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California lawmakers have taken an important step to protect Californians from toxic, “forever” PFAS chemicals by enacting them Assembly invoice 1200 (Ting) today. After the bill was previously passed in the Senate at 36-0, it now goes to the governor.
PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO PFAS FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES.
AB 1200 would help make our food and the environment safer by banning the use of toxic, “forever†PFAS chemicals in paper-based food packaging. The bill builds on food packaging legislation passed in New York last year and last year’s pass in California on SB 1044, which is phasing out PFAS in fire-fighting foam. AB 1200 would also disclose the use of chemicals such as PFAS and bisphenols (BPA, BPS, etc.) in cookware such as pots and pans. Finally, misleading claims on cookware such as “PFOA-free†or “BPA-free†would be banned if other chemicals from the same chemical family were used on the products.
PFAS are a large class of man-made chemicals (including thousands of individual chemicals) that are widely used in industrial processes and consumer products such as non-stick cookware and food packaging, clothing, carpets, and cosmetics because of their water and grease resistant properties. Unfortunately, PFAS do not degrade, can spread rapidly in the environment, and have been linked to a long list of harmful health effects, including cancer, immune suppression (including disrupting the vaccine response), and adverse developmental effects. Independent scientists and authorities including the California Department of Toxic Substance Control have concluded that PFAS as a class poses a serious threat to the environment and public health.
In California, water sources for water systems that serve up to 16 million people have already been contaminated with PFAS. Since the state still has to test many more drinking water sources, the number is likely to be significantly higher. A new NRDC report shows that much of PFAS pollution occurs in or near communities that are already disproportionately affected by all types of pollution. The report also outlines key policy responses the state must take to protect public health, including ending all unnecessary uses of PFAS as soon as possible.
In addition to direct exposure of consumers and workers through the use and manufacture of the products, PFAS in food packaging and other products can lead to further contamination of water (and the environment). Communities near production and disposal facilities are particularly exposed. Because of this, we need to stop increasing the problem where we can, and this is why AB 1200 is an important part of solving the problem.
AB 1200 also shows the way forward with lawmakers and California government programs – such as the DTSC Safer Consumer Products program – acting together. Legislators can quickly move on to product categories where it is clear that PFAS are not needed – such as hide. In the meantime, the Water Board needs to improve the monitoring of PFAS and develop sanitary drinking water standards to protect Californians from PFAS.
The use of PFAS can now have consequences for decades. Because of the health hazards involved and the difficulty of removing PFAS, it is imperative that we act now and cease unnecessary uses of these toxic chemicals.
We ask the governor to sign the law.
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