MONTPELIER, Vt. -
A coalition of lawmakers and other groups are pushing to get flame retardant materials out of homes. They say the problem is toxicity and that it's widespread in many homes.
It's found in furniture, as well as baby mats, mattresses and child car seats, and activists say the carcinogen can pose serious neurological harm.
A bill in the Senate seeks to ban the fire retardant Chlorinated Tris, as well as broaden a ban on DECA that lawmakers approved in 2009.
"When you sit down on your couch, the foam compresses and out goes some air and some dust that contains these toxic chemicals. And then we ingest this dust. It gets in our hands and things like our toddlers who are rolling around on the ground, putting their hands in their mouths a lot have particularly high levels of these toxins in their bodies," said Lauren Hierl of VPIRG.
"My members go to work every day and understand the inherent risks we face as firefighters, EMTs and paramedics. However, we've drawn a line in the sand by saying no to harmful flame retardants," said Matt Vinci of the Professional Firefighters of Vermont.
A form of the Chlorinated Tris common in children's pajamas was banned back in the 1970s, but activists say it has come back in other products.
