OLYMPIA—State Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson refused to give up hope that the House of Representatives would pass the Toxic-Free Kids Act and protect Washington’s children from toxic flame-retardants that are linked to cancers and other adverse health effects.
Her hopes were answered Friday when the House voted 60-34 to ban toxic flame-retardants known as “TRIS” from baby changing pads, nursing pillows, and other products that could expose infants and young children to the compound’s toxic threats.
“This is a wonderful victory for children, doctors, nurses, the Washington Toxics Coalition and all the parents who joined us in working for the safety of Washington’s children,” said Dickerson (D-Seattle).
“Parents and grandparents shouldn’t have to be chemists to know which children’s products are safe for children to use,” Dickerson said. “Every product marketed for children should be safe for children.”
The Toxic-Free Kids Act (House Bill 2821) prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of children’s products containing potentially harmful amounts of TRIS beginning June 30, 2014. Products sold in second-hand stores and recycled products that have very small amounts of TRIS are exempted from the ban.
Opponents of the Toxic-Free Kids Act questioned whether the ban on toxic flame-retardants would increase fire risks. But firefighters—who support the bill—said safe alternatives for reducing fire risks are readily available and that TRIS is actually a deadly threat in fires because it releases poisonous gases.
“It is possible to make safe products without cancer-causing flame-retardants, which produce lethal dioxins and furans when they burn,” said Kelly Fox, President of the Washington State Council of Firefighters in an email to lawmakers. “Please support this important health issue for firefighters who are exposed to the lethal effects of this product and the children we are sworn to protect.”
The House vote came less than three weeks after the New York Assembly voted unanimously on March 20 to ban TRIS in children’s products. The New York Senate has not yet acted on the measure.
Today’s House vote sends the Toxic-Free Kids Act to the Washington State Senate for further consideration during the special session, which is scheduled to end Tuesday, March 10.