1. A project of the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition: Breast Cancer Fund, Healthy Building Network, People For Puget Sound, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Washington State Nurses Association, Washington Toxics Coalition, WashPIRG, and more than 40 other organizations working together to eliminate persistent toxic chemicals in Washington State. A Study of Toxic Chemicals in Washingtonians

2. The Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition and more than 40 other organizations in Washington State working together to eliminate persistent toxic chemicals

3. About Our Study

4. Study Participants Pam Tazioli Sen. Bill Finkbeiner Karen Bowman, RN Rev. Ann Holmes Redding Sen. Lisa Brown Laurie Valeriano Dr. Patricia Dawson Denis Hayes Allyson Schrier Deb Abrahamson

5. Chemicals Tested Phthalates PBDEs Heavy metals - lead, arsenic, and mercury PFCs (perfluorinated compounds) Pesticides DDT & PCBs

6. Phthalates

7. PBDEs

8. Heavy Metals

9. PFCs

10. Pesticides

11. DDT/PCBs

12. Toxic pollution in the people of Washington is widespread and unavoidable Participants had from 26 to 39 toxic chemicals What We Found

13. Toxic Chemicals Found

14. PFOA Exposure

15. Presence of Pesticides

16. Carbaryl Exposures Carbaryl a likely carcinogen Marker found in five participants

17. Phthalates - DEHP Exposure

18. PCB Exposures

19. PBDE (Toxic Flame Retardant) Levels

20. Mercury Levels

21. Cause for Concern? At or near harmful levels Multiple exposures Timing of exposure We know enough to act

22. The System is Broken Data Gap Safety Gap Technology Gap Responsibility Gap

23. Data Gap Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 Encourage and require industry to develop adequate data on the health and environmental effects of chemicals.

24. Data Gap: Few of Highest Volume Chemicals Tested 7% Full Set of Basic Toxicity Tests

25. Safety Gap: For EPA to Act Prove it! Weigh Costs/Benefits Action

26. Safety Gap-Result Photos from Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org

27. Safety Gap-Result PBDE Example 1970PBDE Production Begins 1980First Evidence of Negative Health Effects 1981First Evidence of PBDEs Building Up in Fish 1990sFirst Evidence PBDEs in Food Chain 1994 Research shows penta form mimics hormones 1997Swedish breast milk studies/PBDEs increasing European Action to Reduce PBDEs 2002Research showing neurotoxic effects 2003EU Bans PBDEs in electronics 2004Industry voluntary agreement on penta/octa TodayScience builds, deca form still on market!

28. Technology Gap

29. Companies Moving Forward Kaiser Permanente: reducing reliance on carcinogens, reproductive toxicants Herman Miller: zero hazardous waste, emissions by 2020; using safer materials Dell: phased out PBDEs, chemical use policy Cascadian Farm: now leading processor The Body Shop: eliminating phthalates

30. Current State Action Washington’s PBT Program –Limited number of chemicals –Lengthy process to develop Chemical Action Plans –Phaseouts or bans require legislative action –No process to assess chemicals prior to release into the marketplace and our environment

31. What’s going wrong? Washington state - highest rates of breast cancer Childhood brain cancer on the rise 17% of school-aged children have learning disabilities

32. Costs of Environmental Diseases from “Economic Costs of Diseases and Disabilities Attributable to Environmental Contaminants in Washington State” July 2005 by Kate Davies, Antioch University http://washington.chenw.org/RIgroup/ Childhood Diseases Best Estimate - Proportion of Disease Attributable to Environmental Contaminants Asthma Cancer Lead Exposure Birth Defects Neurobehavioral Disorders 30% 5% 100% 2.5% 10%

33. Costs of Environmental Diseases in 2004 dollars, see Kate Davies’ study online at http://washington.chenw.org/RIgroup/ Conclusions from the WA state economic study… $1.9 billion = annual cost of these 5 childhood diseases attributable to environmental contaminants If adult and childhood costs are combined, total = $2.7 billion annually this accounts for almost 5% of total health expenditures in Washington state

34. A Better Way for Washington A Three-pronged Approach Close Data Gaps: Require companies to come clean with the facts about the chemicals they use; Close Safety Gap: Prohibit harmful chemicals in products and manufacturing; and, Close Technology Gap: Invest in research and assistance for businesses to switch to the safest chemicals. Responsibility Gap: We all must accept an ethical duty to future generations

35. Learn more from our web site www.pollutioninpeople.org link Complete report online and in pdf format Participant profiles Toxic Chemicals: how you’re exposed & health effects Safer Alternatives for Food and Consumer Products Ways to Take Action

36. We Can Do It—Together!