News & Insights

While Safer States primarily focuses on stopping the use of toxic chemicals, another key aspect of our mission is to support the clean up of communities that have been impacted by toxic pollution. We are happy to report that we have seen many victories this year in this fight!

Welcome back to our celebration of the victories and momentum on toxic chemicals this year! Today we are highlighting important advocacy work from four states—California, New York, Minnesota and Washington—that is making a positive impact on the health and resilience of their communities. Their work pushed companies to move away from the most toxic chemicals and, in some cases, to also disclose information on whether or not certain toxic chemicals are in their products.

If you're like me,  you are watching more cute animal videos during the pandemic than ever before. A lot of my favorites include animal mamas and babies, especially when mamas take heroic steps to keep their babies safe.

That is what I see playing out on a larger scale in the Town of Saugus, Massachusetts, just north of Boston. Saugus holds the distinction of hosting the oldest trash burner in the United States, operated by Wheelabrator. Simply put, Saugus contends with pollution from the stacks of this dinosaur as well as the toxic ash which is landfilled in a critical marsh area right next to the incinerator.

In 2020 many states moved to address and regulate chemicals by class, rather than one at a time. Previous regulations that ban individual chemicals can be dodged by the chemical industry, as they move a molecule or two to create “new” chemicals with similar toxicities but not subject to regulation. 

This year’s state-level victories around protecting us from toxic chemical exposures reflect a bold vision for a future where communities are healthy, resilient, and not harmed by toxic chemicals; where harmful chemicals are banned in the marketplace; where companies that have caused the harm are held accountable; and where polluted communities are cleaned up. 

Safer States believes that issues of environmental, economic and racial justice intersect at their core, and require combined solutions to get at root causes of these critical problems. 

Featured this month in our spotlight justice series:  excerpts from an interview with Vi Waghiyi of Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT)

Check out our list of 10 documentaries to watch this Earth Day!

Although the Trump administration has fallen down on the job of protecting us from PFAS, public health advocates have worked alongside Congress, states, cities, and retailers to pick up the baton and run with it. And we’re making good progress! So here are your eight reasons to SMILE on National Teflon Day.

Mark Ruffalo joined community members, advocates and decision makers on the ‘Why We Fight’ tour to call for swift and significant action on PFAS pollution in North Carolina.

Maryland General Assembly passed a bill to restrict the use of chemical flame retardants in furniture, children’s products and mattresses.