New study of states shows bi-partisan support for toxics reform

Toxic chemical legislation is not just for the fringe anymore.

It's a mainstream problem, and is being solved on the state level by cooperation from both sides of the political aisle.

Today, we released a report (pdf) in conjunction with Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families which shows that 18 states have passed 71 chemical safety laws in the last eight years by an overwhelming, bipartisan margin.

Here's what we found:

• In the last eight years, both the number of state chemical laws and the number of states passing toxic chemical reforms have tripled.

State laws have been passed by overwhelming margins. When all votes are tallied, state legislators favored tighter regulation by a margin of support greater than 8 to 1.

Of the votes cast, 99% of Democrats and 73% of Republicans voted in favor of regulatory laws.

Laws targeting specific chemicals and products received the greatest attention and support. Sixty-six laws banned bisphenol A (BPA) in baby and toddler products (with 98% support), phased out toxic flame retardants (PBDEs) in home products (93%), reduced children’s exposure from common products containing lead (88%) and cadmium (86%), and promoted green cleaning (88%).

State legislators strongly supported recent state laws that create new programs for broad regulation of toxic chemicals. This includes comprehensive laws passed in California, Maine, Minnesota and Washington state.

This study underscores what we already know: In the absence of strong legislation on the federal level, the states are filling in the gaps to protect our families.

A recent poll conducted by The Mellman Group found that 78% of Americans are seriously concerned about the thread to children's health from toxic chemicals in day-to-day life.

While Washington DC is stuck in chemical industry politics, the states are growing frustrated and taking matters into their own hands -- passing laws which will help to temper the public outcry until a day comes when we are comfortable with the chemicals that are infiltrating every part of our lives.

 

Safer States has several recommendations as a part of this study:

1. The states should continue to pass state chemical legislation to protect their people's health and to drive the chemical industry to accept meaningful reform.

Time and again, it has been proven that state legislation makes a meaningful difference to the chemical industry. Often, companies will choose to change over their entire inventory to comply with one state's law, making the product safer for citizens nationwide. When the state of Maine outlawed the toxic flame retardant Deca-BDE from plastic shipping pallets, the major distributor of the pallets stated its intent to comply with that requirement nationwide.

2. The 112th Congress should make TSCA reform a top legislative priority.

Effective state policy action cannot substitute for broad federal reform that protects the health of all Americans, directly regulates the chemical industry and mobilizes federal resources and expertise to prevent chemical harm.

3. The chemical industry should support meaningful, commonsense federal reform.

Such significant reform will restore consumer confidence by providing Americans with the protection from toxic chemicals they demand.

4. Federal reform should continue to allow states to enact stronger protections when states determine they need such policies to protect their populations.

Federal legislation will lack credibility unless it protects the states’ ability to innovate through state regulation of toxic chemicals in partnership with the federal government.

You can read the full study here (pdf), or download the executive summary.

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Healthy States Contacts

State environmental health advocates are on the front lines of passing tough laws on toxic chemicals. See the contact information below to learn more about efforts in specific states.

Alaska
Pam Miller
1-907-222-7714

California
Ansje Miller
1-510-655-3900 ext. 315

Connecticut
Mark Mitchell
1-860-548-1133

Illinois
Brian Imus
1-312-291-0441 ext. 210

Maine
Mike Belliveau
1-207-561-9846

Will Childs
1-207-951-7458

Massachusetts
Elizabeth Saunders
1-617-338-8131

Maryland
Jenny Levin
1-410-467-9389

Minnesota
Kathleen Schuler
1-612-870-3468

Mississippi
Rebecca Meuninck
1-734-761-3186 ext. 119

Montana
Jamie Silberberger
1-406-543-3747

New Jersey
Amy Goldsmith
1-732-895-2502

New York
Kathy Curtis
1-518-355-6202

Oregon
Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis
1-503-222-1963 ext. 110

Vermont
Charity Carbine
1-802-223-8421 ext. 4108

Washington
Ivy Sager-Rosenthal
1-206-854-7623