Protecting Our Health from Toxic Chemicals in Massachusetts

Toxic chemicals surround us—in our air, water, homes, and workplaces. Many chemicals used in everyday products, like plastics, cosmetics, toys,  and furniture, increase the risk of serious illnesses.  

Clean Water Action is working to reduce toxic chemicals in our homes, workplaces and communities. This year, we are asking Massachusetts authorities to:

• Ban toxic PFAS chemicals from consumer products;
• Support Massachusetts communities that have been impacted by elevated rates of PFAS in their drinking water
• Require companies that manufacture, sell or distribute children’s products to disclose whether those products include toxic chemicals. Require manufacturers to eliminate the most toxic chemicals from children’s products.
• Press supermarkets and big box retailers to get toxic products off their store shelves.
• Ensure that Massachusetts addresses the risks associated with the emerging nanotechnology sector.

In 2020-2021, Clean Water Action coordinated a state-wide effort to get Massachusetts leaders to address PFAS, a set of chemicals that have contaminated water, soil, and air throughout our state. Clean Water Action successfully got strong recommendations into the state’s PFAS Interagency Task Force report. The Massachusetts Attorney General filed a lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers, and Massachusetts added PFAS to the state’s list of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals.

In the 2021-22 Massachusetts legislative session, Clean Water Action supported four bills to eliminate PFAS from consumer products such as food packaging, clothing, personal care products, and fire fighting gear.  These bills garnered significant support but were not passed into law. However, Massachusetts legislators have announced that they are likely to file a comprehensive PFAS bill /bills in 2023.   CWA is committed to working with the Legislature to make sure that the strongest possible bills are introduced in January 2023, with prompt action by the Legislature.

In 2021, Clean Water Action won a big victory when the Massachusetts Legislature passed a law banning 11 dangerous flame retardants and giving the state the authority to restrict the use of additional flame retardants. 

Mind the Store Campaign

Clean Water Action is working with our allies at Toxic-Free Future to hold large retailers accountable for carrying products made with toxic chemicals. We recently celebrated a huge victory when REI agreed to phase-out the sale of products containing toxic PFAS at their stores!

• Read our press release.
• Learn more about PFAS here.