HARTFORD, CT – With the support of Senator Tony Hwang, the Connecticut State Senate passed Senate Bill 292, which creates a timeline for banning the sale of, and collecting information on, certain products that contain perfluoro/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
These forever chemicals are found in products throughout the economy, from firefighting foams to mattresses, nonstick pans, dental floss and more. PFAS from these items can and do find their way into our bodies and have been found by the CDC to contribute to higher cholesterol levels, pregnancy complications, liver disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer and more. These chemicals can stay in the body for many years.
“PFAS is a part of our everyday lives. This bill will, on an incremental basis, change the utilization of PFAS and create awareness of these forever chemicals that are so ubiquitous in society,” Senator Hwang said. “We must understand that difficult and environmentally proactive decisions regarding public health safety must be balanced with business and economic interests, as many consumer products involve PFAS. This legislation is an important start, and it is imperative for all of us to begin a process of eliminating these chemicals from everyday usage to protect people from their effects.”
“The urgent issue relating to these chemicals going forward is the leaking of PFAS into our drinking and public water supply. Future legislation must address this reality head-on and continue to protect our drinking water from these dangerous substances,” Hwang added.