CEH Founder Michael Green Honored by San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation
(Michael’s acceptance speech at 55 mins 59 seconds)
For nearly forty years, furniture in the United States was treated with flame retardant chemicals that cause brain damage, cancer, and developmental challenges. Flame retardants could be found in virtually all of our furniture, yet these substances are the worst of both worlds: they don’t help prevent fires, and they expose our children and families – even firefighters – to harmful chemicals.
How did this happen? In the 1970s, Big Tobacco and the chemical industry conspired together to convince government officials that flame retardant chemicals in furniture were a better solution to cigarette fires than “fire safe” cigarettes. And ever since, we’ve all paid the price, with high levels of these toxic chemicals used in furniture, baby products, and other products we use every day.
But CEH fought back, and we won. Our work helped change a 40-year-old California rule that promoted the use of flame retardants in furniture sold nationwide. Nowadays, major companies are making safer furniture and other products, without toxic flame retardants. Companies like Staples, Facebook, Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health and many others that collectively purchase more than $650 million of furniture annually have signed a CEH Pledge to buy safer furniture made without these toxic chemicals. And thanks to a CEH-sponsored law, consumers can now see labels on furniture to let them know when products contain flame retardant chemicals. Nearly universal in U.S. furniture for 40 years, flame retardant chemicals quickly disappeared from much of the market. We found that 78% of the furniture companies surveyed are labeling products nationwide to indicate whether they contain added flame retardants (such labels are required only in California).
CEH could not have accomplished these public health victories without partnering with the very heroes who are often most at risk of the health hazards of flame retardants. Every day, firefighters risk their lives to keep us safe, and are all too often exposed to harmful chemicals like flame retardants in the line of duty while fighting working fires. Tony Stefani – retired captain with the San Francisco Fire Department and cancer survivor – founded the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation (SFFCPF), and partnered with CEH to give testimony at both the state level and before congressional committees in Washington, D.C. in support of legislation that updated flammability standards to no longer require the use of toxic flame retardants.
This year, Michael Green – CEH’s Founder and CEO of 26 years – was honored with the White Helmet, awarded by SFFCPF to individuals who earn the ultimate level of respect in the firefighting profession. “Michael Green and the Center for Environmental Health have been leading advocates for comprehensive chemical change. Under his leadership, CEH has made profound and measurable changes protecting all of us from illness,” said Tony Stefani, before awarding Michael the White Helmet at this year’s “Igniting Hope” gala.
“Flame retardants put firefighters and everyone at risk,” said Michael during his acceptance speech. “Together with SFFCPF, we created important national policy that protects people’s health.”
“And I’m not giving this helmet back. It’s too cool.”
CEH congratulates Michael for this award, and we salute our heroic partners at SFFCPF for their continued work to end the threat of job-related cancers in the firefighting profession.
