Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 28, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Governor Locke Signs Executive Order to Protect the Public from Toxic Chemicals

Gov. Gary Locke today directed the state departments of Ecology and Health to develop an action plan for reducing the use of toxic flame retardants that are building up in the environment and being discovered in breast milk.

The action plan for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) is one of several tasks Locke included in an executive order on long-lasting, toxic chemicals that build up in the food chain. These “persistent, bioaccumulative toxins” (PBTs) include mercury, dioxin, PCBs and other such chemicals linked to health problems in humans.

“We have done a lot to reduce toxics in our environment, but we need to move forward immediately on the toxins that are slipping through the cracks,” Locke said. “These chemicals diminish the quality of our lives and drive up environmental response costs. We must act now to address these risks.”

The PBDE flame retardants are used in plastic-based products, such as televisions, computers, carpets and upholstery. Because they do not bind chemically with the plastic, PBDEs leach continuously out of the products.

Some researchers are concerned that PBDEs may cause harm to the nervous system and affect thyroid hormone function. Recent studies in Europe and the United States have also found the chemicals appearing in human breast milk with increasing frequency.

“PBDEs are all around us all the time, and we need to turn that disturbing trend around,” Locke said.

Locke’s executive order also directs the Department of Ecology to adopt a rule establishing criteria and procedures for selecting additional chemicals for action plans in the future.

“These rules will bring transparency and certainty to our PBT program,” Locke said. “The business community will know which chemicals are listed and which will have chemical action plans developed for them. And the public will know that we will continue to move forward to address these toxic chemicals.”

The governor also called on the Department of General Administration to identify and make available equipment, supplies and products that do not contain such persistent, toxic chemicals for purchase and use by state agencies.

The executive order also directs the Department of Ecology to continue implementing the state’s mercury action plan, which was published in February 2003 to guide efforts to reduce exposure to toxic mercury. Mercury is found in products such as thermometers and fluorescent lights – which are safe until they break. The liquid and vapor forms of mercury from these products are toxic.

Since that plan was issued, the state Legislature adopted legislation requiring labeling of some consumer products that contain mercury. In addition, the Department of Ecology and the Washington State Dental Association have embarked on a two-year effort to get equipment installed in all dental offices that will filter mercury and other toxic metals from the offices’ waste water.

Separately, Locke issued a directive to all state facilities to recycle their used fluorescent lights, rather than throwing them in the garbage. Fluorescent lights contain a small amount of mercury vapor that can be released into the air if the bulbs or tubes break.

Currently, an estimated 10 million fluorescent lights are disposed each year in Washington, and another 2.5 million are recycled.

Editor's Note: The executive order and directive can be found at http://www.governor.wa.gov/eo/exorders.htm

» Return to this month's News Releases

» View News Release Archive