Press Clips

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EPA to prohibit pesticide carbofuran residues - Jul 28, 2008 - www.hazmatmag.com

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposed decision that residues of carbofuran, a toxic pesticide that is used on a variety of crops, will no longer be allowed on food. This effectively means that carbofuran will have to be removed from the U.S. market, benefiting consumers and farm workers, as well as birds, which are frequently poisoned by the deadly chemical.

Grocery bag fee headed to full council - Jul 24, 2008 - Seattle PI

The full City Council is expected to vote on the proposals Monday that were passed Tuesday by a committee. If adopted, the new legislation will launch a 90-day campaign to educate residents and shoppers before the 20-cent per bag fee goes into effect on Jan. 1.

Fresh scent may hide toxic secret - Jul 24, 2008 - Seattle PI

The scented fabric sheet makes your shirts and socks smell flowery fresh and clean. That plug-in air freshener fills your home with inviting fragrances of apple and cinnamon or a country garden. But those common household items are potentially exposing your family and friends to dangerous chemicals, a University of Washington study has found.

County removes pesticide guide - Jul 18, 2008 - Seattle PI

At the insistence of agricultural industry-sponsored groups, a wallet-sized consumer guide to which fruits and vegetables contain the most and least pesticides has been pulled from a King County Web site, where it had been a popular draw.

Group: New vinyl shower curtains hazardous - Jun 12, 2008 - King 5 Seattle

It may the last thing on your mind when you get ready for a shower, but that new shower curtain may bring some unwanted friends into your home. A study found that more than 100 chemicals are released by some curtains, and some are at levels that violate indoor air safety standards.

Nalgene to nix BPA water bottles due to concern - Apr 18, 2008 - KOMO 4 TV

Hard-plastic Nalgene water bottles made with bisphenol A will be pulled from stores over the next few months because of growing consumer concern over whether the chemical poses a health risk.

Toxic Toys: Sky isn't falling - Mar 28, 2008 - Seattle P-I

In what could become a moment of political March Madness, toy manufacturers hope to overcome lopsided losses in the Legislature and persuade Gov. Chris Gregoire to veto a toxic toys bill. She should stand with parents and safety.

Gregoire should not bow to toy company threats - Mar 28, 2008 - TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE

Toy companies, upset about a toxic toys bill sitting on the governor’s desk, are threatening to take their lead-tainted and phthalate-laced balls and go home. Gov. Gregoire should let ‘em.

With no federal changes to stop toxic toys, state lawmakers take action - Jan 20, 2008 - Tacoma News Tribune

A new bill has been submitted in Olympia that would ban such harmful substances as lead, cadmium and phthalates from children’s products.

Test finds toxic metals, chemicals in hundreds of toys - Dec 06, 2007 - KOMOTV.com

News story that aired on KOMO4 TV covering the release of the online toy database at www.HealthyToys.org.

Bill to push ban on lead-tainted toys - Dec 01, 2007 - The Olympian

Article in the Olympian on the Environmental Health Committee hearing on bill that would eliminate toxic chemicals from kids products.

Testing Halloween Costumes for Lead - Oct 12, 2007 - KING5 TV

King5 TV piece on lead in Halloween costumes.

Call made for safer products - Sep 28, 2007 - Seattle PI

Seattle PI Article on Toy Testing event at the legislature on 9-27-07.

Protect our children from toxic toys - Aug 23, 2007 - Seattle Times

Seattle Times opinion piece on toxic toys written by Executive Director Gregg Small

Lead in kids jewelry prompts ban - Aug 09, 2007 - All Things Considered

A piece on NPR's All Things Considered about a ban on lead in kids' jewelry.

Recalls prompt parents to ask: is any toy safe? - Aug 08, 2007 - Seattle Times

Seattle Times article on latest lead toy recalls.

States and cities move to curb toxic substances the EPA hasn't - May 07, 2007 - USA Today

USA Today article on Washington state's legislation to eliminate toxic flame retardants called PBDEs

State gives green thumbs up - Apr 23, 2007 - Olympian

The state's environmental community secured passage of its four-pronged environmental agenda in the 2007 state Legislature, it's most successful session in recent memory.

Chemical ban puts industry on the defensive - Apr 16, 2007 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Stung by the Legislature's groundbreaking ban of a controversial fire retardant, the chemical industry isn't giving up. Even with Gov. Chris Gregoire's approval all but assured -- she's scheduled to sign the legislation today -- it still didn't extinguish the chemical manufacturers' fight.

