Family and Fire Fighter Protection Act signed into law
ALBANY, N.Y. » Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed the Family and Fire Fighter Protection Act into law, prohibiting the use of flame retardants in furniture, mattresses and electronics cases.
A growing body of scientific literature links chemicals used as flame retardants to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive problems and reduced IQ, according to a press release from Clean and Healthy New York, which co-leads the JustGreen Partnership. Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of these toxic chemicals because they interact with their environment in unpredictable ways and are still developing. When they burn, chemicals used as flame retardants become even more toxic, making smoke more deadly and harder to escape, and becoming potent cancer-causing chemicals that increase risk for fire fighters.
The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) is applauding Governor Kathy Hochul for signing this legislation, sponsored by Senator Todd Kaminsky and Assemblyman Steve Englebright, that has been part of its proactive agenda for the last eight years.
Flame retardants are in everyday items such as TVs, phones, and mattresses because it was believed that they slowed or prevented the start or growth of a fire. Despite their stated purpose, these flame retardants are not effective at preventing or slowing fires. Further, when burned, they emit extremely toxic smoke and fumes which endanger both firefighters and the people they are working to save as they inhale them. In infants and pregnant women — who ingest these chemicals through normal everyday dust — links have been found to serious health effects, from cancer and reproductive issues to developmental disabilities.
“Firefighters are regularly exposed to flame retardant toxins in the line of duty, resulting in far higher cancer rates than those in the general population,” FASNY president John P. Farrell said in a press release. “By signing this legislation, Governor Hochul is protecting both the States’ citizens and firefighters. We are pleased to see New York State take an important step forward in eliminating harmful and hazardous chemicals from the environment.”
Kaminsky, who is Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, added, “Nothing is more important than protecting the health of our children and firefighters from cancercausing chemicals. By banning these toxic substances from everyday items in our homes, such as furniture and mattresses, we will be taking a major step in keeping our communities safe. I was proud to lead the fight to put our families and first responders’ lives ahead of corporations’ profits — and that is precisely what this law will do.”
Englebright said in the release, “This new law will help protect first responders from exposure to harmful chemicals. Flame retardants produce toxic chemicals such as hydrogen cyanide that, when inhaled, contributes to the number one cause of fire-related deaths which is smoke inhalation. This is especially dangerous for firefighters. Additionally, the presence of these dangerous chemicals in household furnishings endanger our families as the chemicals leach out of products into household dust causing chronic exposure when we breath and play with our children in our homes.
“These chemicals are known to cause adverse health effects including cancer, infertility, and damage to our immune systems. I wish to thank FASNY for working closely with me to create and support this life saving new law.”
Bob Rossi, executive director of the New York Sustainable Business Council (NYSBC), said the business community applauds Governor Hochul for signing this nation-leading bill into law.
“Leading retailers are already eliminating flame retardants due to their ineffectiveness and their health impacts, which increase employee turnover and absenteeism creating economic drag for local communities,” he said in a news release. Especially during our ongoing health and economic crises, we are thrilled to see New York’s leadership on this issue.”
Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, the Jim G. Hendrick, MD Professor of Pediatrics, and Professor of Population Health at NYU Langone Health also expressed his support.
“We applaud Governor Hochul, Senator Kaminsky, Assemblymember Englebright, and the State Legislature for supporting this important bill,” he said in the release. “This is an important step forward in not only improving our environment and safety standards but, more importantly, ensuring the well-being of our firefighters who work tirelessly to protect us.”
Under the Family and Fire
“Firefighters are regularly exposed to flame retardant toxins in the line of duty, resulting in far higher cancer rates than those in the general population.”
fighter Protection Act, the use of certain flame retardant chemicals in furniture and mattresses and the use of certain flame retardant chemicals in electronic casings is banned. Similar bans have been enacted in states such as California, Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island. The European Union has banned them from electronics.
“Toxic chemicals used as flame retardants poison children and firefighters and don’t prevent fires. The Family and Fire Fighter Protection Act addresses this problem broadly, covering hundreds of toxic versions of this chemical problem rather than knocking them off one at a time as the State has done in the past,” said Bobbi Wilding, executive director of Clean and Healthy New York, in a press release. “We thank Governor Hochul for signing this important bill into law, and Senator Kaminsky and Assemblyman Englebright for championing this groundbreaking policy.”