So that's who's really behind this.
Posted on 11/01/2007 11:19:40 AM PDT by BGHater
OTTAWA -- A coalition of environmental groups and firefighters are calling on the federal government to ban flame retardants they say are toxic and pose a serious health risk.
The group of chemicals are called polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, and are commonly found in many consumer products, such as the casings of television sets, curtains and carpets.
Numerous scientific studies indicate these chemicals are linked to serious health issues, including neurological and reproductive problems, said Lisa Gue, environmental health policy analyst with the David Suzuki Foundation.
"We are calling for all chemicals in this class ... to be banned," she said.
Although the government has already determined these chemicals are toxic and proposed some regulations, they are "wholly inadequate" because they would exempt some of the most common and dangerous chemicals, Gue said.
Although the chemicals may pose a serious risk to any individual, firefighters are particularly vulnerable because they may breathe in the toxic substances through smoke when fighting fires, said Jim Lee, assistant to the general president for Canadian operations of the International Association of Fire Fighters union.
The groups are calling for a complete ban on the chemicals and are sending letters to Health Minister Tony Clement to take action immediately.
They said they want the House of Commons environment committee to put flame retardants and the need for a ban on the agenda as soon as possible.
Otherwise known as the Full Employment for Firefighters Act...
So that's who's really behind this.
PERFECT! In addition to stopping good land management and maybe preventing some of the more voracious fires, the enviros want to stop using a working chemical set. They should turn some of that fervor toward coming up with better processes for fire fighting. Massive delivery of quantities of Co2 maybe, or larger capacity airborne water delivery systems.
Silent spring all over again.
ruefully
I can understand why the firefighers wound want the chemicals banned? Believe, firefighters want every tool they can put in their kit but they don’t want some that may do them harm.
I think they would support another formulation that didn’t carry the known hazards they are concerned about.
They should ban fire extinguishers too.They`re full of CO2./sarc off
Have you read any of the peer reviewed studies on the birth defects attributed to PBDEs?
Even worse, Canadian gov scientists at (OEHHA) have done some of the best research on the subject, yet the government refuses to act.
Now, I also understand there is no replacements available at the same price points. So phase outs to allow market adjustments would be proper.
There is a problem that has become quite accute over the last few years.
How can you tell if someone has a valid claim or not, when there are so many idiotic claims made these days to further causes?
The left has brought us to the place where anyone who lofts concern over something is dismissed out of hand as a fringe moonbat, accurately or not.
“A coalition of environmental groups and firefighters are calling on the federal government to ban flame retardants they say are toxic and pose a serious health risk.”
They did the same thing with PCBs which were erroneously declared as cancer causing. This resulted in numerous deaths from fires after they were replaced with less effective materials. Liberals never learn.
Uh, last I checked there is a reason why firefighters mask up in SCBA before entering a building that’s on fire.
I wonder why they don’t just ban everything like paint, photographs, plastics, carpets, fabric coverings, metals, wood products, etc since they give off toxic fumes when they burn </sarcasm>
Hey my children never wore the fire retardent pajamas, back when one couldnt get them. Back then they wore long underwear. One less chemical in their lives.
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