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The campaign to ban toxic flame retardants in Massachusetts started in January 2013 when Senator Cynthia Stone Creem filed the first version of the bill to ban toxic flame retardants. We knew we needed a strong coalition for it to become law. So when environmental groups and firefighter unions across the country were teaming up to co-host local “Give Toxics the Boot”events in early 2014, we signed up. The events included press conferences with firefighters’ boots lined up on statehouse steps to represent those who died “with their boots off”—from occupational illness—and a

As National Women’s History Month is winding down, we’d like to end it by honoring and recognizing an important women leader in the Clean Water Action family. Lee served as Massachusetts Director and then New England Director for Clean Water Action from 1985 to 2010 and is now a member of the Clean Water Action Massachusetts Advisory Board.

Over her 35 years (and counting!) of activism, she has made an astounding impact on environmental health and social justice issues­–from community empowerment following the civil rights movement, to winning a moratorium on new trash incinerators in

In March 2017, Boston Magazine published Why Cancer is Killing Boston’s Firefighters--a powerful article about two Boston firefighters, Glenn Preston and Peter Kannler and their battles with cancer. Both men were diagnosed in their mid-30’s; Preston was still fighting but Kannler had lost the battle. The article pointed to toxic chemicals as a culprit and specifically brought to light the issue of toxic flame retardants in common household items contributing to cancer, and other adverse health effects for firefighters like Glenn and Peter.

One year later, even more firefighters have been