Washington Goes PBDE-free!
While there is still a lot of work to do to ensure a clean, healthy environment for everyone, Washington state has been out front in passing and implementing policies to protect kids and the environment from toxic chemicals. As the new legislative session gets underway, let’s take a time out to celebrate some of Washington’s greatest toxic-free hits that have just gone into effect! Starting this month, a few new laws went into effect, protecting all of us from toxic substances.
While there is still a lot of work to do to ensure a clean, healthy environment for everyone, Washington state has been out front in passing and implementing policies to protect kids and the environment from toxic chemicals. As the new legislative session gets underway, let’s take a time out to celebrate some of Washington’s greatest toxic-free hits that have just gone into effect! Starting this month, a few new laws went into effect, protecting all of us from toxic substances.
No More Toxic Flame Retardant Deca-PBDE Electronic Produdcts and Furniture
PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) are a class of flame retardants frequently found in consumer products linked to learning disabilities and thyroid problems. After a long three-year campaign, legislation sponsored by Rep. Ross Hunter and Sen. Debbie Regals passed in 2007 to prohibit certain PBDEs in products in Washington state. As of January 1st, 2011 all computers, televisions, and upholstered furniture sold in Washington must be PBDE-free. This ban placed the first ever ban on deca-BDE (a type of PBDE) in the country and helped move other states to follow suit and, eventually force manufacturers to implement a voluntary national phase out.
Getting Rid of Toxic Metals in Wheel Weights
Linked to behavioral problems and learning disabilities in children, lead is a continuing problem in our environment. Starting this month, the wheel weights on any motor vehicle tire that is balanced or replaced will be required to contain less than 0.5% of any chemical on the Department of Ecology’s list of persistent bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals list. Many wheel weights were previously made with lead, and the Department of Ecology estimated that through falling off vehicles they dumped 40 metric tons of lead into soil and groundwater every year. With a wide variety of substitutes available, this is an easy way to stop lead from entering our environment.
Isn’t it great to hear that as of 2011, we’ll be preventing a nasty group of flame retardants and lots of heavy metals from entering the environment? It shows that dedicated citizens really can take on the political process and make changes to improve the lives of everyone in the state. Now for the next step in our state: protecting kids from toxic chemicals and giving their parents the knowledge to make informed choices about their products and promoting reform of TSCA on the federal level!
Image courtesy of flickr user hoyasmeg
