A group of 25 senators sent a letter to EPA administrator Lisa Jackson in support of the Environmental Protection Agency’s(EPA) efforts to address polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs). The letter, sent by a bipartisan group of senators, says the EPA should “move forward as quickly as possible with its current efforts to protect American families from the toxic effects of PBDEs.” PBDEs are flame retardant chemicals that are found in everyday consumer products, such as furniture, baby products, and plastics. The EPA suspects that PBDEs cause cancer, and they “have been linked to serious neurological and reproductive diseases,” according to the letter from the senators.
The letter continues on to say, “while we commend the EPA for taking steps to address PBDEs, it is concerning that the agency must undertake lengthy rulemaking process merely to secure additional health and safety data on a chemical of concern.” It goes on to say this is one of many reasons the group of senators believe TSCA must be reformed.
