WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Legislators in 30 states say they will announce bills to protect children and families from harmful chemicals in household products.
Bills to be considered include bans on Bisphenol A, or BPA, and dangerous flame retardants in consumer products, requirements about chemicals used in manufacturing products intended for children, and resolutions calling on Congress to overhaul the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act, a release from the group Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families said Tuesday.
Health advocates say the state efforts are a response to congressional inaction on chemical safety.
"With over half of state legislatures introducing policies that protect kids and families from toxic chemicals, Congress and chemical industry lobbyists should take notice," Laurie Valeriano of the Washington Toxics Coalition in Seattle said.
"As long as toxic chemicals such as cadmium and BPA remain in consumer products, states will continue to pass commonsense policies to address this serious public health threat."
"The American public is demanding new chemical safety laws, and state elected officials -- both Republicans and Democrats - are responding," said Andy Igrejas, campaign director of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition.
