Boston, Massachusetts – A number of flame retardant chemicals are set to be banned in Massachusetts if they are used at levels over 1000 ppm.
Items including children’s products, upholstered furniture, carpeting and bedding that are made or sold in Massachusetts will be covered.
The ban is mooted in an Act to protect children and families from harmful flame retardants. This has been passed unanimously by the State Senate. It now passes to the State House Ways and Means committee.
The list of flame retardants covered by the legislation includes TDCPP, TCEP, HBCD, TBPH, TBB, TCPP, pentaBDE, octaBDE, tetrabromobisphenol A, antimony trioxide and chlorinated paraffins.
If the ban comes into effect, it will only affect products manufactured after 1 January 2019. The list of banned substances will have to be reviewed every three years.
