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Everyone has
a fear of fire, right?
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No one wants to burn
up in a fire.
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And if you can stoke that
fear, it's easy to leave
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a law in place.
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To convince somebody
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that something that you've
been led to believe for all
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these years is protecting
you, isn't protecting you?
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And if you change it,
children are going to burn up
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and die horrific deaths.
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Who wants to change that law?
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I loved every day
I went to work.
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Every time you go out that
door, you're going out
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there for one reason,
and that's to help somebody.
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And there's no better
feeling in the world.
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I distinctly remember
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the smell of the soap when I
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washed my hands,
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the smell of the turnout coats
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with the smoke when I
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entered in this firehouse,
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looking out the back
windows in the dormitory
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at nighttime, hoping that
I was going to get a fire.
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I know it sounds sort of
strange, but I wanted to
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test my skills.
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Being a firefighter,
you don't think
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about the negative
aspects of the job.
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You keep yourself in shape.
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You get sort of a... a feeling
that you're infallible.
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I mean you... you just...
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There's nothing that
you can't do.
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You're not gonna get sick.
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You take care of yourself.
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You eat right.
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But I got bit in the
ass, to put it bluntly.
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It was January the 5th.
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It was a winter morning.
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I was out for a run.
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About the last mile,
I got to the point where I
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couldn't run anymore.
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And that had never
happened to me before.
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I actually stopped and I walked.
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I felt really bad.
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Got back into the gym,
went to the bathroom,
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and started urinating.
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I was peeing just blood.
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And within a week I had
a CT scan and was told that
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00:03:02,018 --> 00:03:06,023
in my right kidney, I had
transitional cell carcinoma...
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A rare form of cancer,
normally found in one
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in 100,0000 people,
and normally found
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in people that work in
the chemical industry.
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I was referred to
a doctor at UCSF.
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He asked me what my
profession was, and I told
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him I was a firefighter
here in San Francisco.
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And he goes, "Do you
realize that you work
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in the chemical industry?"
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And I said, "Well, I've
never really thought of it
57
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that way, but I guess I do."
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When you walk into a room,
there could be 100-130
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different toxic
chemicals in the air.
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You're dealing with flame
retardants that are used
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on just about everything...
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Clothing, textiles, furnishings.
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In the old days,
that stuff didn't exist.
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During my treatment
and recovery, another
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00:04:03,021 --> 00:04:04,997
firefighter here at
Station One came down
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with transitional
cell carcinoma.
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And then a third firefighter.
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00:04:12,017 --> 00:04:14,981
And during this period
of time, too, it seemed like
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every month somebody
else would be diagnosed
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with some form of cancer.
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Every month we'd be
going to another funeral
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of somebody else that had
contracted it that had
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retired and died.
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So, it was...
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It was an eye opener.
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I mean, the realization was
there that we were faced
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with a major problem.
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If you're going to
change the standard,
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that the standard
should be changed to
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require more chemicals.
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00:05:00,019 --> 00:05:01,995
You can't get from A to Z
82
00:05:02,019 --> 00:05:03,986
because they've left out...
83
00:05:04,010 --> 00:05:04,986
What do they have to do
with an arson...
84
00:05:05,010 --> 00:05:06,021
Why would you have to...
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00:05:08,017 --> 00:05:09,985
The 2008 Pulitzer
was for a series
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we did called "Hidden Hazards,"
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which was about
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deadly baby products,
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00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:15,991
dangerous baby products.
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00:05:16,015 --> 00:05:18,995
Anything from cribs to this
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Godzilla back here
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with lead paint on it.
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At the end of that story,
a lot changed, thankfully.
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00:05:27,022 --> 00:05:29,989
It was the biggest
reform movement
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in the country to protect
children and their products
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00:05:33,013 --> 00:05:33,997
in a generation.
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It was exciting to see
that kind of result happen.
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00:05:41,018 --> 00:05:43,992
We were working on
a completely unrelated story
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that had to do with chemicals
but not flame retardants.
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And I often, when I'm
interviewing people,
101
00:05:49,004 --> 00:05:51,990
will ask at the end,
"So, what didn't I ask you?"
102
00:05:52,014 --> 00:05:53,982
Or, "What's interesting?"
103
00:05:54,006 --> 00:05:55,996
And almost everyone we
talked to said, "Well,
104
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what you really should be
looking at is flame retardants."
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All couches seem
to be different.
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00:06:01,014 --> 00:06:02,994
Virtually every
American home has flame
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00:06:03,018 --> 00:06:04,994
retardants in their couch.
108
00:06:05,018 --> 00:06:06,993
And when you talk to
people, people are surprised
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that there's flame retardants
in couches and chairs.
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You know, they're just
surprised by that fact alone.
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00:06:13,016 --> 00:06:15,981
And, you know, these are
chemicals that aren't
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measured by parts per
billion or parts per
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00:06:18,012 --> 00:06:18,995
million in a couch.
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00:06:19,019 --> 00:06:21,996
It's measured by
pounds and ounces.
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00:06:24,003 --> 00:06:26,992
It was the late '90s that
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the first studies were
coming out raising alarms
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about flame retardants in
terms of flame retardants
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accumulating in
people and wildlife
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in places around the
world that you would never
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in a million years
think flame retardants.
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Suddenly, they had
become controversial.
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And they weren't before.
I don't think they were before.
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It started in Sweden,
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with scientists finding
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that these chemicals were
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building up in breast milk
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and then being passed on
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to the next generation.
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They were out there,
and nobody really knew much
130
00:07:04,001 --> 00:07:05,989
about them or what
they were doing
131
00:07:06,013 --> 00:07:07,985
in the environment.
132
00:07:08,009 --> 00:07:10,989
And I think, it was
a problem in general
133
00:07:11,013 --> 00:07:14,981
for environmental health
researchers initially is,
134
00:07:15,005 --> 00:07:15,998
why a lot of people didn't
want to touch flame
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retardants is fire.
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People dying in fires.
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The idea that, shouldn't
we do whatever we can to
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prevent people from
dying from fires?
139
00:07:28,017 --> 00:07:31,012
And it's hard
to argue against that.
140
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That mindset. This
is the world we live in.
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This is one of the
consequences of modern
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living is having all
of these chemicals in our body.
143
00:08:04,016 --> 00:08:07,992
And if we want, you know,
all of these conveniences...
144
00:08:08,016 --> 00:08:11,982
If we want safer houses,
if we want nonstick pans,
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if we want jackets that
repel water, all these
146
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different kinds of things...
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There are side effects or
there are consequences that
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we just have to live with.
149
00:08:20,011 --> 00:08:22,992
And, you know, in
terms of one school
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of thought, just
because they're in our
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bodies doesn't mean that
they're causing any harm.
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And, yeah, you'll hear that.
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I don't see people whose
arms and legs are falling
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off, so, therefore
what's the big deal?
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There's one thing to say that
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flame retardants are
building up in the environment.
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They're building up in people.
158
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And that is alarming.
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They're building up
in breast milk?
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I mean, that's alarming, right?
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But, again, it's if
they work, well, then it's
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a little bit of
a different... if they're all...
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You know, if there is truly
a huge threat of fire that
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we all face, and they're
protecting us from that
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threat on a daily basis,
then it's sort
166
00:09:04,021 --> 00:09:05,984
of a different story.
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00:09:06,008 --> 00:09:08,994
When we waded
into this topic, you know,
168
00:09:09,018 --> 00:09:10,998
at the outset it did
appear very complicated.
169
00:09:11,022 --> 00:09:12,999
And sometimes you do feel
like you're a referee.
170
00:09:13,023 --> 00:09:15,993
Because, you know, you have
the industry on this side,
171
00:09:16,017 --> 00:09:17,991
you have some
activists on this side.
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00:09:18,015 --> 00:09:19,997
There's allegations going
back and forth, and you do
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00:09:20,021 --> 00:09:21,983
feel like you're going
in there and saying,
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"Wait a second.
I'm just trying"...
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You're trying to
figure out the truth.
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We weren't out to get
the chemical industry
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by any means on this.
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You know, we're not advocates.
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We're not.
