Maine Legislation: PFAS in Products

As leading retailers ban sales of toxic PFAS products, health advocates call on Maine to follow suit

With home improvement retailer Lowe’s announcing the end of the sale of PFAS carpet treatments, legislature urged to adopt bill to broadly end use in products

Portland, Maine — On the heels of actions from leading retailer Lowe’s, Defend Our Health is urging Maine to level the playing field by prohibiting unnecessary toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or “forever chemicals” from commonly used products. 

In a recent update to its safer chemicals policy, Lowe’s has banned the sale of fabric protectors that contain toxic PFAS in their stores nationwide. Lowe’s latest action came in advance of the Mind the Store campaign’s fifth annual retailer report card, co-authored by Defend Our Health’s Executive Director, Mike Belliveau. It also follows action from the retailer, and their competitor Home Depot, to stop the sale of carpeting containing PFAS.

PFAS are used in thousands of everyday products including cookware, clothing, food packaging, textiles and car seats. Most of these uses could be substituted for safer alternatives. PFAS pose significant health risks, impact the immune system and can weaken responses to the COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, low-income communities, communities of color, and tribal and rural communities are disproportionately impacted and more susceptible to health and financial impacts of PFAS contamination. 

The Maine Legislature will be considering a bill, sponsored by Rep. Lori Gramlich (D-Old Orchard Beach), that will prohibit the sale of carpeting and fabric treatments with PFAS after next year, while establishing a framework to eliminate PFAS from all products by 2030. Limited exemptions would be allowed for currently unavoidable uses necessary for health and safety.

“Yesterday, Gov. Mills called on the Federal government to ‘reduce and eliminate the use of PFAS in non-essential applications,’ however there is no need to wait for Washington to act,” said Sarah Woodbury, Director of Advocacy at Defend Our Health. “Maine can start protecting us now by passing Rep. Gramlich’s bill.”

“We are already seeing retailers and manufacturers move away from the use of PFAS as they recognize both the dangers and the availability of safer alternatives. Legislation will ensure a level playing field and prevent laggards from continuing to sell products that may expose our families to dangerous chemicals or create disposal problems for our municipalities down the road,” said Patrick MacRoy, Deputy Director at Defend Our Health. 

PFAS are labeled “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down and remain in the environment essentially forever until cleaned up. As the recent discovery of widespread contamination in Fairfield has demonstrated, PFAS have contaminated both water and soil across Maine, harming our environment and contaminating farm and drinking water.