and Editors: Video and images of nap mat testing available here. (Seattle, WA) – Removing chemical flame retardants from foam nap mats in childcare centers can lower levels of the chemicals in dust by as much as 90%, a new peer-reviewed study has found. The study, appearing in Environmental Pollution today, is the […]
CHARLESTON, SC – At 31 years old, entrepreneur Drew Wynne’s life was cut short when he inhaled a toxic paint stripper containing methylene chloride, which he bought at Lowe’s to refinish a floor. Now his family is telling the hardware chain and other similar home improvement retailers to stop selling the deadly product to prevent another tragic death.
(Olympia, WA) – Today Governor Jay Inslee signed a new law restricting the use of firefighting foam containing harmful perfluorinated chemicals. Firefighting foam used at firefighting training facilities, airports, and military bases is one of the top reasons drinking water in several Washington state communities, as well as in states across the country, is contaminated […]
(Olympia, WA) Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed the Healthy Food Packaging Act today, making Washington the first state in the nation to ban the use of harmful nonstick “PFAS” chemicals in paper food packaging, including in microwave popcorn bags and fast food and cupcake wrappers. The legislation, HB 2658, was sponsored by Rep. Joan McBride (D-Kirkland) and received bipartisan votes in both […]