A measure to ban the sale of carpeting, furniture, cosmetics and other products containing PFAS – or forever chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects – needs only Gov. Jared Polis’ signature before becoming law.
Groundwater across the state is contaminated with the toxic chemicals. Attorney General Phil Weiser also filed a lawsuit in late February against companies that produce the chemicals.
House Bill 1345 is an attempt to cut into the number of products containing the compounds.
The General Assembly passed the bill this week and Conor Cahill, a spokesman for Polis, did not say whether the governor intends to sign the legislation but said he will consider it when it lands on his desk.
If Polis signs the bill into law by Jan. 1, 2024, the state would prohibit the sale of products containing PFAS including:
- Carpets or rugs.
- Cosmetics.
- Fabric treatments.
- Food packaging.
- Children’s products.
- Oil and gas products.
- Textile furnishings.
- Upholstered furniture.
Between then and 2030 the bill would also require the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to pinpoint even more products that should not be sold in Colorado.
The measure had bipartisan support and was backed by environmental groups like Metro Water Recovery, GreenLatinos and the Colorado Public Interest Research Group.
Source: Read Full Article
