Olympia - In an important
victory for both human health and the effort to clean up Puget
Sound, the Washington State House of Representatives became the first
legislative body in the nation to initiate a complete ban on a class of toxic flame retardants known as
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). While several states have banned penta and octa, Washington is poised to become the first state, joining the European Union, in banning a third
type of PBDE, deca.
PBDEs are used in televisions, laptops and other electronics and are
increasingly used in mattresses and other furniture. PBDEs, find their way from airborne
dust, infiltrating human systems and running off into Puget Sound
and other bodies of water. Even in small amounts, they can cause serious damage to reproductive and immune systems. These
chemicals are building up in marine wildlife and turning up in humans in blood samples
and in tests on human breast milk.
“Bromine-based flame retardants were long ago banned for use in children’s
pajamas and it’s time to ban them from all products that can enter our homes and harm
human health,” said WashPIRG Director, Bill LaBorde. “On top of the human health
implications, PBDEs are a major source of pollution in Puget Sound.
This is why we supported Governor Gregoire’s recommendation to ban these chemicals as a key part of her plan to clean
up Puget Sound,” added LaBorde.
House Bill 1024, sponsored by environmental champion Rep. Ross Hunter
(D-48th Bellevue), would prohibit the sale, manufacture or distribution of products sold in
Washington
containing PBDE’s after January 1, 2008. However, as a safeguard, the legislature
included a provision allowing a fire safety commission to overrule the ban for any product if
a safe alternative is not available. Electronics manufactures such as Dell, Apple and HP have
eliminated use of PBDEs in their products, as have furniture manufacturers such as IKEA.
The state Senate will next take up the bill. A Senate companion bill (SB
5034, sponsored by Debbie Regala – 27th Tacoma)
has already passed out of committee. Because the bill is Department of Ecology request legislation, Governor Gregoire is certain
to sign the bill into law.
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WashPIRG is a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest
organization dedicated to environmental protection, consumer rights, and good government.
www.washpirg.org
