Bauer opposes bill to loosen regulations on toxic PFAS chemical in Indiana

Today, the House Environmental Affairs committee passed House Bill 1399 by a vote of 7-5 aimed at re-defining PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated compounds) in Indiana code. This legislation would prevent the environmental rules board from regulating the use of PFAS in the manufacturing of, or even providing notification to the public about, the use of the chemical in everyday products. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to a number of adverse health effects such as damage to the liver and kidneys, cancer, and developmental issues in children. These chemicals are prominent in everyday items from children's toys to food packaging.

“During committee, we heard expert testimony from university scientists Dr. Graham Peaslee and Dr. Marta Venier who gave evidence-based testimony on how this class of chemicals have been linked to a series of negative health effects,” Bauer said. “By excluding thousands of PFAS chemicals from a new and different definition of PFAS in Indiana code, we will be blurring the facts of what chemicals Indiana residents are being exposed to, and undermining the progress we have made in Indiana to protect human health. In a world of increasing misinformation, we owe it to consumers to ensure that any product labeled as 'PFAS Free' is accurate, and backed by science, not the chemical industry who wants to protect their ability to keep PFAS in products without the public’s knowledge.

“Last year, I authored House Enrolled Act 1219 to implement a biomonitoring pilot program to test the blood of firefighters for elevated levels of PFAS. I also co-authored legislation that requires labeling on all firefighter PPE gear containing PFAS. On the heels of this bipartisan success aimed at protecting the health and safety of our brave members of the fire service, and now Indiana being a model for other states to follow, our Republican-controlled legislature is attempting to create a special carve out for industry.

“Should this legislation pass, babies in Indiana will continue to crawl on carpeting, sleep on bedding, play on mats and with toys that have all been found to include toxic, man-made PFAS chemicals without any requirement to notify care takers, despite the developmental delay exposure to PFAS causes in children. Manufacturers will continue to add PFAS to their products without reporting the amount and type of each chemical used, or notifying their employees of the use, despite its ability to raise blood cholesterol levels, change liver enzymes, and increased risk of high blood pressure or preeclampsia in pregnant women.

“In a state which remains among the top five states in the country for toxic releases, legislation that provides broad exemptions for sub-classes of PFAS chemicals, including fluoropolymers used in PPE gear, which is the largest source of exposure to firefighters, undermines our effort to provide answers for firefighters about the possible link between their health and exposure to chemicals while on the job. This legislation will ensure that the public remains in the dark.”