Limited ban placed on flame retardants - Apr 03, 2007 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Washington became the first state in the nation Tuesday to ban the use of chemical flame retardants in some common household items.

PBDEs: They are everywhere, they accumulate and they spread - Mar 28, 2007 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

When Andrea Riseden-Perry nurses newborn Genoa, she knows she's providing her daughter vital proteins, nutrients and fats that can come only from a mother's milk. She also knows she's likely feeding her baby human-made chemical flame retardants.

Two sides square off in Olympia over proposed PBDE ban - Mar 20, 2007 - KING 5 News

We have shown you study after study of how certain forms of the fire retardant Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, are showing up in our state. Local groups found it in the breast milk of women, in the tissue of human bodies and in the dust in our homes.

House votes to phase out some fireproofing chemicals - Feb 17, 2007 - Seattle Times

After an emotionally charged debate, the House on Friday passed a measure that would phase out the use of some fireproofing chemicals in televisions, computers and upholstered furniture as long as safer alternatives are available.

Lawmakers seek ban on products containing toxins - Feb 09, 2007 - The Olympian

Many common household items, such as furniture, toys and electronics, contain dangerous chemicals. The chemicals are used because of their fire-retardant qualities, but they also can cause health problems, especially in children.

Flame retardant legislation based on science, thorough study - Feb 08, 2007 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

The Legislature is considering a bill to phase out a chemical flame retardant known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers. This family of chemicals is toxic, especially for kids, and it's everywhere.

State lawmakers seek to ban toxic chemical - Feb 08, 2007 - KOMO-TV.com News

Washington lawmakers are working on a bill to ban a toxic chemical that's present in a number of household items. It's called PBDE, and it makes household items like TVs, computers, and even children's pajamas flame resistant. But the chemical could also sicken people who simply breathe the air containing it.

New device may help ban PBDEs - Feb 08, 2007 - KING5.com News

A Washington group has acquired a device that detects the presence of toxic flame retardants, and hope to use it to change state laws.

Companies fight dirty for toxic product - Feb 04, 2007 - The News Tribune

Op-ed from the Tacoma News Tribune Feb. 4, 2007 about toxic flame retardants (PBDEs)

Ban Flame Retardants - Jan 24, 2007 - Olympian

Olympian editorial praising the environmental community for working together and calling on the 2007 Washington state Legislature to ban toxic flame retardants (PBDEs)

Fire Retardants: Ban this chemical - Jan 19, 2007 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Amid the sea of insidious, invisible chemicals bathing the environment, there is a good place to start a new cleanup. The Legislature should ban most uses of one type of toxic fire retardants.

Twist in effort to ban fire retardant - Jan 12, 2007 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

As Washington moves to become the first state in the nation to ban a fire retardant found in mattresses, computers and furniture, lawmakers on Thursday accused the industry of putting up a smokescreen to stop the ban.

Tracking pollution's source: Chemical levels in Spokane River draw state's attention - Jan 08, 2007 - Spokesman Review

The waters of the Spokane River are some of the most toxic in Washington. Some of the trouble spills out of old mine sites in the river's headwaters in Idaho's Silver Valley. But scientists haven't yet found the source of all the heavy concentrations of flame retardants and long-banned industrial compounds that show up in Spokane River fish. (Spokesman Review)

Environmentalists optimistic Legislature will lend a hand - Jan 06, 2007 - The Olympian

Olympian article on PBDE bill in the 2007 Washington State Legislature.

School, council take stand against pesticides - Dec 11, 2006 - The Olympian

Two separate, but related, actions last week were noteworthy in achieving the goals of the Healthy Olympia Task Force, a group formed in January 2004 to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals in South Sound.

State's freshwater fish tainted, study says - Sep 01, 2006 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

State's freshwater fish tainted, study says Chemical used in flame retardants (PBDEs) is culprit. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Judge rejects Bush decision on pesticides - Aug 25, 2006 - Seattle Post-Intelligencer

A federal judge in Seattle rejected on Thursday a Bush administration decision to weaken rules governing pesticide use. He said the change reflected a "total lack" of scientific justification and that there were "disturbing indications" the administration deliberately muted dissent from government scientists. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)