FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Citizens' Message to Legislators: Get Toxic Chemical Out of Our Homes and Our Breast Milk

Press Release: Citizens' Message to Legislators: Get Toxic Chemical Out of Our Homes and Our Breast Milk

Yesterday, moms, doctors, scientists, and fishermen packed hearing rooms in the House and Senate to tell legislators to vote "yes" on proposed legislation banning toxic flame retardants.

"We need to stop these chemicals from getting into our homes, our environment, our bodies, and our children," said Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48), prime sponsor of the legislation. "This bill does just that by turning off the spigot so we don't add more of these toxic chemicals to those already out there."

The legislation (HB 1488 and SB 5515) would ban polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are found to be building up rapidly in breast milk and the environment. The legislation would also require the Department of Ecology to study other actions to address PBDE contamination, and ensure state agencies purchase only PBDE-free products.

In a study released last year by Northwest Environment Watch, high levels of PBDEs were found in the breast milk of all 40 Northwest women who participated in the study. Levels found in the breast milk of women in Washington state were 20 to 40 times higher than levels found in Europe and Japan.

"It's unacceptable to me as a mother that I pass toxic flame retardants on to my daughter every time I breastfeed. My daughter is exposed to chemicals that can disrupt her brain development at the time of her life that counts the most," said Erika Schreder, national breast milk study participant and staff scientist with the Washington Toxics Coalition. "Now is the time for the Legislature to take action to ban these toxic flame retardants."

PBDEs, chemical cousins of PCBs, can impair memory and learning and disturb thyroid hormone levels in lab animals.

Under an agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency and a chemical manufacturer, two of the three main PBDEs in use, penta-BDE and octa-BDE, have been taken off the market beginning in 2005. The chemical industry is fighting to retain the use of the third most heavily used mixture, deca-BDE (deca), used primarily in plastic television casings.

"Deca has been found in breast milk, in wildlife, in the environment, and in household dust. It can also break down into other toxic forms of PBDEs that have been banned in Europe and California," said Mo McBroom, with the Washington Public Interest Research Group. "The writing is on the wall: deca should be banned before it becomes the new PCBs.  Cost-effective alternatives to deca exist and are already being used by companies like Sony, NEC, and Panasonic."

"By taking action now to phase out all forms of PBDEs, Washington state can protect the health of our infants and children from these toxic exposures," said Charlie Weems, Vice President of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. "Rather than studying increased illness and learning problems in the future, we can take steps now to keep these chemicals out of our environment and our bodies.  We urge the Legislature to act on behalf of Washington's children by passing legislation to ban all PBDEs."

The environmental community has chosen this legislation as one of four priorities that all organizations are backing to promote a healthy Washington.  Major public health, religious, environmental, and community organizations support banning PBDEs. These groups include: American Academy of Pediatrics - Washington State Chapter * Washington Academy of Family Physicians * Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility * Washington State Public Health Association * Washington State Medical Association * Washington Toxics Coalition * Washington Public Interest Research Group * People for Puget Sound * Washington Conservation Voters * American Lung Association * Washington State Nurses Association * Breast Cancer Fund * Healthy Building Network * Washington Environmental Council * Institute for Childrens' Environmental Health * Northwest Environment Watch * Washington Association of Churches * Institute for Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders * Lutheran Public Policy Office * Northwest Environment Watch, and many others.

Contact:

Mo McBroom
WashPIRG
206-799-1589

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

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