Toxic Flame Retardant Chemicals Halted? New California Regulation Announced Just in Time for HBO Documentary "Toxic Hot Seat" Tonight 9pm on HBO

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Jerry Brown announced a new regulation, enabling upholstered furniture makers to achieve fire safety without adding toxic flame retardant chemicals. Previously, these dangerous chemicals were forced into foam in products, including couches, children's furniture, baby strollers and nursing pillows.

Kathy Curtis, LPN, of Clean and Healthy New York and the  Alliance for Toxic Free Fire Safety explains, "California's bad regulation became the de facto standard for the nation, creating chemical hazards for the rest of the states, which must struggle to prevent their use. Our Getting Ready for Baby Campaign,in partnership with the Mind the Store Campaign, is pressuring retailers to demand safer products for children."

The surprising story of scientists, firefighters, consumer and health advocates fighting to change the regulation, along with the investigation by the Chicago Tribune reporters that uncovered chemical industry deception, airs tonight on HBO in a documentary by James Redford and Kirby Walker called "Toxic Hot Seat."

Tony Stefani is a  retired Captain with the SFFD, a cancer survivor and the  founder of the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation. He says that, Seeing "Toxic Hot Seat" is riveting. "It brings to light the realization of why so many firefighters are suffering from cancer and other illness due to on-going exposures to toxic chemicals. Governor Brown's announcement to stop flame retardants is the first step in the right direction to reduce exposures of a large piece of a very complicated toxic chemical  puzzle firefighters are faced with."

"Increased use of the chemicals coincides with rising health impacts linked to peoples' exposure to them, including lower IQ in children, thyroid disease, reproductive problems and cancer. They provide no fire safety benefit and have contaminated humans, pets and wildlife," adds Sarah Janssen, MD.,PhD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor, University of California, San Francisco.

"We can soon buy fire safe and healthy furniture without flame retardants," says Arlene Blum, PhD, of the Green Science Policy Institute, who worked to remove flame retardants from baby pajamas in the 1970s. "Beginning January 1, 2014, we can look for a TB117-2013 tag and ask retailers for furniture that does not contain flame retardant chemicals."

Judy Levin, with Center for Environmental Health (CEH), comments, "It's been a tough battle, and we still have to hold corporations accountable. Great news comes from the Governor just as "Toxic Hot Seat" first airs on HBO." CEH executive director Michael Green is featured in the film.  CEH recently released a report, called "Playing on Poison – Harmful Flame Retardants in Children's Furniture," that found the chemicals in children's upholstered furniture.

Maricarmen Cruz-Guilloty with Alaska Community Action on Toxics explains, "People of color are disproportionately impacted by chemicals. The CA regulation helped contaminate the planet, including the Arctic. Now we must ensure that this new regulation is expeditiously implemented in order to protect our families."

Jose Bravo, of the Just Transition Alliance says, "The chemical industry created environmental justice front groups to spew misinformation and spent millions of dollars fighting us. Governor Brown stood up to the chemical corporations to support our health."

"I am proud to be a Californian today; we can stop exporting a standard that causes toxic flame retardants to end up in the bodies of people everywhere," says Martha Dina Arguello, of Physicians for Social Responsibility - Los Angeles. "'Toxic Hot Seat' really nails the story of fighting a chemical industry culture that attacks science."

Info: Alliance for Toxic Free Fire Safety

SOURCE Alliance for Toxic Free Fire Safety