WASHINGTON – The Environmental Working Group today applauded Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) for introducing legislation to end the Defense Department’s purchase, procurement and sale of a wide range of household goods containing the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.
If enacted, the bill would prohibit the Defense Department from buying or selling cookware, food packaging, floor waxes, carpeting, curtains, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, dental floss, toothpaste, sunscreen, umbrellas, luggage, ski wax, cleaning products, shoes and clothing if these items contain PFAS.
The last two versions of the National Defense Authorization Act included provisions to prohibit the purchase or sale of some items that contain PFAS, including some food packaging.
“Service members risk everything to keep us safe. We should do everything we can to keep them safe as well,” said Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs. “We applaud Sens. Blumenthal and Shaheen for introducing legislation to phase PFAS out of everyday products procured or purchased by the Defense Department. There’s no reason toxic ‘forever chemicals’ should be in the products our service members take into their homes.”
Service members are disproportionately exposed to PFAS, which have been confirmed at more than 300 Defense Department installations and may be present at hundreds more.
PFAS are a large family of fluorinated chemicals, some of which have been linked to cancer, reproductive harm, immune system damage and other serious health problems.
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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
