Nurses, Doctors, and Environmental Health Groups Call on Legislature to Pass Bill

January 20, 2006

Seattle -- Today, the Departments of Ecology and Health called for a ban on all forms of the toxic flame retardants called PBDEs, as part of a state plan to eliminate the chemicals. PBDES are used in many consumer products from furniture to televisions. These chemicals are linked to memory and learning impairment like those caused by PCBs, which were banned more than thirty years ago. Numerous studies show that the levels of PBDEs are rapidly rising in people and the environment. Nurses, doctors, and environmental health advocates have teamed up to pass a state law in 2006 to ban PBDEs.

"We want to keep our children safe, but we can't do it unless the state Legislature does its part to enact a ban on PBDEs," said Judy Huntington, MN, RN, executive director of the Washington State Nurses Association. "It is critical that the legislature take this opportunity to protect our children and stop this toxic trend of PBDE contamination of our bodies, homes, and environment."

The state agency plan raises particular concern about the most widely used form of PBDEs -- called deca-BDE (deca) -- and calls for a ban as long as safer alternatives are available. After a two-year scientific review, they concluded, "Deca is likely to break down in the environment into more toxic and bioaccumulative forms of PBDEs." These more-toxic forms include ones found in penta, the form already banned in numerous states and in Europe. Deca is primarily used in plastic television casings.

"This is another nail in the coffin for deca," said Laurie Valeriano, policy director for the Washington Toxics Coalition. "It's time for the Legislature to lay the issue to rest and pass the ban."

The recommendations in the plan are consistent with a bill currently before the Legislature, sponsored by Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48) and Sen. Debbie Regala (D-27).

"The agencies have done their job to study the science and have concluded that the evidence warrants action to prevent additional PBDE contamination," said Rep. Hunter of Bellevue. "It's now up to us to pass this bill and protect children's health in Washington state from PBDEs."

The legislation (2HSB 1488/SSB 5515) would:

• Ban the manufacture and sale of products containing penta and octa by 2007.
• Ban the manufacture and sale of televisions, computers, and residential upholstered furniture and mattresses containing deca by 2010. This ban can be delayed if no reasonable, safer alternatives to deca are available.
• Require state agencies to lead by example and purchase PBDE-free products.

Safer alternatives to deca and the other PBDEs are available and in widespread use. Many companies, including Sony, Ikea, and Dell have abandoned PBDEs because of environmental and health concerns. Ecology's analysis of alternatives to deca found "... sufficient data to conclude that promising alternatives exist, ones which are already in use and meet fire protection standards ..." In addition, there are also numerous design changes companies can make to avoid the use of chemicals to meet fire safety standards.

"Taking these actions to phase out all forms of PBDEs is a vital step to protect children's health," said Dave Heywood, MD, board member of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. "With safer alternatives available, it is essential to eliminate these toxic chemicals from products, and protect our children's health and futures from these harmful exposures."

There is broad support for a PBDE ban from the public health and medical communities. The legislation is one of the environmental community's priorities for this session. Washington state legislators who are registered nurses also sent a letter to their colleagues today urging support for the bill:

"Phasing out all forms of PBDEs, including deca, is a goal of thousands of physicians, nurses and other health professionals represented by the Washington State Nurses Association, the Washington State Medical Association, the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Washington Academy of Family Physicians and the Washington State Public Health Association ... . The action we take this session to ban these toxic chemicals will greatly benefit Washington's children now and for years to come."

The Ecology/Health plan is available at www.flameretardants.org.

Contact:

Laurie Valeriano
Washington Toxics Coalition
206-632-1545 ext. 114

Ivy Sager-Rosenthal
Washington Toxics Coalition
206-632-1545 ext. 122

Washington State Legislator
Rep. Ross Hunter
360-786-7936