PBDE ban first in nation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 3, 2007
CONTACT: Laurie Valeriano, Washington Toxics Coalition, 206-200-2824
Jamie Smith, House Democratic Caucus, 360-786-7631

Washington State Legislature Passes First-in-the-Nation Ban on Toxic
Flame Retardants

Measure Passes Senate 41 to 8, Goes to Governor for Signature

Olympia-The Washington State Legislature has passed the nation's first
ban on all forms of the toxic flame retardants known as PBDEs. The
Senate passed ESHB1024, sponsored by Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Medina), by a
41 to 8 margin at noon today. Senator Debbie Regala (D-Tacoma) sponsored
the companion bill in the Senate. "Washington state is leading the way
for improving the health and safety of our children," said Hunter, who
has sponsored the legislation for three years. "We've come up with a
common-sense strategy for preserving fire safety while getting rid of
chemicals like PBDEs that build up in our environment, in our bodies,
and even in mothers' breast milk."

Major manufacturers, including HP, Dell, Sony, Panasonic, and Phillips,
have already stopped using PBDEs in their products. Sen. Regala
applauded the bill's final passage, saying "Companies have proven that
we don't need toxic chemicals like PBDEs to make effective products.
It's up to us at the state level to move the rest of the industry toward
safer practices."

The Washington State Departments of Ecology and Health requested the
legislation, which is supported by Governor Gregoire, three state fire
associations, the Washington State Nurses Association, the Washington
Medical Association, and many others. The bill is the first one of the
four Priorities for a Healthy Washington to head to the Governor's desk.
While other states have passed bans on the penta and octa forms of
PBDEs, which have been phased out of manufacture, Washington is the
first to act on the deca form. Deca has by far the highest production
volume of the PBDE forms.

"Fire fighters are concerned about preventing fires and reducing
exposure to toxic chemicals, because we're on the front lines in both
cases," said Keven Rojecki of the Washington State Council of Fire
Fighters. "Fire fighters are already exposed to so many deadly
carcinogens, it is critical that safer alternatives be used to ensure
products are fire safe. This bill is a victory for protecting the health
of firefighters and the public from harmful toxic chemicals."

The legislation does the following:

Bans the use of the penta and octa forms of PBDEs, with limited
exceptions, by 2008
Bans the use of the deca form in mattresses by 2008
Bans the use of the deca form in televisions, computers, and
residential upholstered furniture by 2011, as long as a safer,
reasonable, and effective alternative has been identified by the
state departments of Ecology and Health and approved by fire
safety officials

"This legislation is about doing the right thing to protect families and
our environment from the harmful effects of PBDEs," said Rep. Skip
Priest, R-Federal Way. "We're doing the responsible thing-banning the
chemical and working with alternative fire retardants so we don't trade
one danger for another." Priest added that he was very concerned about
the possible link between PBDEs and irregular brain development in
fetuses. This measure, he says, is the only sure way to break that
connection. As the measure gained momentum, the bromine industry, the
most significant opponent to the legislation, employed tactics that
included testifying as fire safety organizations and widely distributing
a mailer with misleading information.

"With the passage of this legislation, Washington is a safer place to
raise children," said Laurie Valeriano, Policy Director for the
Washington Toxics Coalition. "Scientific facts and disease prevention
won out today over chemical industry scare tactics and hype."

Three hundred health care professionals signed a letter supporting the
ban on PBDEs, citing harmful health impacts from PBDEs including
learning and behavioral disorders, memory impairments, disruption of
thyroid function, reproductive effects, and cancer. The letter's authors
note that substantial evidence shows the buildup of PBDEs in people,
orca whales, and the environment, and new studies find that the deca
form breaks down into other forms of PBDEs that have already been phased
out.

"This action by the Washington State legislature marks a crucial step
forward for the health, development and learning of Washington's
children." said Barry Lawson, MD, Immediate Past President of the
Washington Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics said, "By phasing
out PBDEs, we can safeguard our children from exposures to these
persistent toxic chemicals and act on our responsibility to provide them
with a healthier future."

"This is truly a case where prevention is essential," said Judy
Huntington, MN, RN, Executive Director of the Washington State Nurses
Association. "By passing this legislation, we are making vital progress
in protecting our state's children, families and workers from permanent
yet preventable harm."