Energy Conservation & Efficiency

Environment Oregon supports bills to keep toxic pollutants out of consumer products, environment

On Wednesday, in the Oregon House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment, Environment Oregon state director Celeste Meiffren-Swango testified in support of two important bills.

Toxic threats

Oregon State Capitol
M.O. Stevens | Public Domain

On Wednesday, Environment Oregon state director Celeste Meiffren-Swango testified in support of House Bill 3043, the Toxic-Free Kids Modernization bill. There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market in the United States, and most of them are put directly into use without testing the long-term consequences for the environment, or their impact on human and animal health. 

Environment Oregon has always supported the requirement for manufacturers to disclose and phase out toxic ingredients in consumer products. Giving the Oregon Health Authority the ability to regulate chemicals by class and removing the limit on chemicals they can regulate would further the goal of limiting the amount of toxic chemicals that children are exposed to, and in turn, limit the toxic chemicals that make their way into the environment.

Photo by staff | TPIN

Celeste also testified in support of House Bill 2531, which would phase out toxic fluorescent light bulbs to help save energy, save consumers money and save the planet.

Fluorescent light bulbs contain mercury, which is a potent and persistent neurotoxin that can cause long lasting health problems and damage to the environment. It is considered a high priority pollutant. Over decades, as we’ve learned more and more about the health risks associated with mercury, we’ve phased out its use in most consumer products. Fluorescent bulbs should be next. 

LED light bulbs are readily available as replacements for fluorescent bulbs in all shapes and sizes. And the good news is they don’t contain toxic mercury and they are more energy efficient than their fluorescent counterparts– using half the energy and lasting twice as long.

We will be continuing to show support for these important policies, which would help build a cleaner, greener future here in Oregon.  

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