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00:09:30,022 --> 00:09:31,991
We're not on one side
or another here.
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We were trying to get to
the bottom of this question
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and this legacy, really,
that's been
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around since the seventies.
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00:09:43,008 --> 00:09:44,994
And why do we have
these chemicals in our lives?
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Why do we have them
in our furniture?
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Why do we have them
in our bodies?
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There we so many layers,
it was like peeling
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an onion, you know, there
were so many layers to this
189
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and...
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and so many of them
were just rotten.
191
00:10:08,017 --> 00:10:11,017
This is human tragedy.
192
00:10:12,020 --> 00:10:16,990
10 minutes ago, we were
looking at a football game.
193
00:10:17,014 --> 00:10:20,998
I now look at the sad
and tragic site...
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00:10:21,022 --> 00:10:23,992
DIFFERENT MAN, VOICE-OVER: Once
a fire starts, people have no
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00:10:24,016 --> 00:10:26,993
clue how fast it is.
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00:10:27,017 --> 00:10:28,983
And look at that.
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Oh, the poor man.
Oh, this is awful.
198
00:10:31,017 --> 00:10:33,988
I mean, I remember
there was a soccer stadium
199
00:10:34,012 --> 00:10:35,997
fire in Bradford, England.
200
00:10:36,021 --> 00:10:37,993
It happened to be televised.
201
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The cameras were in
the exact opposite end
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of the stadium.
203
00:10:42,014 --> 00:10:42,991
They were televising the match.
204
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They weren't seeing anything.
205
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Some stupid thing happened...
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00:10:47,017 --> 00:10:48,987
Probably someone dropped
a cigarette, maybe
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dropped a match.
208
00:10:50,012 --> 00:10:50,996
Who knows what happened.
209
00:10:51,020 --> 00:10:53,994
But after seeing the
video many times, I know
210
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exactly when the fire started.
211
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That looks very nasty indeed.
212
00:10:58,006 --> 00:11:01,978
And from that moment
until the entire stadium...
213
00:11:02,002 --> 00:11:02,993
A massive, big stadium...
214
00:11:03,017 --> 00:11:06,993
Was on fire was 8 minutes.
215
00:11:07,017 --> 00:11:10,993
It takes 8 minutes for
a massive stadium to be
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completely engulfed in
flames from a tiny little fire.
217
00:11:15,012 --> 00:11:15,990
But what I can't tell you
218
00:11:16,014 --> 00:11:17,997
is how many people are injured.
219
00:11:18,021 --> 00:11:22,022
My fear is there may even
have been somebody dead.
220
00:11:32,015 --> 00:11:35,985
I work with the chemical
fire retardant manufacturers.
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00:11:36,009 --> 00:11:36,994
I mean, in case...
222
00:11:37,018 --> 00:11:39,991
You didn't ask me that,
but it's a well-known thing
223
00:11:40,015 --> 00:11:41,022
that I work with them.
224
00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:42,991
And, well, here we already
225
00:11:43,015 --> 00:11:45,999
have flashover...
you see them
extinguishing the fire.
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00:11:46,023 --> 00:11:48,979
I believe in fire safety.
227
00:11:49,003 --> 00:11:51,998
We kill a lot of people in
this country from fires.
228
00:12:04,021 --> 00:12:05,978
Upholstered furniture?
229
00:12:06,002 --> 00:12:07,987
We have a serious problem.
230
00:12:08,011 --> 00:12:10,979
Let's say a fire
starts in the upholstered
231
00:12:11,003 --> 00:12:12,003
furniture sofa here.
232
00:12:14,022 --> 00:12:17,993
And you see the temperature
rises and rises and rises
233
00:12:18,017 --> 00:12:21,023
until you reach
a certain point when
234
00:12:22,001 --> 00:12:24,991
the temperature has risen
enough that suddenly
235
00:12:25,015 --> 00:12:26,997
everything in that room,
in that compartment,
236
00:12:27,021 --> 00:12:28,999
is burning.
237
00:12:31,005 --> 00:12:32,993
And from that moment,
all bets are off.
238
00:12:33,017 --> 00:12:34,996
There's nothing else that's
gonna be able to save
239
00:12:35,020 --> 00:12:37,022
anything inside
that compartment.
240
00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:39,992
That moment, that is
the moment of flashover.
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00:12:43,010 --> 00:12:45,987
90% of the paddings...
242
00:12:46,011 --> 00:12:47,023
Maybe even higher...
243
00:12:48,001 --> 00:12:50,992
Of chairs are polyurethane-
foam-based.
244
00:12:51,016 --> 00:12:54,990
Polyurethane foam is very
flammable on its own.
245
00:12:55,014 --> 00:12:57,991
It burns very quickly.
It burns very fast.
246
00:12:58,015 --> 00:13:01,991
Well, if we put flame
retardants in there, we get
247
00:13:02,015 --> 00:13:04,994
the insulating
capability of the foam
248
00:13:05,018 --> 00:13:07,995
and fire safety.
249
00:13:14,009 --> 00:13:15,983
I was the first
person ever to get
250
00:13:16,007 --> 00:13:19,984
a Ph.D. degree in Fire
Protection Engineering.
251
00:13:28,023 --> 00:13:29,997
Back in the late 1980s,
I was working
252
00:13:30,021 --> 00:13:33,983
for the federal government,
and I did a very
253
00:13:34,007 --> 00:13:37,996
extensive study on
a comparison between
254
00:13:38,020 --> 00:13:41,994
goods that did or did not
have flame retardants.
255
00:13:42,018 --> 00:13:44,983
They did ones that were
completely non-fire-retardant...
256
00:13:45,007 --> 00:13:45,992
The typical run-of-the-mill
257
00:13:46,016 --> 00:13:47,993
that you find in most
households...
258
00:13:48,017 --> 00:13:50,995
And ones that
were well-fire-retarded.
259
00:13:51,019 --> 00:13:52,022
The really, uh, proof
260
00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,994
of the pudding is how does
the furniture item
261
00:13:56,018 --> 00:13:57,993
burn in full scale?
262
00:14:00,014 --> 00:14:01,995
What they found is that the
263
00:14:02,019 --> 00:14:06,995
safer furniture, the safer
products, gave 15 times
264
00:14:07,019 --> 00:14:07,998
more time to escape.
265
00:14:08,022 --> 00:14:11,005
It was massive.
266
00:14:13,017 --> 00:14:14,993
I'm sorry. I mean,
I'm an old man, and I've
267
00:14:15,017 --> 00:14:18,991
run a lot of fire
tests in my life.
268
00:14:19,015 --> 00:14:21,991
And flame retardants,
in my view, should be
269
00:14:22,015 --> 00:14:23,987
one of the...
One of the solutions.
270
00:14:24,011 --> 00:14:26,986
And something that
just bans them out of hand
271
00:14:27,010 --> 00:14:29,014
is just wrong.
272
00:14:30,017 --> 00:14:32,022
Look at the size
of the flame there.
273
00:14:38,004 --> 00:14:39,987
With great pleasure, I welcome
274
00:14:40,011 --> 00:14:42,987
one of the giants in
the prevention field,
275
00:14:43,011 --> 00:14:44,011
Andrew McGuire.
276
00:14:46,016 --> 00:14:50,994
You know, it's hard
to know what happens
277
00:14:51,018 --> 00:14:53,995
to a life or my life
if you change
278
00:14:54,019 --> 00:14:55,979
a central event.
279
00:14:58,007 --> 00:15:00,989
When I was 7,
on my birthday, I went
280
00:15:01,013 --> 00:15:04,999
in the kitchen,
and I turned on the oven.
281
00:15:05,023 --> 00:15:09,997
The hem of my flannel
bathrobe ignited.
282
00:15:10,021 --> 00:15:11,999
My sister, who was 4,
saw the flames
283
00:15:12,023 --> 00:15:13,995
coming up my back and screamed.
284
00:15:14,019 --> 00:15:16,982
And then I turned,
saw the flames,
285
00:15:17,006 --> 00:15:18,995
and then I screamed and ran.
286
00:15:19,019 --> 00:15:21,994
Like this. There you go.
