Michigan lawmaker introduces bill to limit products with intentionally added PFAS
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A group of Michigan lawmakers have thrown their support behind a new bill that would drastically scale back the sale of PFAS-contaminated products in Michigan.
MPART declares new PFAS contamination site near Grand River
State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, D-Meridian Township, introduced House Bill 5657 on April 24, referring to it as the Hazardous Products Act. It was co-sponsored by 20 other lawmakers, including West Michigan Democrats Rachel Hood and Phil Skaggs.
As written, the bill would ban the sale of any product with intentionally added PFAS that don’t have an approved exception from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy that explains why PFAS is needed in the product. It would also force products that contain PFAS to include a notice of the amount and contact information for the manufacturer.
If passed, the bill would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, for several items where PFAS is commonly found, including cloths, cookware, cleaning products and fabric treatments. All products would be bound to the limit starting Jan. 1, 2032.
Study highlights monumental cost of PFAS remediation
In a statement, Tsernoglou says the regulations are important to protect the public health and start the turnaround to remediating the environment.
“Protecting our environment and public health is paramount, and these bills represent crucial steps toward achieving that goal,” she said in a statement. “By phasing out PFAS in household products, we are taking a significant step toward a healthier, safer future for generations to come.”
PFAS — or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a large group of compounds first developed in the 1940s and incorporated into all sorts of products for waterproofing and heat resistance. Decades later, research showed that PFAS compounds take a long time to break down organically and can build up in the human body, linking them to serious health problems including cancer.
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, there are more than 15,000 known PFAS compounds.
Researchers figure out one mystery behind PFAS levels in Lake Superior smelt
The Environmental Working Group says there are now more than 5,000 confirmed PFAS-contaminated sites across the United States, including at least one in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and two territories.
HB 5657 has been referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation for further discussion.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
