Michigan Environmental Council

Michigan
Environmental Report

Volume 23 . Number 1
February 2005

PURPOSE
Founded in 1980, MEC is a coalition of over 60 environmental, public health, and faith-based organizations with nearly 200,000 individual members. For over 20 years, MEC has provided a voice at the State Capitol. In addition to serving as a clearinghouse of environmental information, MEC develops public policy, educates elected officials and the public, and provides training and support to member organizations.

SUBSCRIBE

OFFICERS

Chairperson
Chris Graham,
Michigan Natural Areas Council

Vice Chair
Vicki Levengood,
National Environmental Trust

Vice Chair
Terry Miller,
Lone Tree Council

Treasurer
Tom Leonard,
West Michigan Environmental Action Council

Secretary
Brian Imus,
PIRGIM

MEC STAFF

President
Lana Pollack

Policy Director
James Clift

Associate Director
Patrick Diehl

Land Programs Director
Brad Garmon

Office Manager
Judy Bearup

Member Services Director
Michele Scarborough

Policy Specialist
David Gard

Policy Advisor
Dave Dempsey

Environmental Campaign Coordinator
Wendi Tilden

ECCO Field Director
Stephanie Anderson

Land Programs Specialist
Ben Stupka

MER Design & Layout
Rose Homa

New law outlaws two toxic chemicals, but third still subject of controversy

State public health advocates and environmental groups in early January cheered Governor Jennifer Granholm's signing of landmark bills banning two dangerous, toxic flame retardants and urged legislators to move quickly on a third, related chemical.

Health concerns about the flame retardants emerged in 1999 when Swedish scientists reported that levels of these chemicals in human breast milk had increased 60-fold between 1972 and 1997. Subsequent studies found flame retardant levels in American women to be up to ten times higher than in Sweden and doubling every five years. Children are also exposed to the chemicals from meat and dairy foods, from house dust, and possibly from gases that vaporize from household products using the flame retardants. These chemicals will persist in their bodies through adulthood.

"This is an important first step to protect Michigan residents from chemicals found in mother's milk and likely to be dangerous to people," said Tracey Easthope, Environmental Health Director of the Ecology Center. "These chemicals can damage the thyroid and impair the central nervous system, and viable alternatives exist for most uses."

Public Acts 526 and 562 ban two kinds of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)-penta-BDE and octa-BDE-but not a related "deca" form of the chemical. PBDEs have been used since the 1970s as flame retardants in plastic and foam consumer products, primarily electronics, furniture and insulation. Structurally, PBDEs are very similar to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), which were also used as flame retardants and insulators. Both PCBs and PBBs are banned or severely restricted in most countries due to health and environmental effects.

"Now that these bills are law, the Legislature should move swiftly to complete investigation of the 'deca' form and phase it out if studies confirm it can also cause neurological damage or breaks down in the environment into the other banned forms," said MEC Policy Director James Clift. "In order to protect public health, we need to switch quickly to alternative chemicals that do not pose the same health risks."

The following products usually contain the flame retardant: computers, television sets, mobile phones, electronics and electrical items, automotive equipment, construction materials, polyurethane foam mattresses, cushions, carpets, upholstered furniture and draperies, among others.

Sections of the new laws were dedicated to the memory of Mary Beth Doyle, a leading advocate of the ban, who died in a car accident last November 13. Doyle worked as the Ecology Center's Environmental Health Campaigns Director and was a longtime friend of Tracey Easthope's. "Mary Beth would be pleased to know that the governor started off the New Year by signing these bills into law," said Easthope. "She would also be pleased to see the Legislature next take up proposals to phase out 'deca' and to further address toxic chemicals that threaten the health of Michigan residents."