287
00:15:22,018 --> 00:15:24,993
So I was on fire about
8, 9, 10 seconds
288
00:15:25,017 --> 00:15:28,983
at the most, and had
third-degree burns on my
289
00:15:29,007 --> 00:15:32,019
legs and back, hands and head.
290
00:15:43,023 --> 00:15:45,992
What clicked for me was all
of those burns that I had
291
00:15:46,016 --> 00:15:49,998
seen in the burn center
were totally preventable.
292
00:15:50,022 --> 00:15:52,980
My burn would have
been preventable.
293
00:15:53,004 --> 00:15:54,998
I don't want someone else
to go through that goddamn
294
00:15:55,022 --> 00:15:59,021
experience if it
doesn't have to happen.
295
00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:01,360
Let's just do the
right thing here.
296
00:16:04,001 --> 00:16:06,993
In 1978, I found out,
anecdotally,
297
00:16:07,017 --> 00:16:08,981
that cigarette companies
can make cigarettes
298
00:16:09,005 --> 00:16:11,983
self-extinguish and
not cause fire deaths,
299
00:16:12,007 --> 00:16:12,994
not cause fires.
300
00:16:13,018 --> 00:16:14,992
And the number of fires from...
301
00:16:15,016 --> 00:16:17,992
And deaths from cigarettes,
it's the leading cause
302
00:16:18,016 --> 00:16:21,022
of fire death in America,
in the world.
303
00:16:22,017 --> 00:16:23,978
I've got to say,
when we first started
304
00:16:24,002 --> 00:16:25,998
working on this topic,
the idea that big tobacco
305
00:16:26,022 --> 00:16:29,993
had a role in why we have flame
retardants in our households...
306
00:16:30,017 --> 00:16:31,991
That was really interesting.
I mean, it was surprising.
307
00:16:32,015 --> 00:16:33,980
Who would have thought
tobacco had anything to do
308
00:16:34,004 --> 00:16:35,004
with your couch, right?
309
00:16:44,006 --> 00:16:45,994
These were the days
when a lot of people smoked.
310
00:16:46,018 --> 00:16:48,994
I think 40% of
the country smoked.
311
00:16:49,018 --> 00:16:50,979
A lot of people smoked indoors.
312
00:16:51,003 --> 00:16:52,987
You know, offices,
newsrooms were just a big
313
00:16:53,011 --> 00:16:54,986
cloud of smoke back then.
314
00:16:55,010 --> 00:16:59,998
And people were dying
in furniture fires.
315
00:17:00,022 --> 00:17:01,986
Federal investigators said
316
00:17:02,010 --> 00:17:03,998
today that a discarded
cigarette was the likely
317
00:17:04,022 --> 00:17:07,995
cause of this Hilton Hotel
fire in Houston, March 6,
318
00:17:08,019 --> 00:17:09,993
that killed 12 people.
319
00:17:10,017 --> 00:17:10,994
There's no question about it.
320
00:17:11,018 --> 00:17:11,996
It was happening commonly.
321
00:17:12,020 --> 00:17:14,987
It was happening
all over the country
322
00:17:15,011 --> 00:17:15,998
at a regular occurrence.
323
00:17:16,022 --> 00:17:18,988
So, there were efforts
afoot to try and change
324
00:17:19,012 --> 00:17:20,998
the cigarette because that
was what was igniting most
325
00:17:21,022 --> 00:17:22,979
of the fires.
326
00:17:23,003 --> 00:17:23,988
In the last 10 years,
327
00:17:24,012 --> 00:17:25,987
significant steps have
been made toward developing
328
00:17:26,011 --> 00:17:28,990
a federal fire-safe
cigarette safety standard.
329
00:17:29,014 --> 00:17:29,997
Up to that point, the industry
330
00:17:30,021 --> 00:17:31,991
response had been,
"We just can't do it.
331
00:17:32,015 --> 00:17:34,999
"We can't make a cigarette
that anyone's gonna want to
332
00:17:35,023 --> 00:17:38,979
"smoke that will
extinguish on its own.
333
00:17:39,003 --> 00:17:39,994
It's just not feasible."
334
00:17:40,018 --> 00:17:43,992
They had a very successful,
very lucrative product.
335
00:17:44,016 --> 00:17:46,991
And they were very
leery of changing it.
336
00:17:47,015 --> 00:17:49,987
...where we're taking on
the major cause of fire death,
337
00:17:50,011 --> 00:17:51,992
the major cause
of fire injury...
338
00:17:52,016 --> 00:17:53,998
I was there. I testified.
339
00:17:54,022 --> 00:17:55,991
The cigarette industry said,
"It's not our problem.
340
00:17:56,015 --> 00:17:59,995
You should make furniture
cigarette-resistant."
341
00:18:00,019 --> 00:18:01,990
They said that in hearings.
342
00:18:02,014 --> 00:18:02,998
The homes of America are filled
343
00:18:03,022 --> 00:18:05,996
with furniture that had
not been treated to reduce
344
00:18:06,020 --> 00:18:07,992
its flammability.
345
00:18:08,016 --> 00:18:11,980
In fact, I can report that
we have developed a method
346
00:18:12,004 --> 00:18:14,992
for applying a flame
and smolder retardant
in the home.
347
00:18:15,016 --> 00:18:16,736
They had
a flame retardant that you
348
00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:18,991
could go and spray
everything in your
349
00:18:19,015 --> 00:18:21,982
environment with this
flame retardant to prevent
350
00:18:22,006 --> 00:18:22,996
cigarettes from igniting it.
351
00:18:23,020 --> 00:18:24,986
Fire retardants can save you
352
00:18:25,010 --> 00:18:28,992
thousands of dollars
and possibly save
your life.
353
00:18:29,016 --> 00:18:30,986
That was
their solution in 1983...
354
00:18:31,010 --> 00:18:32,979
The tobacco industry's
solution...
355
00:18:33,003 --> 00:18:33,995
To fires caused by cigarettes.
356
00:18:34,019 --> 00:18:37,987
All right, so, page 23.
357
00:18:38,011 --> 00:18:39,291
I started kind of
noodling around
358
00:18:40,001 --> 00:18:40,999
on the tobacco
document sites, where
359
00:18:41,023 --> 00:18:44,995
there's this phenomenal
repository of documents
360
00:18:45,019 --> 00:18:46,993
that the tobacco
industry turned over to
361
00:18:47,017 --> 00:18:48,993
settle lawsuits.
362
00:18:49,017 --> 00:18:50,994
There's 13 million
of them online.
363
00:18:51,018 --> 00:18:54,985
It's just an investigative
reporter's dream.
364
00:18:55,009 --> 00:18:57,993
This issue of making
a fire-safe cigarette was
365
00:18:58,017 --> 00:18:59,986
gaining some traction,
and they were
366
00:19:00,010 --> 00:19:00,993
worried about it.
367
00:19:01,017 --> 00:19:02,994
They said, "Neither
industry response has been
368
00:19:03,018 --> 00:19:05,997
"particularly effective in
offsetting fire scarred
369
00:19:06,021 --> 00:19:08,999
"victims interviewed by
the news media and paraded
370
00:19:09,023 --> 00:19:11,986
before legislative committees."
371
00:19:12,010 --> 00:19:14,989
"Fire scarred victims."
That's what they feared.
372
00:19:15,013 --> 00:19:15,995
We are not here as freaks
373
00:19:16,019 --> 00:19:18,983
parading before you for
sympathy, but as burn
374
00:19:19,007 --> 00:19:20,992
victims who could have
been any one of you
375
00:19:21,016 --> 00:19:22,989
but for the grace of God.
376
00:19:23,013 --> 00:19:24,982
These companies, they don't want
377
00:19:25,006 --> 00:19:26,997
their product associated
with burn injuries or
378
00:19:27,021 --> 00:19:28,987
fire deaths.
379
00:19:29,011 --> 00:19:31,982
That's a very tough
marketing problem.
380
00:19:32,006 --> 00:19:32,991
You start tampering
381
00:19:33,015 --> 00:19:35,978
with the cigarette, it is
a very highly technical
382
00:19:36,002 --> 00:19:37,999
and complex undertaking.
