Bill to Restrict Toxic Flame Retardant Introduced

Medical, health, and environmental groups urge swift passage of pending legislation to protect health, Great Lakes, & firefighters from "the next PCBs"

March 25, 2009

HB 4699 -- which would phase-out a toxic flame retardant (Deca-BDE) in mattresses, residential furniture, televisions, and computers -- was introduced today by Representative Deb Kennedy and a bi-partisan group of 21 cosponsors and referred to the House Committee on Great Lakes & Environment. The bill is strongly supported by the Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health, a diverse coalition of organizations including the Michigan Nurses Association, the Learning Disabilities Association, the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the major environmental groups in the state. The International Association of Fire Fighters “believes that the passage of legislation banning brominated flame retardants (Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) including Penta-, Octa-, and Deca-BDEs) is a step in the right direction for improving the health and safety of our fire fighters and the citizens who are exposed to these chemicals.”

PBDEs are rapidly accumulating in the Great Lakes and in our bodies. In 2008, the state’s Interdepartmental Toxics Steering Group called for “a legislative ban on Deca-BDE contingent on the availability of a safe alternative.” In the four product categories covered under HB 4699, safer alternatives not only exist but are the industry standards. Michigan’s leading companies -- including Steelcase, Herman Miller, and La-Z-Boy -- no longer add this chemical to their products.

“We strongly urge swift passage of this legislation to protect public health,” said Mike Shriberg, Ph.D., Policy Director for the Ecology Center and the Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health. “The nation’s leading manufacturers are moving away from deca-BDE because there are readily available alternatives that have been shown to be safer. If Dell, Sony, Phillips, Sealy, Serta, Simmons and many other major manufacturers can agree that this chemical is too hazardous, our state leaders need to follow suit.”

In animal studies, exposure to deca-BDE has resulted in adverse impacts on the liver, brain, reproductive system, and thyroid. It's also considered a possible human carcinogen. In 2004, Michigan banned the only other PBDEs that were used commercially, penta- and octa-BDE. New evidence demonstrates that deca-BDE can break down into the already banned penta and octa.

“It’s time to finish the job and phase-out this toxic flame retardant,” said Shriberg. “Michigan should follow the lead of other states and phase out this toxic flame retardant before we have another PCB on our hands. The ‘Great Lakes State’ needs to stand up for the health of the Lakes and mitigate yet another chemical disaster in this ecosystem.”

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The Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health is a coalition of health professionals, health-affected groups, environmental organizations, and others dedicated to a safe and less toxic world for Michigan's children. Website: http://www.mnceh.org.

For press questions, please contact:

Mike Shriberg, Ecology Center: 734-761-3186 x 108