Access to clean drinking water is a basic human right. But, as a result of lax regulations on dangerous chemicals used in products, drinking water all around the country, including Washington state, has been contaminated with per and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS), impacting tens of millions of people. PFAS are highly persistent and toxic chemicals linked to immune suppression, decreased fertility, and even cancer. Continue reading
In 2017, Toxic-Free Future and a coalition of partners petitioned the state Board of Health to create a drinking water standard for PFAS. The standard would provide much-needed public health protections and accountability for chemical companies that have been contaminating Washingtonians’ water and leaving communities on the hook for the costly clean-up.
Oil spilled into waterways and our communities, dangerous explosions and fire, and toxic smoke spewed into the air for miles are just a few of the reasons to stop transporting oil by train. Here’s another reason: even the fire response requires the use of dangerous chemicals that can contaminate our communities for decades. Continue reading