383
00:19:38,023 --> 00:19:40,984
The tobacco industry was
384
00:19:41,008 --> 00:19:42,993
repeatedly trying to
shift the attention to
385
00:19:43,017 --> 00:19:44,994
the furniture that was
going up in flames.
386
00:19:45,018 --> 00:19:48,983
What they realized,
though, early on is they
387
00:19:49,007 --> 00:19:50,988
realized they lacked
credibility, right?
388
00:19:51,012 --> 00:19:52,989
They were the tobacco industry.
389
00:19:53,013 --> 00:19:55,978
Tobacco was... kind of wrote
the playbook on this.
390
00:19:56,002 --> 00:19:56,999
They called it
third-party defense.
391
00:19:57,023 --> 00:19:59,995
If we lack credibility,
let's get someone else
392
00:20:00,019 --> 00:20:02,988
who's much more credible
to do the arguing for us.
393
00:20:03,012 --> 00:20:04,994
The Tobacco Institute,
they bring in
394
00:20:05,018 --> 00:20:06,998
a guy named Peter Sparber.
395
00:20:07,022 --> 00:20:08,978
They hire him, and he's...
396
00:20:09,002 --> 00:20:10,979
He's given the position
of Vice-President,
397
00:20:11,003 --> 00:20:11,994
Tobacco Institute.
398
00:20:12,018 --> 00:20:14,996
Peter Sparber comes in in 1982.
399
00:20:15,020 --> 00:20:17,991
And all of a sudden,
within a couple years of him
400
00:20:18,015 --> 00:20:20,995
being there, he helps organize
a new group on the scene
401
00:20:21,019 --> 00:20:24,982
in America called The
National Association
402
00:20:25,006 --> 00:20:26,992
of State Fire Marshals.
403
00:20:27,016 --> 00:20:29,994
National Association of
State Fire Marshals.
404
00:20:30,018 --> 00:20:31,138
Sounds credible, doesn't it?
405
00:20:32,008 --> 00:20:33,984
You organize a National
Association of State
Fire Marshals.
406
00:20:34,008 --> 00:20:35,987
They're the senior
firefighting officials
407
00:20:36,011 --> 00:20:37,022
in the states.
408
00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:40,993
And Peter Sparber was able
to, to a certain degree,
409
00:20:41,017 --> 00:20:42,996
infiltrate this organization
410
00:20:43,020 --> 00:20:45,023
of fire marshals.
411
00:20:58,017 --> 00:21:00,993
We've clearly
demonstrated that what we
412
00:21:01,017 --> 00:21:02,995
have done has significantly
413
00:21:03,019 --> 00:21:05,022
reduced fire deaths.
414
00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:06,992
The National
Association of State Fire
415
00:21:07,016 --> 00:21:09,993
Marshals believes more
lives can be saved.
416
00:21:10,017 --> 00:21:11,993
It wants tough federal
standards for all
417
00:21:12,017 --> 00:21:14,992
upholstered furniture
sold in this country.
418
00:21:15,016 --> 00:21:16,986
It was extraordinarily cunning
419
00:21:17,010 --> 00:21:19,992
and, to a certain
degree, brilliant.
420
00:21:20,016 --> 00:21:22,981
Who would have thought
that firefighting...
421
00:21:23,005 --> 00:21:25,994
Fire officials would be
sort of speaking tobacco's
422
00:21:26,018 --> 00:21:28,985
talking points, and winning?
423
00:21:29,009 --> 00:21:31,984
That's what really...
That's what really got me.
424
00:21:34,010 --> 00:21:35,980
What they were arguing
was, you know, the better
425
00:21:36,004 --> 00:21:38,985
way to do this is to
fireproof furniture.
426
00:21:39,009 --> 00:21:41,049
The better way to do this
is to fireproof furniture.
427
00:21:42,001 --> 00:21:44,983
Focus on the fuel rather
than the ignition, the fuel
428
00:21:45,007 --> 00:21:48,982
being the furniture
that's going up in flames.
429
00:21:49,006 --> 00:21:49,986
Everyone believes that you
430
00:21:50,010 --> 00:21:51,985
can't take on the
tobacco industry...
431
00:21:52,009 --> 00:21:53,984
It's too big, it's too powerful.
432
00:21:54,008 --> 00:21:55,997
And probably that's
the single leading cause
433
00:21:56,021 --> 00:21:57,995
in nothing happening,
is that people don't think
434
00:21:58,019 --> 00:21:58,996
it's possible.
435
00:21:59,020 --> 00:22:00,022
And I do.
436
00:22:19,021 --> 00:22:20,994
There is one regulation.
437
00:22:21,018 --> 00:22:23,981
It's called
Technical Bulletin 117.
438
00:22:24,005 --> 00:22:26,996
It took effect in the state
of California in 1975.
439
00:22:27,020 --> 00:22:30,982
It's the only
regulation in the world...
440
00:22:31,006 --> 00:22:33,986
No other state, no other
nation in the world has
441
00:22:34,010 --> 00:22:34,994
this standard.
442
00:22:35,018 --> 00:22:36,993
"All upholstered furniture sold
443
00:22:37,017 --> 00:22:39,987
"or offered for sale by
a manufacturer or
444
00:22:40,011 --> 00:22:42,022
"a wholesaler for use in
this state," et cetera,
445
00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:44,990
et cetera, "shall
be fire retardant
446
00:22:45,014 --> 00:22:46,986
and shall be labeled
in a manner..."
447
00:22:47,010 --> 00:22:48,994
I was a government
regulator for 30 years.
448
00:22:49,018 --> 00:22:52,993
And so it's almost
like in my genes...
449
00:22:53,017 --> 00:22:56,979
And I was responsible for
safety, and I was trying to
450
00:22:57,003 --> 00:22:58,992
do the best job
I could for safety.
451
00:22:59,016 --> 00:23:00,980
Gordon Damant is in charge
452
00:23:01,004 --> 00:23:03,984
of the California Bureau
of Home Furnishings.
453
00:23:04,008 --> 00:23:05,991
For our program, Damant
set up 10 miniature
454
00:23:06,015 --> 00:23:08,993
overstuffed chairs made of
a cotton batting stuffing,
455
00:23:09,017 --> 00:23:11,984
and covered with
a cotton velvet fabric.
456
00:23:12,008 --> 00:23:12,998
Conceivably, it could be up
457
00:23:13,022 --> 00:23:14,993
to a period of 30 years
458
00:23:15,017 --> 00:23:15,996
until we have
459
00:23:16,020 --> 00:23:17,993
an entire population
of furniture which
460
00:23:18,017 --> 00:23:20,981
is, in fact,
cigarette-resistant.
461
00:23:21,005 --> 00:23:23,992
DAMANT, VOICE-OVER:
There was a lot
of politics involved.
462
00:23:24,016 --> 00:23:26,023
On some of the early
versions of the standard
463
00:23:27,001 --> 00:23:28,992
that I wrote,
I specifically indicated
464
00:23:29,016 --> 00:23:31,993
that if any flame retardant
chemicals of any type
465
00:23:32,017 --> 00:23:34,990
had to be added
to products in order
466
00:23:35,014 --> 00:23:36,999
to achieve compliance with
the standard, that there
467
00:23:37,023 --> 00:23:40,995
should not be any
negative effect in terms
468
00:23:41,019 --> 00:23:44,993
of adverse health impacts.
469
00:23:45,017 --> 00:23:47,985
That was removed
from the standard.
470
00:23:50,016 --> 00:23:52,993
So, it was a solution from 1975
471
00:23:53,017 --> 00:23:55,980
in California, and it
went totally below
472
00:23:56,004 --> 00:23:56,980
the radar screen.
473
00:23:57,004 --> 00:23:57,996
No one knew this happened.
474
00:23:58,020 --> 00:23:59,995
The only people who knew
that it had happened was
475
00:24:00,019 --> 00:24:02,022
the furniture industry.
476
00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:04,995
And they ultimately went
along with it because it
477
00:24:05,019 --> 00:24:06,999
was just California.
