Now that Maine’s Legislature has stepped up regulation of toxic chemicals in consumer products, the state’s environmental health advocates are hoping the momentum carries over to Washington.

With today's introduction of the Kid Safe Chemicals Act, Congress took the first step toward a possible overhaul of the 30-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act. Health advocates and environmentalists have long argued that the law is too old and weak to deal with a variety of possible threats such as bisphenol A, an ingredient in plastic baby bottles linked to adverse effects in laboratory studies.

The federal proposal would require chemical manufacturers to provide health and safety data so federal regulators can take chemicals off the market if they don’t meet health standards for exposure to children. It also would set up a bio-monitoring program to study Americans’ exposure to chemicals.

Public health and environmental advocates in Maine praised the effort today. But they also sent a letter urging Maine’s congressional delegation to strengthen it. They want to see the federal legislation include a provision in a new Maine law that makes it possible to phase out toxic chemicals when there are safer alternatives.

A lack of faith in federal protections led several states to take up their own legislative proposals this year. Maine’s Legislature overwhelmingly supported a state program to track dangerous chemicals in consumer products sold here, as well as a process for phasing out those considered unnecessary.

Gov. John Baldacci will hold a signing ceremony for that law in his office Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. He’ll be joined by members of the Alliance for a Clean & Healthy Maine and the Governor’s Task Force to Promote Safer Chemicals in Consumer Products, as well as other supporters of the bill.

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