This week, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Washington Department of Health released for comment a draft report identifying nine consumer products for further evaluation and potential rulemaking under the Safer Products for Washington Program. The goal of the program is to make consumer products safer and to reduce toxics in the environment.
The draft report identifies the following priority products: carpet and aftermarket carpet treatments containing PFAS; vinyl flooring and cosmetic fragrances containing phthalates; laundry detergent, thermal paper, and food cans containing phenolic compounds; printing inks containing PCBs; and electric and electronic equipment containing organohalogen flame retardants. These products were selected because research shows they are exposing people and the environment to priority chemicals that were identified in the 2019 state law establishing the program. After addressing comments to the draft report, Ecology will decide whether or not to regulate the products by requiring reporting or restrictions.
The research and information Ecology collects under this program may be valuable to other states as they look at reducing toxics in products. Topics like this are discussed in bimonthly ECOS Toxics Workgroup calls.