478
00:24:07,023 --> 00:24:12,981
But eventually, after the
years went by from 1975 on,
479
00:24:13,005 --> 00:24:13,998
they had to do it for
the rest of the country.
480
00:24:14,022 --> 00:24:15,992
They had to do it for Canada.
481
00:24:16,016 --> 00:24:17,982
Because it was too
difficult to make furniture
482
00:24:18,006 --> 00:24:23,023
for California with poison in
the foam, and then storehouse
483
00:24:24,001 --> 00:24:26,990
furniture for other
states and countries
484
00:24:27,014 --> 00:24:28,094
with no poison in the foam.
485
00:24:29,001 --> 00:24:30,998
So they just said, "Let's just
put poison in all the foam."
486
00:24:31,022 --> 00:24:33,984
Because the California market is
487
00:24:34,008 --> 00:24:36,988
so huge, it's in all your
furniture throughout
488
00:24:37,012 --> 00:24:38,982
the country.
489
00:24:39,006 --> 00:24:39,981
It's called
490
00:24:40,005 --> 00:24:42,994
Technical Bulletin 117, TB117.
491
00:24:43,018 --> 00:24:44,986
And if you go home and look
492
00:24:45,010 --> 00:24:45,992
at your couches, you will
493
00:24:46,016 --> 00:24:49,984
probably find TB117
labels on your couches.
494
00:24:50,008 --> 00:24:51,994
And it's not
a very good standard.
495
00:24:52,018 --> 00:24:53,023
It says that the foam
496
00:24:54,001 --> 00:24:54,995
inside your furniture won't
497
00:24:55,019 --> 00:24:56,979
burn when exposed to a
498
00:24:57,003 --> 00:24:58,998
small flame for 12 seconds.
499
00:24:59,022 --> 00:25:00,981
So if you do a thought
500
00:25:01,005 --> 00:25:01,989
experiment and you think
501
00:25:02,013 --> 00:25:03,991
about what happens if
you drop a candle on your
502
00:25:04,015 --> 00:25:05,989
couch, what burns first?
503
00:25:06,013 --> 00:25:06,990
Fabric.
504
00:25:07,014 --> 00:25:07,993
Fabric.
505
00:25:08,017 --> 00:25:09,984
And when fabric burns,
do you still have
506
00:25:10,008 --> 00:25:10,999
a teeny flame?
507
00:25:11,023 --> 00:25:12,986
You have a big flame.
508
00:25:13,010 --> 00:25:14,988
And then the furniture...
509
00:25:15,012 --> 00:25:17,992
The foam burns in
maybe 2 or 3 seconds.
510
00:25:18,016 --> 00:25:21,978
And when foam burns in the
presence of organohalogen,
511
00:25:22,002 --> 00:25:24,981
it gives off way more
carbon monoxide soot
512
00:25:25,005 --> 00:25:25,979
and smoke.
513
00:25:26,003 --> 00:25:26,987
And what kills people in fires?
514
00:25:27,011 --> 00:25:27,988
Toxic gases.
515
00:25:28,012 --> 00:25:29,979
Toxic gases.
516
00:25:30,003 --> 00:25:32,990
So we have the standard...
517
00:25:33,014 --> 00:25:35,978
Arlene Blum, age 33.
518
00:25:36,002 --> 00:25:37,994
A biochemist at the
University of California
519
00:25:38,018 --> 00:25:39,979
at Berkeley,
520
00:25:40,003 --> 00:25:42,993
she studies environmental
chemicals that may cause cancer.
521
00:25:43,017 --> 00:25:45,992
Organizing the first
major all-woman American
522
00:25:46,016 --> 00:25:48,996
expedition to the Himalayas
has been her dream
523
00:25:49,020 --> 00:25:50,023
for 6 years.
524
00:25:51,001 --> 00:25:52,983
I had a choice
between going to try to be
525
00:25:53,007 --> 00:25:54,996
the first American woman
to climb Mount Everest,
526
00:25:55,020 --> 00:25:57,981
or writing a paper about
the toxic chemicals
527
00:25:58,005 --> 00:25:58,996
in kids' pajamas.
528
00:25:59,020 --> 00:26:00,997
So, I had a lot of indecision.
529
00:26:01,021 --> 00:26:02,023
So, what would you do?
530
00:26:03,001 --> 00:26:05,011
How many of you would
go to Mount Everest?
531
00:26:06,016 --> 00:26:07,983
How many of you would
stay and write the paper
532
00:26:08,007 --> 00:26:09,988
about the kids' pajamas?
533
00:26:10,012 --> 00:26:11,022
Well, I did both.
534
00:26:13,011 --> 00:26:15,022
So the chemical is called
brominated Tris.
535
00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:17,979
And this was in
the mid-seventies.
536
00:26:18,003 --> 00:26:18,999
And we found a little girl
who had never worn
537
00:26:19,023 --> 00:26:20,992
Tris-treated pajamas.
538
00:26:21,016 --> 00:26:23,980
So we put her in the
pajamas, and we collected
539
00:26:24,004 --> 00:26:24,991
her urine.
540
00:26:25,015 --> 00:26:26,995
And the next day, there
were Tris breakdown
541
00:26:27,019 --> 00:26:28,994
products in her urine.
542
00:26:29,018 --> 00:26:30,997
- Does that sound good?
- No.
543
00:26:31,021 --> 00:26:32,981
And they were cancer-
causing chemicals that we
544
00:26:33,005 --> 00:26:34,995
were finding in this
little girl's urine.
545
00:26:40,016 --> 00:26:42,996
I flew my Tris
flag at about 24,000 feet
546
00:26:43,020 --> 00:26:45,996
and sent my paper by mail
runner back to Berkeley to
547
00:26:46,020 --> 00:26:47,023
be published.
548
00:26:52,018 --> 00:26:53,990
It's unusual.
549
00:26:54,014 --> 00:26:54,998
But it worked.
550
00:26:55,022 --> 00:26:58,984
3 months after we wrote
the paper, Tris was removed
551
00:26:59,008 --> 00:27:01,003
from kids' pajamas.
552
00:27:02,016 --> 00:27:05,022
However, today, chlorinated
Tris is the most commonly
553
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:07,999
used flame retardant in
our furniture
554
00:27:08,023 --> 00:27:09,993
and baby products.
555
00:27:10,017 --> 00:27:12,978
So, here we got it
out of kids' pajamas
556
00:27:13,002 --> 00:27:15,995
in the seventies, but it's back
today in our furniture,
557
00:27:16,019 --> 00:27:17,997
our baby products.
558
00:27:20,019 --> 00:27:20,996
So now I can understand how
559
00:27:21,020 --> 00:27:21,996
they wouldn't want to
560
00:27:22,020 --> 00:27:22,996
speak at the hearing
561
00:27:23,020 --> 00:27:23,996
because there will be
562
00:27:24,020 --> 00:27:24,995
hooting and hollering.
563
00:27:25,019 --> 00:27:25,996
SAME MAN, VOICE-OVER: What we're
564
00:27:26,020 --> 00:27:27,981
doing is we're testing all
565
00:27:28,005 --> 00:27:31,986
of these mattresses and nap
mats for toxic chemicals.
566
00:27:32,010 --> 00:27:35,992
So, this is the kind of
thing that my daughter
567
00:27:36,016 --> 00:27:39,980
Gigi is sleeping on
today at preschool.
568
00:27:40,004 --> 00:27:41,993
So, she sleeps on this and
it's soft, and the reason
569
00:27:42,017 --> 00:27:44,988
it's soft is it's got
polyurethane foam in it.
570
00:27:45,012 --> 00:27:46,979
Here, it's cut out
because we had to test
571
00:27:47,003 --> 00:27:47,989
the polyurethane foam.
572
00:27:48,013 --> 00:27:50,987
That's how we know it has
these toxic chemicals in it.
573
00:27:51,011 --> 00:27:52,992
Now, if you think about
when you squeeze a nap mat
574
00:27:53,016 --> 00:27:55,981
and some of the air comes
out, that air contains
575
00:27:56,005 --> 00:27:58,991
a vapor of a carcinogen,
and it's right
576
00:27:59,015 --> 00:28:00,995
in the breathing space
of the child that just
577
00:28:01,019 --> 00:28:03,989
squeezed it by putting
their head down.
