Washington state, which includes Seattle, is the latest of a number of US states to adopt sweeping rules that will prohibit the use of toxic chemicals in consumer goods.
The new rules which will come into force in 2025 will restrict the use of organohalogen flame retardants in polyurethane recreational products and in electric and electronic products with plastic casing, like hair dryers, televisions and microwaves, the Seattle Times reported.
The Washington Department of Ecology is also restricting the use of PFAS, a family of substances also known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they are persistent and do not readily break down in the environment.
The department of ecology also said that research has linked these toxic chemicals to health problems like cancer, developmental delays and disruption of reproductive hormones. They have also been linked to environmental damage to fish and other animals.
PFAS are widely used in electronics. According to a recent EU report, the electronics industry uses 4,400 tonnes of PFAS for the manufacturing of electronics and semiconductors in the EU each year.
A number of other US states have already moved to ban PFAS including New York, California and Colorado, although these restrictions only refer to the use of the chemicals in food and drinks packaging.