Toxic kids’ products bill dies in WA House

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A bill to ban a pair of potentially carcinogenic flame retardant chemicals from children’s products has died in the Washington state House amid budget intrigue in the Senate.

Bill supporters in both chambers expressed optimism Saturday it would be revived should a special session be called to pass the budget.

The bill would ban TCEP and chlorinated Tris, the latter of which is widely used in polyurethane foam.

In its original form, the bill would also have required children’s product makers using potentially hazardous chemicals including formaldehyde and bisphenol A to find safer alternatives.

The measure is opposed by the chemical industry, which notes that chlorinated Tris — voluntarily taken off the market in the 1970’s but since returned to wide use — is not banned elsewhere.

Supporters note non-toxic alternatives are used by some manufacturers.