578
00:28:04,013 --> 00:28:06,986
That's crazy and horrifying
for a guy whose 4-year-old
579
00:28:07,010 --> 00:28:07,998
daughter is probably
in nap time right now
580
00:28:08,022 --> 00:28:09,987
at preschool.
581
00:28:17,011 --> 00:28:17,995
If you've
ever sat with the light
582
00:28:18,019 --> 00:28:20,981
coming in, just right
into a window, and you see
583
00:28:21,005 --> 00:28:22,988
someone sit down, when you sit,
584
00:28:23,012 --> 00:28:23,988
there's a little poof
585
00:28:24,012 --> 00:28:25,981
of dust that comes up.
586
00:28:26,005 --> 00:28:26,986
And the flame retardants
587
00:28:27,010 --> 00:28:27,995
are a part of the foam,
588
00:28:28,019 --> 00:28:31,982
but they're not
bound very tightly.
589
00:28:32,006 --> 00:28:34,991
These chemicals come out of
the foam, and they like to
590
00:28:35,015 --> 00:28:38,986
attach to dust particles,
which then eventually come
591
00:28:39,010 --> 00:28:40,992
back down and either,
you know, form a film
592
00:28:41,016 --> 00:28:43,993
on your couch, or on
the floor, which is
593
00:28:44,017 --> 00:28:47,022
where most kids spend
most of their time.
594
00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:48,993
They're getting more
exposure because they're
595
00:28:49,017 --> 00:28:50,995
touching everything
and then putting their
596
00:28:51,019 --> 00:28:53,979
hands in their mouth.
597
00:28:54,003 --> 00:28:54,983
And they have been
linked to a number
598
00:28:55,007 --> 00:28:56,007
of heath problems.
599
00:29:07,016 --> 00:29:08,991
This is one
of my favorite slides.
600
00:29:09,015 --> 00:29:12,996
It's an ad in the fifties
for DDT wallpaper in Walt
601
00:29:13,020 --> 00:29:14,991
Disney designs.
602
00:29:15,015 --> 00:29:17,023
And what that fifties mom
who's lovingly tucking
603
00:29:18,001 --> 00:29:19,988
in her little baby
doesn't realize is her little
604
00:29:20,012 --> 00:29:22,992
baby's chance of breast
cancer is much higher
605
00:29:23,016 --> 00:29:24,992
because of the DDT wallpaper.
606
00:29:25,016 --> 00:29:26,993
And that's the thing
about organohalogens.
607
00:29:27,017 --> 00:29:29,997
It's not like they give
you a burn or a rash.
608
00:29:30,021 --> 00:29:32,989
It's they go into
your body, they stay.
609
00:29:33,013 --> 00:29:34,995
And over the course of
your life, they can cause
610
00:29:35,019 --> 00:29:36,986
serious health problems.
611
00:29:37,010 --> 00:29:38,984
And the very same
thing that makes
612
00:29:39,008 --> 00:29:41,994
them desirable to chemical
companies as a flame
613
00:29:42,018 --> 00:29:45,022
retardant, in many cases
is the very same thing that
614
00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:49,985
worries people who study
environmental health.
615
00:29:50,009 --> 00:29:51,979
They can be kind of volatile.
616
00:29:52,003 --> 00:29:55,995
They can travel widely from
where they originally,
617
00:29:56,019 --> 00:29:56,998
you know, start out at.
618
00:29:57,022 --> 00:30:00,981
And they also often
can bioaccumulate,
619
00:30:01,005 --> 00:30:02,979
and they're toxic.
620
00:30:03,003 --> 00:30:06,984
It's like a trifecta
of concern with flame
621
00:30:07,008 --> 00:30:08,985
retardant chemicals in
this country today.
622
00:30:11,022 --> 00:30:12,992
So, I have one
little chemistry lesson.
623
00:30:13,016 --> 00:30:15,993
If we look at that molecule
on the top, you have
624
00:30:16,017 --> 00:30:19,997
a polybrominated diphenyl ether.
625
00:30:20,021 --> 00:30:21,023
PBDEs.
626
00:30:22,001 --> 00:30:24,978
PBDEs. They're found in over 90%
627
00:30:25,002 --> 00:30:25,996
of Americans' bodies.
628
00:30:26,020 --> 00:30:28,979
They're found in breast
milk and blood and urine,
629
00:30:29,003 --> 00:30:30,978
and even in amniotic fluid.
630
00:30:31,002 --> 00:30:32,980
And they accumulate
up the food chain.
631
00:30:33,004 --> 00:30:33,994
And way at the top of
the food chain is
632
00:30:34,018 --> 00:30:34,998
a nursing baby...
633
00:30:35,022 --> 00:30:36,992
Marine mammals and
nursing babies.
634
00:30:37,016 --> 00:30:41,994
So, our children have
3 times the level of adults.
635
00:30:42,018 --> 00:30:43,980
So, these are chemicals we have
636
00:30:44,004 --> 00:30:45,990
about a pound in your house.
637
00:30:46,014 --> 00:30:48,990
Women with higher levels
take twice as long to
638
00:30:49,014 --> 00:30:50,983
become pregnant.
639
00:30:51,007 --> 00:30:52,994
Children, when
they have higher levels
640
00:30:53,018 --> 00:30:57,984
at birth, have 4 to 6
points less IQ permanently.
641
00:30:58,008 --> 00:31:00,980
There's a number of studies
trying to relate them to autism.
642
00:31:01,004 --> 00:31:03,978
There are literally
thousands of papers showing
643
00:31:04,002 --> 00:31:06,992
harm from these
flame retardants.
644
00:31:07,016 --> 00:31:08,991
Increased
rates of childhood learning
645
00:31:09,015 --> 00:31:10,992
and behavioral problems.
646
00:31:11,016 --> 00:31:13,980
Increased rates
of birth defects.
647
00:31:14,004 --> 00:31:16,986
Adulthood cancers,
like testicular cancer.
648
00:31:17,010 --> 00:31:19,978
And there is some good
evidence that flame
649
00:31:20,002 --> 00:31:21,997
retardants are contributing
to the increased rates
650
00:31:22,021 --> 00:31:25,995
of cancer in our firefighters.
651
00:31:26,019 --> 00:31:27,980
Because the flame
retardants in their
652
00:31:28,004 --> 00:31:29,995
chemical structure,
when they're burned
653
00:31:30,019 --> 00:31:31,993
and when they are
volatilized or vaporized
654
00:31:32,017 --> 00:31:35,999
into the air, they form
these toxic chemicals,
655
00:31:36,023 --> 00:31:38,992
specifically things
like dioxins and furans,
656
00:31:39,016 --> 00:31:42,995
which are known
cancer-causing chemicals.
657
00:31:43,019 --> 00:31:45,995
And fires that have flame
retardants actually turn
658
00:31:46,019 --> 00:31:49,992
out to be more toxic than
fires that don't have
659
00:31:50,016 --> 00:31:52,014
these chemicals.
660
00:31:54,022 --> 00:31:55,996
I know when you
guys took the job, and I
661
00:31:56,020 --> 00:31:58,997
know when I took the job,
I didn't give a damn what
662
00:31:59,021 --> 00:32:01,993
we were coming in contact with.
663
00:32:02,017 --> 00:32:03,980
When we went into
a building on fire,
664
00:32:04,004 --> 00:32:06,023
the object was to knock
the fire down as fast as we
665
00:32:07,001 --> 00:32:07,983
could in the city,
666
00:32:08,007 --> 00:32:10,990
and if there was life
involved, to save a life.
667
00:32:11,014 --> 00:32:13,988
Tom, what do you think?
668
00:32:14,012 --> 00:32:15,992
I think it's...
669
00:32:16,016 --> 00:32:17,984
I think it's
important that we
realize that these fires
670
00:32:18,008 --> 00:32:19,992
that we're going to now
are just an absolute
671
00:32:20,016 --> 00:32:22,996
toxic soup,
the environment
we're entering into.
