Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals with Breast Cancer Prevention Partners
Nov 19, 2023In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Sophia sat down with Nancy Buermeyer of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP). BCPP works to eliminate environmental toxins that contribute to cancer from our water, food, and consumer products.
Nancy is the Director of Policy and Programming and has influenced state and federal laws that protect consumers from these environmental toxins. Nancy and Sophia discuss Forever Chemicals, recent California legislation, Prop 65 labeling and what it means, and what to do if you're ordering from another state, and more!
Listen to the podcast above, and keep reading for the show notes!
[03:07] Toxic chemicals and their impact on health.
- Nancy Buermeyer discusses their work at Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, eliminating exposures to chemicals linked to breast cancer.
- Nancy Buermeyer explains "forever chemicals" contamination and health risks.
- California has taken measures to regulate or filter out PFAS chemicals in product categories such as juvenile products and paper-based packaging.
[08:56] California's chemical regulations and their impact on products.
- California has banned or worked on banning several products containing toxic chemicals, including firefighting foam, paper-based food packaging, and juvenile products.
- Nancy Buermeyer: Implementation dates for California's textiles bill vary by category, with some by 2024 and others by 2025.
- Amazon may be held accountable for not disclosing Prop 65 warnings on products sold in California, according to the conversation.
[15:42] California's new laws regulating PFAS chemicals in products.
- In 2024 and 2025, California will require labels on products disclosing the presence of potentially harmful chemicals, including PFAS in cookware, cosmetics, and apparel sold in the state.
- Cosmetics and apparel sold in California must not contain PFAS, while cookware will have to disclose the presence of these chemicals on labels or websites.
- California law bans all PFAS chemicals in personal care products by 2025, with exceptions for outdoor gear.
[21:21] Banning harmful PFAS chemicals in products.
- PFAS chemicals are broadly defined as any chemical with a fully fluorinated carbon atom, including thousands of harmful substances that persist in the environment and are toxic to humans.
- California aims to replace harmful chemicals with the least toxic alternatives, but challenges persist in regulation.
- California's Safer Consumer Products program aims to reduce harmful chemicals in products but faces challenges in implementation.
[28:14] Toxic chemicals in consumer products and water filtration systems.
- Sophia asks about toxic chemicals in plastic wrap and products, citing unverified claims about plastic wrap toxicity.
- Nancy Buermeyer discusses the potential impact of banned chemicals on other states and countries, highlighting the case of Johnson & Johnson's baby powder
- Sophia agrees that companies should be held responsible for producing cleaner products, both in the US and for export
- Nancy Buermeyer discusses the challenges of removing PFAS chemicals from drinking water, despite having a filtration system.
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