Reducing toxic chemicals

Ecology enforces state regulations on toxic chemicals in products, educates the public about these chemicals, and develops policies to reduce or eliminate the use of toxic chemicals whenever possible.
Ecology enforces state regulations on toxic chemicals in products, educates the public about these chemicals, and develops policies to reduce or eliminate the use of toxic chemicals whenever possible.

Search Blog Posts

105 results.

Protecting human and environmental health with Safer Products for WA
Many of the products used every day contain toxic chemicals that escape into homes and the environment when they're used and disposed.
Crews safely remove, detonate dangerous chemical device

Homeowner finds poisonous theft deterrent in old safe. Ecology takes the chemicals and detonates them for safety. 

What do you do when the polluter is a mountain?
For decades, a slow-moving landslide has been exposing the side of Sumas Mountain. The landslide material contains naturally-occurring asbestos and heavy metals — and it all ends up in Swift Creek.
Despite challenges, recycling is still the right thing to do – for the environment and the economy

As the nation prepares to celebrate America Recycles Day on Nov. 15, remember the environmental and economic value that recycling brings, and see available online resources.

If fish could talk — what Palouse River fish are telling us

Crews from Ecology and local Conservation Districts spent six weeks collecting fish from the Palouse River in Southeastern Washington.

Hitting the brakes on copper pollution

June is Orca Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to become aware of the impacts pollution coming from things like vehicle brakes can have.

Progress on the persistent problem of PCBs

PCBs were banned over 40 years ago, yet they still linger. Washington is making progress toward getting PCBs out of the environment

Testing for toxics

New testing by our product testing team found chemicals that could be toxic in children’s products.

New study finds widespread PFAS contamination – but also signs of progress

Per- and poly- fluorinated alkyl substances (aka PFAS, PFCs, PFOS) are building up in waterways and fish, but phasing them out could decrease chemical exposure.

Cu L8r, copper and zinc
Copper and zinc are among the most common pollutants found in Puget Sound. So, while no one is proposing getting rid of them completely, reducing their use where we can seems like a smart move.