Flame retardant legislation based on science, thorough study

The Legislature is considering a bill to phase out a chemical flame retardant known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers. This family of chemicals is toxic, especially for kids, and it's everywhere. It's in a wide variety of products in our homes and offices, including furniture, TVs and computers.

Unfortunately, PBDEs leach out of these products and into air, household dust and eventually our bodies. We at the Department of Ecology are so concerned about the escalating presence of PBDEs that we are requesting passage of this bill phasing out the use of PBDEs in household products, provided equally effective and less toxic flame retardants are available.

In a Jan. 23 guest op-ed, Patrick Moore claimed that PBDEs "are not the issue in Puget Sound" and that the proposed ban on PBDEs would decrease fire safety. I hope the residents of Washington are paying closer attention to this legislation and the science behind it and will question Moore's claims, which are hardly surprising, given his stated financial relationship with PBDE manufacturers.

Two chemical forms of PBDEs, known as Penta and Octa, are no longer produced in the U.S. However, the type of PBDE known as Deca, which is still widely used, is the key focus of the legislation.

Last month, the Puget Sound Partnership, a broad coalition of community leaders, legislators, businesspeople and tribes brought together by Gov. Chris Gregoire to restore the health of Puget Sound, recommended a phase-out of PBDEs -- provided a safer alternative was available. The partnership was clearly concerned about the health of Puget Sound when it reviewed the science showing that PBDEs are found in people, salmon, seals and orcas. We did find Deca in our most recent survey of fish in Washington waters.

PBDE levels are rising in the environment and in people, especially in the U.S. and Canada. If you live in North America, levels of PBDEs are doubling in your body every two to three years on average and you likely have at least 10 times more PBDEs in your body than people in Europe have.

Why should we care? Because animal studies show that PBDEs (including Deca) alter brain development, affecting learning, behavior and memory. Developing fetuses and infants are most at risk. In addition, Deca is the most common PBDE found in house dust and it breaks down into more toxic forms.

Fire safety was a particularly important issue we addressed before even considering a ban. The legislation is clear -- Deca will not be banned unless an effective flame retardant that is better for human health and the environment is found. To ensure we do not choose a replacement less protective against fire, a committee of fire safety professionals must approve any alternative. This important provision is why our state fire marshal, as well as the state associations of fire chiefs, firefighters and volunteer firefighters, all support the bill.

The PBDE flame retardant legislation represents a comprehensive and common sense approach to protecting public health and our environment without sacrificing fire safety. It's based on science and thorough study. Delaying this action means the continued buildup of Deca in people, animals and the environment. Let's not wait.