Op-ed: Chemical industry asks Indiana for permisson to keep poisoning Hoosiers

On Feb. 6, 127 years ago, the state of Indiana became known for its attempt to change the definition of the mathematical concept of Pi. The state was asked by an enterprising but craven businessman to change Pi from 3.14 to 3.2. The businessman said Indiana wouldn’t have to pay for schools to teach his new formula but that he would charge other states for it. 

The legislature roundly rejected this attempt and shelved the bill permanently. 

We thought Indiana had seen the last of these ridiculous attempts to change science to make a buck. Sadly, we were wrong. Now, enterprising yet craven chemical manufacturers are trying to convince the legislature to change the scientifically-accepted definition of a class of harmful chemicals so that they can keep poisoning our water, air, soil and products with them. 

PFAS are a class of chemicals used to make products grease or waterproof. They can be found in cookware, carpets, food packaging, clothing and children’s products. They don’t break down in the environment, leading scientists to refer to them as “forever chemicals.” Exposure to PFAS has been linked to birth defects, cancer, kidney disease, infertility and pregnancy complications. 

States around the country are banning the use of PFAS in products but so far, Indiana has not followed suit and if the chemical industry gets their way, we never will. 

A new bill proposed in the legislature would change the definition of PFAS, one that has been used in 22 states, the US Department of Defense and accepted by scientists around the world, to another definition that would give permanent exemptions to several types of PFAS that are used in consumer products from ever being regulated in the state. The chemical industry has convinced Indiana businesses that without this bill, key lifesaving medical devices or medicines would be banned. 

But that isn’t true. 

No state, including Indiana, has proposed regulating PFAS in medications or medical devices. And when I introduced an amendment to clarify this point, it was roundly defeated. 

So, what is really going on here? 

It turns out that the chemical industry has been shopping around this bogus and unscientific bill for a few years to other states only to be rebuffed every time. Now they are hoping that Indiana will believe their empty threats and tales of a doomsday that isn’t coming. 

Here are the facts. PFAS are dangerous and the chemical industry has known they were dangerous for years. PFAS have already contaminated drinking water in Indiana and taxpayers have spent over $16 million dollars trying to clean up the chemical companies’ mess. 

Indiana isn’t trying to regulate PFAS in products at this point but if this bill passes, it will never be able to do anything about these poisonous chemicals in our homes, water or soil. 

This bill will ensure that Indiana is forever the dumping ground for PFAS-laden products. The legislature should say no to this craven attempt by the chemical companies at manipulating Hoosiers for their own gain.