ap

Skip to content

Proposal to phase out the sale of “forever chemicals” passes the Legislature

If enacted, the law would ban certain products containing PFAS starting in 2024

PFAS risk assessor Kelsey Barton is ...
Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
PFAS risk assessor Kelsey Barton collects samples from fish caught around Fountain Creek at Fountain Creek Regional Park in Fountain, Colorado on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020.
Conrad Swanson - Staff portraits at ...
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...

A measure to ban the sale of carpeting, furniture, cosmetics and other products containing PFAS – or forever chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects – needs only Gov. Jared Polis’ signature before becoming law.

Groundwater across the state is contaminated with the toxic chemicals. Attorney General Phil Weiser also filed a lawsuit in late February against companies that produce the chemicals.

is an attempt to cut into the number of products containing the compounds.

The General Assembly passed the bill this week and Conor Cahill, a spokesman for Polis, did not say whether the governor intends to sign the legislation but said he will consider it when it lands on his desk.

If Polis signs the bill into law by Jan. 1, 2024, the state would prohibit the sale of products containing PFAS including:

  • Carpets or rugs.
  • Cosmetics.
  • Fabric treatments.
  • Food packaging.
  • Children’s products.
  • Oil and gas products.
  • Textile furnishings.
  • Upholstered furniture.

The measure had bipartisan support and was backed by environmental groups like Metro Water Recovery, GreenLatinos and the Colorado Public Interest Research Group.

RevContent Feed

More in Environment