Toxic Chemicals

From before we are born until the time we die, we are repeatedly and regularly exposed to toxic chemicals with the potential to seriously harm our health. Toxic chemicals can be found in our homes, schools and workplaces – in products we use on a daily basis. We're fighting at local, state, and federal levels to fix our chemical laws and find safer alternatives to the chemicals in everyday products.

Beakers. Photo credit: Africa Studios / Shutterstock
California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, National, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island

PFASs Chemicals – Protecting Our Drinking Water And Our Health

PFASs is a class of human-made chemicals which includes Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances These chemicals are very long-lived, which means that they remain in the environment and in humans and wildlife for a very long time. Two of these chemicals, PFOA and PFOS are relatively well known, and manufacturers have voluntarily stopped producing them. However, PFOA and PFAS continue to be detected at contaminated sites, in water, and in our bodies.

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Recent Actions

National

Make Them Pay for the Non-stick Nightmare

Make them pay

Take Action!
Minnesota

Tell Ulta, Sephora, and Sally Beauty: It’s time for a makeover

Beauty product retailers can use their purchasing power to ensure the products sold on store shelves are safe, but the top three companies received poor marks on consumer health. Ask these companies to become consumer health leaders in the beauty product sector today.

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Maryland

Take Action to Ban Chlorpyrifos in Maryland

Let’s protect Marylanders and ban chlorpyrifos today.

Take Action to Ban Chlorpyrifos in Maryland
California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, National

Demand Disclosure of Toxic Fragrance Chemicals

A federal labeling loophole allows manufacturers to hide unlabeled, unregulated toxic fragrance ingredients in the products they sell.

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Press Releases

February 14, 2019
Clean Water Action California Responds to EPA’s PFAS Plan With Call for More Comprehensive Regulation at The State Level

On February 14th, 2019, the EPA announced its “PFAS Action Plan” which follows up on four commitments announced in May but misses numerous opportunities to use EPA authority to address PFAS chemica

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Charlie Baker vetoes bill to protect kids and firefighters from toxic flame retardants

BOSTON—Today environmental, public health and worker advocates blasted Governor Charlie Baker for running out the clock on a much watched bill to protect children and firefighters from exposure to toxic flame retardants.  Baker’s failure to sign the bill amounts to an automatic veto.

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January 2, 2019
Under the wire: Mass. legislature sends bill to Governor’s desk that will protect children and firefighters from toxic flame retardants

“This is a huge new year’s gift to all Massachusetts families and in particular firefighters,” said Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts Director for Clean Water Action and board member of the Alliance. “These chemicals have been putting our children and firefighters at risk for decades and it’s high time that they are removed from the products that we bring into our homes. We’re counting on Governor Baker to join the legislature in prioritizing protection for our most vulnerable by signing this bill into law.”

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Related Toxic Chemicals Topics

Toxic Chemicals Publications

Toxic Chemicals Blog Posts

Protect our water from PFAS
The Least EPA Could Do on PFAS
February 14, 2019

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a plan that summarizes ongoing activity, affirms commitments the agency made in May 2018, and announces several new initiatives. The  “PFAS Action Plan” is an exhaustive review of what EPA is doing and commits to some new initiatives.

Given the urgency around PFAS chemicals it is still literally the least EPA can do.

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CT Capitol building flickr.com/craigfildes cc
Protecting Our Health from Toxic PFAS Chemicals
January 15, 2019

At the 2018 annual Safer States meeting, state leads, scientists, lawyers and advocates from across the U.S, discussed the stark reality of the health and environmental impacts of per and polyfluorinated chemicals, commonly referred to as PFAS.

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Toxics_baby_with_toy_istock-000020745937_Large.jpg
Plastics and toxics in baby products
January 8, 2019

My spouse and I are expecting our first child in the spring. Needless to say, our friends and families are very excited, and we are receiving a lot of advice and insight. One of the most frequent nuggets we have been getting goes something like this: “It really starts to get fun and exciting when you get to put together your baby registry!”

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