IKEA, Fire Fighters, Audubon, Willamette Riverkeeper and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether

I am currently in a hearing on Senate Bill 596. The bill passed the Senate on a 22-8 vote and is under consideration by the House Environment and Water Committee.

SB 596 would phase-in a ban of DecaBDE, a flame retardant commonly found in mattresses and other household products. SB 596 adds Deca-BDE to the list of hazardous substances currently being phased out of the market due to potential public health risks.

"There is a lot that we do not know about the toxins in our everyday life, but the evidence on Deca-BDE suggests that it could pose serious, long-term affects to our health," said Senator Mark Hass (D-Beaverton), chief sponsor of the legislation.

"As long as there are safe alternatives out there to this product, I can think of no reason why we would want to risk exposing our children and ourselves to Deca-BDE," said Deputy Majority Leader Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham), who sponsored the 2005 legislation banning certain BDEs.

Testimony in favor of the concept also came from the International Association of Fire Fighters and Oregon State Fire Fighters Council:

"Unlike other flame retardants, when PBDEs burn they release dense fumes and black smoke that reduce visibility and a highly corrosive gas known as hydrogen bromide. In addition, PBDEs produce highly toxic byproducts... Many studies involving fire fighters exposed to these and other toxic gases during active fire fighting, overhaul, and long term exposure from these chemicals penatrating protective gear, have found that fire fighters have a much greater risk of contracting cancer, hear and lung disease, and other debilitating diseases."

Many noted that IKEA, Dell, Apple, and HP are phasing out the use of decaDBEs. Representatives of Willamette Riverkeeper and Audubon Society of Portland also testified eloquently in favor of the bill.

Despite the diverse support for the bill, opponents -- mainly chemical companies -- flew in people from other states to try to kill to bill.