672
00:32:23,020 --> 00:32:24,983
It's Three Mile Island.
673
00:32:25,007 --> 00:32:27,992
It's... you know,
it's Love Canal,
and it's on fire.
674
00:32:28,016 --> 00:32:30,992
And those chemicals
are sticking
on our equipment.
675
00:32:31,016 --> 00:32:33,990
Those chemicals are
sticking on our skin.
676
00:32:34,014 --> 00:32:34,997
We're seeing more
and more breast cancer
677
00:32:35,021 --> 00:32:37,989
now in the female
firefighters, and we have
678
00:32:38,013 --> 00:32:38,996
the highest percentage
of female firefighters
679
00:32:39,020 --> 00:32:41,999
in the United States,
if not in the world.
680
00:32:53,019 --> 00:32:53,994
All right.
681
00:32:54,018 --> 00:32:55,991
Do you remember this one?
682
00:32:56,015 --> 00:32:56,995
"I watched the rig disappear
683
00:32:57,019 --> 00:32:58,979
"around the corner.
684
00:32:59,003 --> 00:32:59,981
"I know what my firehouse
685
00:33:00,005 --> 00:33:01,991
"family will do.
686
00:33:02,015 --> 00:33:02,991
"When they get to the fire,
687
00:33:03,015 --> 00:33:04,978
"they'll put on their air masks
688
00:33:05,002 --> 00:33:05,986
and grab the hoses."
689
00:33:06,010 --> 00:33:08,989
Many of our women were
getting breast cancer.
690
00:33:09,013 --> 00:33:11,993
And I mean, there were...
691
00:33:12,017 --> 00:33:14,987
I remember thinking,
"Wow. Is this...
692
00:33:15,011 --> 00:33:16,996
"is this a high number,
or is this just normal?
693
00:33:17,020 --> 00:33:20,023
Is this what just
happens in our lives?"
694
00:33:21,001 --> 00:33:23,978
My first fire was on 45 Yosemite
695
00:33:24,002 --> 00:33:25,993
Avenue in San Francisco,
off Third Street.
696
00:33:26,017 --> 00:33:28,998
You go up the stairs,
I look right.
697
00:33:29,022 --> 00:33:30,992
There's nothing. It's dark.
698
00:33:31,016 --> 00:33:32,994
But I... there's no more heat,
there's no sound.
699
00:33:33,018 --> 00:33:34,994
I look left. I see orange glow.
700
00:33:35,018 --> 00:33:36,993
It's loud.
Oh, we're going that way.
701
00:33:37,017 --> 00:33:40,021
My officer taps me on the
shoulder and he goes...
702
00:33:42,009 --> 00:33:43,994
When Alison got sick,
703
00:33:44,018 --> 00:33:47,010
her partner was pregnant.
704
00:33:50,007 --> 00:33:53,980
And I remember I helped gather
705
00:33:54,004 --> 00:33:56,007
the exposure reports.
706
00:33:57,014 --> 00:33:57,992
The stations were great.
707
00:33:58,016 --> 00:33:59,496
Everybody helped me
gather the report.
708
00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:00,982
They went through
all the journals.
709
00:34:01,006 --> 00:34:01,986
And I was...
710
00:34:02,010 --> 00:34:04,990
I was really blown away
711
00:34:05,014 --> 00:34:07,988
by all the toxins
we were exposed to.
712
00:34:13,016 --> 00:34:15,981
Alison's death was probably
713
00:34:16,005 --> 00:34:19,982
the biggest event
in my adult life.
714
00:34:20,006 --> 00:34:21,985
She was my colleague.
715
00:34:22,009 --> 00:34:24,985
And it really hit home.
716
00:34:25,009 --> 00:34:28,995
It hit home about what we're
exposed to and that you
717
00:34:29,019 --> 00:34:31,979
can get really sick...
718
00:34:32,003 --> 00:34:36,991
and be this vibrant,
healthy, powerful person,
719
00:34:37,015 --> 00:34:44,022
and have all the fight in
you you want, and not live.
720
00:34:45,013 --> 00:34:47,984
It changed my perspective
on my job.
721
00:34:48,008 --> 00:34:49,992
It didn't change my
love of the job.
722
00:34:50,016 --> 00:34:53,995
It changed my realization
about what the job was,
723
00:34:54,019 --> 00:34:57,023
and how much I was exposed to.
724
00:34:59,002 --> 00:34:59,984
And I remember at the same time,
725
00:35:00,008 --> 00:35:01,994
I had learned a little
while before that there
726
00:35:02,018 --> 00:35:03,999
were toxins in breast milk.
727
00:35:04,023 --> 00:35:06,022
I had talked to Tony.
728
00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:07,992
I asked about that and
he said, "Oh, there is
729
00:35:08,016 --> 00:35:09,994
"research on it, and
they are finding it from
730
00:35:10,018 --> 00:35:11,992
flame retardants."
731
00:35:12,016 --> 00:35:15,988
And I thought, "From
flame retardants?"
732
00:35:16,012 --> 00:35:18,978
Here I was. I had breast-fed
my first child.
733
00:35:19,002 --> 00:35:19,993
I thought I was giving
him the healthiest thing I
734
00:35:20,017 --> 00:35:20,999
could possibly give him.
735
00:35:21,023 --> 00:35:23,981
Going back to work and
still breastfeeding.
736
00:35:24,005 --> 00:35:26,021
And I thought,
"What did I feed him?"
737
00:35:27,018 --> 00:35:28,985
Maybe they're going too fast.
738
00:35:29,009 --> 00:35:30,984
KERR STONE, VOICE-OVER:
Now I feel like, well, all I can
739
00:35:31,008 --> 00:35:32,998
do, at least now I know that
117 exists and that I
740
00:35:33,022 --> 00:35:34,988
should read the label.
741
00:35:35,012 --> 00:35:37,981
But most people have
no idea, then.
742
00:35:38,005 --> 00:35:38,982
They have no idea.
743
00:35:39,006 --> 00:35:39,990
And they think the
same thing I do.
744
00:35:40,014 --> 00:35:42,982
They think, "I've got
this nice safe car seat,
745
00:35:43,006 --> 00:35:45,998
this nice safe stroller,
this great breast pillow."
746
00:35:46,022 --> 00:35:48,980
All right.
What are you
thankful for today?
747
00:35:49,004 --> 00:35:52,997
I'm really thankful
for the pasta.
748
00:35:53,021 --> 00:35:55,991
That's a good one.
749
00:35:56,015 --> 00:35:56,995
KERR STONE, VOICE-OVER:
It seems like something's wrong
750
00:35:57,019 --> 00:35:58,990
with this picture.
751
00:35:59,014 --> 00:36:04,982
If it was banned in kids'
pajamas decades ago, why is
752
00:36:05,006 --> 00:36:06,994
it still in so many products?
753
00:36:07,018 --> 00:36:08,993
Because it's a lot less
likely that my child is
754
00:36:09,017 --> 00:36:12,978
going to catch on fire when
I'm breast feeding than it
755
00:36:13,002 --> 00:36:15,990
is that they might get
exposures to toxins.
756
00:36:16,014 --> 00:36:19,981
It doesn't take a scientist
to figure that one out.
757
00:36:20,005 --> 00:36:20,991
"They'll put out the flames..."
758
00:36:21,015 --> 00:36:23,980
ROE, VOICE-OVER: You have sort
of an untold public health
759
00:36:24,004 --> 00:36:25,978
threat that's in
everyone's home.
760
00:36:26,002 --> 00:36:27,995
It's in everybody's home.
761
00:36:28,019 --> 00:36:29,998
You know, the industry
has worked really hard to
762
00:36:30,022 --> 00:36:33,993
downplay that health risk
and to promote this idea
763
00:36:34,017 --> 00:36:35,993
that flame
retardants are working.
764
00:36:36,017 --> 00:36:37,986
But if the science shows that
765
00:36:38,010 --> 00:36:40,986
these chemicals don't
really even work the way
766
00:36:41,010 --> 00:36:43,994
they're used, then why are
we getting the potential
767
00:36:44,018 --> 00:36:46,994
risk and none of the benefit or
768
00:36:47,018 --> 00:36:48,981
the purported benefit?
