Michigan House Overwhelmingly Passes Ban on Toxic Flame Retardant

Coalition of medical, health and environmental organizations applauds progress, urges quick action in Senate

Ann Arbor – January 27, 2010: Following the recommendations of the state’s leading medical, health, and environmental organizations – as well as fire fighters – the Michigan House nearly unanimously passed HB 4699 (94-6), which would phase-out the toxic flame retardant deca-BDE. This long awaited bi-partisan vote follows on the heels of a voluntary agreement to end the manufacture, import, and sale of the chemical between three major manufacturers of deca-BDE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"Thanks to the strong leadership of Representatives Kennedy and Warren, we are one step closer to phasing out this toxic flame retardant," stated Mike Shriberg, Ph.D., Policy Director for the Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health and Ecology Center. "The ‘Great Lakes State’ needs to stand up for the health of the Lakes and mitigate yet another chemical disaster in this ecosystem. We urge the Michigan Senate to quickly take action on this important bill."

HB 4699 would stop in-state sales of TVs, computers, mattresses, and residential upholstered furniture containing the toxic flame retardant by 2011. All uses of deca-BDE other than in transportation and military would be banned by 2013 while transportation and military uses would be disallowed by 2014. By contrast, the EPA agreement is voluntary, applies only to three deca manufacturers, and does not apply to products imported with deca already in them.

"We need to move away from the use of this toxic chemical that ends up in our children, our environment and in all of us," said William Weil, M.D., Pediatrician and Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics & Human Development at Michigan State University. "I strongly urge swift passage in the Senate of this legislation to protect public health."

In 2004, Michigan was one of the first states to ban penta- and octa-BDE, the two other commercial chemicals in the PBDE family (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), through the Mary Beth Doyle PBDE Act, named for the Ecology Center’s former Environmental Health campaigner. Subsequent research revealed that deca-BDE can break down into these and other more toxic substances. HB 4699 expands the Mary Beth Doyle PBDE Act to include deca.

Deca-BDE is a persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic chemical, which like PCB's, has been found throughout the Great Lakes ecosystem. Recent research from Grand Valley State University found PBDEs in all fish of significant size caught in Michigan. Deca-BDE is considered a possible human carcinogen and was recently linked to neurodevelopmental problems in children. In laboratory animals, deca and other polybrominated diphenyl ethers have been shown to cause learning, memory, reproductive, and thyroid problems as well as cancer.

"We need to finish the job and shut down this toxic threat to the Great Lakes and our health," stated Sarah Mullkoff, Michigan Campaigns Coordinator for Clean Water Action. "It’s now in the hands of our State Senators to protect Michigan’s children, fire fighters, and the Great Lakes."

The passage of HB 4699 is strongly supported by the Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health, a diverse coalition of health, medical, health-affected and environmental organizations. The Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs and the Michigan Chemical Council also support HB 4699.

More information about the toxic impacts of deca-BDE and about HB 4699, as well as the full listing of organizations in the Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health, can be found at www.mnceh.org.

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