Toxic chemical ban proposed

A toxic chemical used as a fire retardant would be phased out in Minnesota, under a proposal approved April 18 by a House committee.

HF934, sponsored by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Mpls), would ban the manufacture or sale of decabromodiphenyl ether, also known as “deca-BDE.” The compound is commonly used in televisions, computers, mattresses, cables and other consumer products to help prevent fires. A Pollution Control Agency report released in January identified several environmental and health concerns associated with the chemical.

The House Finance Committee approved the bill and referred it to the House Ways and Means Committee. A companion, SF651, sponsored by Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul), was approved 47-16 April 21 by the Senate.

Under the bill’s provisions, the manufacture or sale of products containing more than one-tenth of 1 percent (by mass) of deca-BDE would be prohibited as of July 1, 2010. The restrictions would not apply to used products or products that are already in existence before that date.

Clark noted that Minnesota has already banned two other similar chemicals — penta-BDE and octa-BDE. She said local and national firefighters’ unions support the legislation, and added that several safer alternatives to the chemical exist.

“We’re not in any way trying to compromise our safety. In fact, we feel this makes it much safer from a public health standpoint,” she said.

Clark also said the European Union recently enacted a similar phase-out of the chemical that will take effect in June.