"Gov. Charlie Baker will not sign into law a ban on certain chemical flame retardants in household goods, he told lawmakers Friday afternoon, citing concerns with the bill sent to him on the final day of the 2017-2018 legislative session.
The House and Senate sent Baker the bill on New Year’s Day, a move that was cheered by environmental advocates and firefighters who spent years pushing for passage, but which also made the bill subject to dying on the governor’s desk and precluded any opportunity for the governor to return it with an amendment or for lawmakers to override a veto.
Supporters of the bill had said the chemicals they sought to ban are unnecessary and can pose health risks to children and firefighters.
The 12,000-member Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts pushed for the bill’s signing and officials there said that while disappointed, they plan to keep advocating for the legislation."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190111/bill-to-ban-some-flame-retardant-chemicals-dies-on-governors-desk
National Institute of Environmental Health Services
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/flame_retardants/index.cfm
Consumer Reports
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/02/how-safe-are-flame-retardants/index.htm
When the audio recording of Finance Committee meeting of Jan 8 get published you'll be able to hear Fire Chief Gary McCarragher talk about his concern for the retardants that contribute to the higher than normal rate of cancer among fire fighters.
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| Flame retardants are chemicals that are added or applied to materials in order to slow or prevent the start/growth of fire (NIEHS photo) |
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