Help advocate against harmful chemicals in our everyday products! On Monday, February 19th, Indiana’s state legislature will hear HB 1399, a dangerous “forever chemicals” or PFAS bill that will limit the definition of PFAS chemicals in the state of Indiana. This legislation would limit Indiana’s ability to regulate these chemicals in the future, and the proposed definition leaves out important PFAS polymers and harmful fluorinated gases. Please reach out to the state senators on the Senate Environmental Affairs committee and urge them them to oppose HB 1399!

PFAS, or Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of thousands of chemicals that have been used heavily in firefighting foams, but have also been used in many consumer products, including nonstick pans, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, wire coatings, medical devices, and in the manufacturing of semiconductors. They can cause liver damage or immune system changes, high cholesterol, and kidney or testicular cancer. Once released into the environment, they don’t break down, so they are also referred to as “forever chemicals”. 

Once PFAS chemicals are released to the environment or get into the human body, they are very persistent, which increases their potential for harm. We need our state to regulate all of these harmful chemicals, not just some of them, to protect the health and vitality of our environment, and also the people who live, work, and recreate in Northwest Indiana.