Toxic-Free Kids
Protect children's health from cancer-causing flame retardants and help put businesses on the path to using chemicals that won't harm health, the environment, or their bottom line.
ACTION NEEDED: the Toxic-Free Kids Act was voted out of committee, but with an amendment written by the chemical industry that removed the most important parts of the bill.
Please leave a message for your senator on the legislative hotline, 1.800.562.6000. Here's a sample message:
"Hi, my name is __________ and I live in X District. I am really concerned about cancer-causing flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in children’s products and our homes. I support a strong Toxic-Free Kids Act (SB 6120). Please tell Senator _____ to put children’s health first and restore the full chlorinated Tris ban and review of safer alternatives in the bill.”
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A few years ago Washington state told manufacturers to stop using PBDEs, a group of harmful toxic flame retardants. The industry’s response? Instead of using safer chemicals, they blindly switched to cancer-causing Tris flame retardants without considering health and environmental impacts. Now our children are exposed to these cancer-causing flame retardants in nursing pillows, car seats, changing pads, and other items.
The Toxic-Free Kids Act will get Toxic Tris Flame Retardants out of our homes and stop the toxic treadmill problem of manufacturers switching from one harmful chemical to another.
It’s a bill that will protect kids and encourage manufacturers to switch to safer chemicals that won’t harm health, the environment, or their bottom line
The Toxic-Free Kids Act:
1. Bans the use of two cancer-causing Tris flame retardants (TCDPP and TCEP) in children’s products beginning July 1, 2014. TDCPP was used in children’s pajamas in the 1970s and quickly removed when it was found to cause adverse health effects. But now it’s back in children’s products along with TCEP, another cancercausing flame retardant.
2. Requires makers of children’s products that contain bisphenol A (BPA), formaldehyde, antimony, or tris flame retardants to identify safer chemicals or materials for their products. By requiring manufacturers to evaluate ways to make their products safer, we can end the toxic treadmill of substituting one bad chemical for another, begin protecting children and the environment, and help businesses avoid costly substitution problems.
Top Five Reasons To Support The Toxic-Free Kids Act
1. Protects All Kids From Harmful Chemicals
All kids should be able to grow up in the healthiest environment possible. Parents shouldn’t have to be scientists to find safe products for their kids. The Toxic-Free Kids Act will remove an immediate threat to kids’ health from their homes, tackle some of the worst chemicals on the market, and begin increasing the availability of healthier products for all families.
2. A Healthy Bill That Invests In Prevention and Saves Money In the Long Run
The bill prevents further exposure to toxic chemicals, saving money on health care and environmental clean-up.
3. Supported By A Broad Coalition of Doctors, Nurses, Consumers, Parents, Health Advocates, and Environmentalists
Doctors, nurses, consumers, health advocates, and environmental groups support the Toxic-Free Kids Act, including Washington Conservation Voters, Washington State Nurses Association, Washington State Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the ARC of Washington.
4. Stops the Toxic Treadmill
The Toxic-Free Kids Act requires companies who report using bisphenol A (BPA), tris flame retardants, antimony, or formaldehyde in their products to begin looking for safer replacements to these toxic chemicals. Finding safer chemicals or materials helps put companies on a path to making less toxic products and helps avoid costly substitutions of one bad chemical for another.
5. Keeps Washington Moving In Right Direction While Continuing Momentum Toward Federal Solution
Most agree Congress should pass reforms to the nation’s toxics law- the Toxics Substances Control Act (TSCA). However, federal change is slow and Congress has not indicated reform will pass anytime soon. State laws on chemicals in products are the reason Congress is even considering reforms. Washington must keep passing laws to protect its citizens until Congress reforms TSCA.
Campaign and Media Contact:
Ivy Sager-Rosenthal
Washington Toxics Coalition
206-632-1545 x122
isager-rosenthal (at) watoxics (at) org
