The US state of Washington Department of Ecology (DoE) has identified seven new priority chemical classes for future regulatory scrutiny as part of the Safer Products for Washington program. To be considered as a priority chemical group, “the chemical or member of the chemical class” must be of high concern to children, a PBT) substance, regulated in consumer products in Washington, or a concern for sensitive populations. The new priority classes DoE announced in May 2024 are:
- Cadmium (CAS 7440-43-9) and cadmium compounds
- Lead (CAS 7439-92-1) and lead compounds
- Organobromine and/or organochlorine substances
- Benzene (CAS 71-43-2), ethyl benzene, toluene, and xylene substances (BTEX)
- Formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0) and formaldehyde releasers
- Cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS)
- 6PPD (CAS 793-24-8)
DoE prioritized chemical groups based off of “opportunities to: equitably reduce exposure; prevent regrettable substitutions; reduce environmentally persistent chemicals; and reduce carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive and developmental toxicants, and endocrine disruptors.”
In the coming years, DoE will identify consumer product groups that tend to use the prioritized chemicals and then investigate where substitutions can be made and systematically ban or more strictly regulate the chemical groups for those consumer product categories.
In recent years, through the Safer Products for Washington program, DoE has banned the use of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, and bisphenols in many food contact applications in Washington state (FPF reported also here).
In March 2024, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed HB 1551, the strongest legislation in the US on lead in cookware. Effective January 1, 2026, the law bans the manufacture or sale of cookware containing more than 5 ppm lead and/or lead compounds.
Reference
Washington State Department of Ecology (May 2024). “Identification of Priority Chemicals Report to the Legislature: Safer Products for Washington Cycle 2 Implementation Phase 1.”
Washington State Department of Ecology (May 2024). “Identification of Priority Chemicals Report to the Legislature.” (pdf)
Washington State Legislature (March 2024). “HB 1551 – 2023-24: Reducing lead in cookware.”
Read more
Washington Department of Ecology. “Safer Products for Washington.”
Kelly Franklin (June 3, 2024). “Washington state adds to priority chemical list for safer products programme.” Chemical Watch News & Insight
King County (March 2024). “Research by Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County drives historic state law banning sale of lead-contaminated cookware.”
Julia John (April 3, 2024). “Washington governor approves legislation limiting lead in cookware, advancing action on 6PPD.” Chemical Watch News & Insight
Brian Bienkowski (March 29, 2024). “Washington state will become first state to ban lead in cookware.” Environmental Health News
