LANSING – The Michigan House of Representatives today approved a bipartisan plan sponsored by State Representative Deb Kennedy (D-Brownstown) to protect Michigan families by banning the manufacture, sale and distribution of products in Michigan that contain a toxic fire retardant found in everyday products in our homes, offices, vehicles and schools. Studies show that exposure to the chemical – known as deca-BDE – is linked to cancer and can cause growth and learning disabilities in children.
"We need to protect Michigan's children and families by ending the use of this dangerous chemical in our products we use every day," Kennedy said. "The health of our residents and our air, land and water is too important to be threatened by this dangerous toxin."
Deca-BDE, or decabromodiphenyl ether, is a fire retardant found in televisions, computers, mattresses, foam cushions, drapes and carpets. The toxic chemical enters our air, water and soil when these products are made, used and burned.
Under Kennedy's plan passed by the House today, products that contain deca-BDE will be banned from being manufactured, sold and distributed in Michigan, beginning Dec. 31, 2010. The plan now goes to the Senate.
Babies and young children are especially vulnerable to toxins like deca-BDE. Our children drink it in breast milk, inhale it in dust and ingest it in contaminated foods, such as fish from our Great Lakes. Because items treated with deca-BDE produce toxic gases when they burn, our firefighters are at extreme risk from the chemical.
Studies have linked exposure to deca-BDE to cancer, birth defects, learning and memory impairment, hearing problems, delayed onset of puberty and stunted growth in children.
"No child should have to pay the price because the Legislature didn't do its job to ban this hazardous chemical," Kennedy said. "The Senate needs to join us in our fight to protect our residents. We must do everything we can to reduce the toxic burden we're passing on to our children and our Great Lakes. Michigan must act now and ban this toxin once and for all."
