Reducing our Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

Greetings Neighbors!

Over the last 50 years, chemicals have come to play a role in all aspects of our lives.  They make our clothes brighter, keep insects out of our fruits and vegetables and protect us from fires.  But they come at a cost.  Many of us assume that the chemicals in the products sold to us have gone through testing to ensure their safety.  In fact, only a small number of the 80,000 chemicals registered with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have been tested for harmful effects.  Each of us have some degree of chemical contamination in our bodies, and scientists are only now learning how they can have a profound affect on our health and the Earth.

This year, I have authored Assembly Bill 706 which will ban the use of two classes of toxic fire retardants— brominated and chlorinated fire retardants—in upholstered furniture and bedding products such as pillows, comforters and mattresses. 

For all the right public safety reasons, California has some of the toughest fire retardance standards on the books.  These standards, passed in the 1970’s are the reason why California became the first and only state that adds chemical fire retardants to our sofas, chairs, and mattresses.  Not surprisingly, over the past 20 years, the toxic chemicals used as fire retardants have been measured at increasing and alarming rates in humans.  Brominated fire retardants are found at the highest levels in babies, toddlers, and women.  Because these chemicals bioaccumulate in fatty tissues, they are passed to babies when they are breast fed by their mothers.  In fact, PBDE’s, a subcategory of brominated fire retardants, have increased forty-fold in human breast milk since the 1970’s.  Even so, it’s important to note that the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh the chemical exposure risks and is still strongly recommended by the medical community.

So, now that we know these chemicals are in us, what will they do to us?  Unfortunately the growing body of research is chilling, to say the least.  Studies link exposure to low concentrations of certain fire retardants to cancer and birth defects.  Additionally, they can cause reproductive problems,disrupt thyroid hormone balance and contribute to a variety of neurological and developmental deficits, including low intelligence and learning disabilities.  All of which is particularly frightening considering exposure to these chemicals begins in the womb, then through breast milk, and continually thereafter through dust from our upholstered furniture and other sources. 

Firefighters are also disproportionately affected.  As the fire retardants in furniture burn, they convert into even more toxic chemicals such as dioxin that are released into smoke and soot. Recently, our own San Francisco Firefighters held a press conference to increase public awareness of their many firefighter colleagues whose lives have been cut short due to cancer.  Of the 35 San Francisco active duty firefighters that have contracted job-related cancers in the last eight years, 15 of them have died.  Also, in the last ten years, 215 of our retired San Francisco firefighters have contracted cancer and 25 of them have died.

When the State Legislature banned two brominated fire retardant chemicals in 2003, the chemical industry response was to replace them with chlorinated tris in our furniture. This is the same chemical that was banned from children’s pajamas over 30 years ago. With safer alternatives already on the market that meet our fire safety standards and create new economic opportunities for green chemistry, it’s clear we can do better.  In fact, AB 706 may become a strong tool in increasing the fire safety of our furniture.  

While reducing our exposure to chemicals used as fire retardants requires a change in state law, you can make simple changes around your home to help avoid other kinds of toxic chemicals.  To learn more about safe substitutes to consumer products such as laundry detergent, air fresheners and pesticides in your home you can go to this website: http://es.epa.gov/techinfo/facts/safe-fs.html

Because most chemicals are presumed safe until proven otherwise, it’s our job to take the scientists and the studies seriously when they warn us of the risks that may be associated with them.  Study after study show the dangers of brominated and chlorinated fire retardants.  We can’t wait any longer to protect our kids and our workers from potentially dangerous exposure to toxic chemicals.

If you would like more information about my work in creating a safer environment for each of us, and in particular supporting our brave men and women in the firefighting community, please feel free to contact my office here in San Francisco , 415-557-3013, email me directly at Assemblymember.Leno@asm.ca.gov, or visit my website at http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a13/.