Toxic Chemicals

From before we are born until the time we die, we are repeatedly and regularly exposed to toxic chemicals with the potential to seriously harm our health. Toxic chemicals can be found in our homes, schools and workplaces – in products we use on a daily basis. We're fighting at local, state, and federal levels to fix our chemical laws and find safer alternatives to the chemicals in everyday products.

California State Capitol
California

California Legislative Priorities for 2021

Clean Water Action plays an active role in the state legislative process.  We introduce and sponsor bills to protect our environment and communities, work to stop bills that roll back environmental and environmental justic

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Recent Actions

Minnesota

Ask Your Minnesota Lawmakers to Reduce PFAS & Lead Exposure

Though Clean Water Action has been encouraged by bipartisan efforts to pass coronavirus relief and a law banning certain trichloroethylene (TCE) uses, there are many other public health priorities that were left unfinished

Take Action!
Minnesota

Tell Best Buy: Get Flame Retardants Out of Your TVs

The Trump Administration is leaving American families vulnerable by stalling work to ban chemicals called organohalogen flame retardants in TV plastic casi

Sign now!
Pennsylvania

Support Stronger Clean Air Rules for U.S. Steel

Let them know we need to clean up our air!

Tell ACHD to support strong clean air regulations at Clairton Coke Works
Virginia

Urge the Virginia General Assembly to Take Action on PFAS in Drinking Water

Clean Water Action and our allies have led efforts during this year’s General Assembly session to address toxic per and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances by pressing for legislation to study the occurrence of these chemicals in Virginia’s public drinking water, and to address sources of human exposure.

Urge the Virginia General Assembly to Take Action on PFAS in Drinking Water

Related Toxic Chemicals Topics

Toxic Chemicals Publications

Toxic Chemicals Blog Posts

chemicals in bottles
When it comes to tackling toxic ‘forever chemicals’, the Clean Water Act has many powerful, yet underutilized, policy tools
February 17, 2021

President Biden has pledged to take quick action on toxic fluorinated ‘forever chemicals’ known as PFAS “by designating PFAS as a hazardous substance, setting enforceable limits for PFAS in the Safe Drinking Water Act, prioritizing substitutes through procurement, and accelerating toxicity studies and research on PFAS.” These are welcome—and necessary—steps that must be taken to address this toxic pollution, but there’s a lot more the Biden administration can do.

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TJX announces new restrictions on toxic chemicals as part of new chemicals strategy
February 1, 2021

Last month, TJX—the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Home Goods, and Sierra Trading Post—announced on its website it is developing an expanded “Chemical Management” strategy. 

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McDonald’s Announces Ban of Toxic PFAS 'Forever' Chemicals in Food Packaging
January 14, 2021

In a major victory for Clean Water Action and the Mind the Store campaign, McDonald's has announced a global ban on toxic PFAS ( per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)  in their food packaging by 2025.

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