As the new home of WashPIRG's environmental work, Environment Washington can be contacted regarding this news release.
Seattle, Wash.—A commonly
used flame retardant threatens public health, according to a
new report released today by the Washington Public Interest Research Group
(WashPIRG). In lab tests, scientists have linked decabrominated diphenyl ether
(Deca)—a chemical closely related to two flame retardants recently banned
in California—to health effects including neurological damage or permanent
memory loss, and have detected the chemical in the breast milk of American women
at higher levels than anywhere else in the world.
"The latest science
clearly points to the need for a ban on the use of Deca and other toxic flame
retardants," said Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, environmental advocate with WashPIRG.
"Policymakers should take immediate action to ensure that this kind of
widespread exposure does not happen in the future."
Gov. Gary Locke signed an
Executive Order in January directing the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to
begin developing a state plan to phase out toxic flame retardants, including
Deca. The directive is part of the state’s policy to stop persistent toxic
pollution (or PBTs). However, Ecology cannot move forward with the phase out
plan until the Legislature votes to fund the phaseout plan in the 2004 Supplemental
Budget. The work lost funding last year when Senate Republicans refused to provide
funding. Gov. Locke has proposed to provide $436,000 for the program.
Toxic flame-retardants like
Deca are widely used in a variety of common consumer products, including in
electronics and electrical equipment, as well as in upholstery and other textiles.
North American industry used more than 49 million pounds in 2001—about
half the world market.
Deca and other toxic flame
retardants escape from consumer products into air and water and have been found
in household dust and in the food supply. The chemicals accumulate in the human
body, pass from a mother to a developing fetus, and have been found in human
breast milk.
"It’s appalling
that these chemicals have been found in women’s breast milk," Sager-Rosenthal
said. "Fortunately, Gov. Locke recognizes the urgent need to phase out
the use of these chemicals. We hope the Legislature does as well and will vote
to fund the phase out plan."
Deca is one type of flame
retardant called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs.) Deca breaks down under
sunlight and during metabolic processes into the types of toxic flame-retardants,
pentabrominated (Penta) and octabrominated (Octa) diphenyl ethers, recently
banned in California and Europe. One manufacturer has agreed to voluntarily
phase out all their production of Penta to avoid human health consequences nationwide.
Industry’s argument
against regulation has centered on the belief that Deca molecules were too big
to be absorbed by people’s bodies. California’s ban did not include
Deca because the science was incomplete. However, several recent groundbreaking
studies summarized in WashPIRG’s report found Deca in human blood and breast
milk in the bodies of electronics workers as well as in people who had not been
exposed in the workplace.