769
00:36:49,005 --> 00:36:51,085
The people who make these
chemicals don't really want
770
00:36:52,001 --> 00:36:53,121
people to ask that question.
771
00:37:15,020 --> 00:37:16,991
Flame retardants are also
772
00:37:17,015 --> 00:37:19,986
an important part of
the fire safety toolbox.
773
00:37:20,010 --> 00:37:22,980
Yet they go unnoticed
and in some cases
774
00:37:23,004 --> 00:37:23,992
are misunderstood.
775
00:37:24,016 --> 00:37:25,979
The major reason
for the reduction
776
00:37:26,003 --> 00:37:27,994
of the fires is the fact
that flame retardants have
777
00:37:28,018 --> 00:37:30,984
been incorporated into so
many materials in the home.
778
00:37:31,008 --> 00:37:32,996
We first contacted
the American Chemistry
779
00:37:33,020 --> 00:37:36,987
Council and asked them
for, you know, proof that
780
00:37:37,011 --> 00:37:37,987
flame retardants work.
781
00:37:38,011 --> 00:37:38,990
We just wanted to know.
782
00:37:39,014 --> 00:37:40,987
This is very early on
in our reporting.
783
00:37:41,011 --> 00:37:43,992
And they gave us the
government study by
784
00:37:44,016 --> 00:37:46,005
Vito Babrauskas.
785
00:37:48,016 --> 00:37:51,980
One of the findings was
that flame retardants would
786
00:37:52,004 --> 00:37:55,985
give people in maybe a
residential home a 15 times
787
00:37:56,009 --> 00:37:57,992
fold escape time in a fire.
788
00:37:58,016 --> 00:37:59,983
If you had flame retardants
in your home, you would
789
00:38:00,007 --> 00:38:01,993
have 15 times more time
to escape if those things
790
00:38:02,017 --> 00:38:02,993
caught on fire.
791
00:38:03,017 --> 00:38:04,979
That's what the industry said.
792
00:38:05,003 --> 00:38:06,990
That's not what the study said.
793
00:38:07,014 --> 00:38:10,022
That's... that was completely
wrong, and it was easy to prove
794
00:38:11,000 --> 00:38:11,997
because we went to the
main author of that study
795
00:38:12,021 --> 00:38:14,141
and said, "Here's what
they're saying your study says.
796
00:38:15,001 --> 00:38:15,985
Is that true?"
797
00:38:16,009 --> 00:38:17,998
And he said, "Absolutely not.
They're distorting it."
798
00:38:18,022 --> 00:38:21,998
There was something very narrow
and specific and specialized
799
00:38:22,022 --> 00:38:23,992
about that study.
800
00:38:24,016 --> 00:38:28,987
All of the products we
tested were cost no object,
801
00:38:29,011 --> 00:38:30,992
state of the art materials.
802
00:38:31,016 --> 00:38:33,990
The items that were
tested were not tested
803
00:38:34,014 --> 00:38:34,995
under real-world conditions.
804
00:38:35,019 --> 00:38:38,996
These items had NASA-style
flame retardants
805
00:38:39,020 --> 00:38:40,980
added to it.
806
00:38:41,004 --> 00:38:43,981
They used the most potent,
expensive flame retardants,
807
00:38:44,005 --> 00:38:46,981
and they put these
in these experimental items.
808
00:38:47,005 --> 00:38:48,978
And lo and behold,
it proved that flame
809
00:38:49,002 --> 00:38:50,982
retardants work.
810
00:38:51,006 --> 00:38:51,992
But that is not the furniture
811
00:38:52,016 --> 00:38:56,994
when we go into
a retailer and say, "I want
812
00:38:57,018 --> 00:38:59,984
a new living room sofa."
813
00:39:00,008 --> 00:39:01,980
And so the industry said, "Look.
814
00:39:02,004 --> 00:39:05,986
"This study shows that you get
15 times fold escape time."
815
00:39:06,010 --> 00:39:07,996
But no, not unless your
furniture is made by NASA,
816
00:39:08,020 --> 00:39:09,022
you won't.
817
00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:12,984
Now, California and TB117
818
00:39:13,008 --> 00:39:16,978
is basically the opposite
extreme of the scale.
819
00:39:17,002 --> 00:39:19,022
They put in a very small
amount, on the order
820
00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:21,983
of 3% to 5%.
821
00:39:22,007 --> 00:39:25,982
And once you do that,
you get the worst of both
822
00:39:26,006 --> 00:39:27,006
possible worlds.
823
00:39:36,018 --> 00:39:37,995
These pieces of foam are tested
824
00:39:38,019 --> 00:39:40,988
naked, just a piece of foam.
825
00:39:41,012 --> 00:39:43,983
Now I know absolutely
nobody who has in his
826
00:39:44,007 --> 00:39:47,988
living room a piece
of naked foam that they sit on.
827
00:39:58,019 --> 00:39:59,979
It's just plain old...
828
00:40:00,003 --> 00:40:00,998
This is from my house, actually.
829
00:40:01,022 --> 00:40:01,998
We redecorated.
830
00:40:02,022 --> 00:40:04,997
My wife said I
could have this one.
831
00:40:05,021 --> 00:40:06,995
What we've got here is a
piece of foam that we took
832
00:40:07,019 --> 00:40:10,990
out, and it was tested,
and it has the penta in it,
833
00:40:11,014 --> 00:40:14,995
which is a pentabromo
diphenyl ether.
834
00:40:15,019 --> 00:40:18,985
Let's see if we can make a
piece that we'll cover up
835
00:40:19,009 --> 00:40:20,023
with a piece of fabric.
836
00:40:32,003 --> 00:40:32,982
What we've found is that
837
00:40:33,006 --> 00:40:34,998
when the fabric catches fire,
838
00:40:35,022 --> 00:40:36,984
if it catches fire,
839
00:40:37,008 --> 00:40:37,987
you can end up with a much
840
00:40:38,011 --> 00:40:39,023
bigger flame.
841
00:40:40,001 --> 00:40:40,979
And when you have a really
842
00:40:41,003 --> 00:40:42,043
large flame, we found that
843
00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:43,999
the materials used, even if
844
00:40:44,023 --> 00:40:45,984
they've been treated with fire
845
00:40:46,008 --> 00:40:46,989
retardants, can burn.
846
00:40:47,013 --> 00:40:48,980
In fact, when they do burn,
847
00:40:49,004 --> 00:40:49,988
they can produce smoke that
848
00:40:50,012 --> 00:40:51,994
can be more toxic than
849
00:40:52,018 --> 00:40:54,984
untreated materials.
850
00:40:55,008 --> 00:40:56,998
That's a pretty intense
fire, a lot of smoke
851
00:40:57,022 --> 00:40:58,979
coming off.
852
00:40:59,003 --> 00:41:00,983
And that foam was...
853
00:41:01,007 --> 00:41:04,980
This foam passes TB117.
854
00:41:05,004 --> 00:41:07,023
You get maybe a slight benefit
855
00:41:08,001 --> 00:41:09,993
of a few seconds of
ignition time, something
856
00:41:10,017 --> 00:41:12,989
like that, from a fire
safety point of view,
857
00:41:13,013 --> 00:41:17,988
but you do get great gobs
more of noxious chemicals
858
00:41:18,012 --> 00:41:20,990
that are put out in the smoke,
and they are going to
859
00:41:21,014 --> 00:41:23,985
be toxic to human beings.
860
00:41:24,009 --> 00:41:26,980
Vito Babrauskas,
he explained to me
861
00:41:27,004 --> 00:41:29,996
that by the time
the fabric cover burns
862
00:41:30,020 --> 00:41:32,985
and the flames reach the
foam inside that's treated
863
00:41:33,009 --> 00:41:34,994
with flame retardants,
what he said to me was
864
00:41:35,018 --> 00:41:37,986
the fire just laughs at it.
865
00:41:38,010 --> 00:41:38,997
That was a study
that was sort of easy to
866
00:41:39,021 --> 00:41:41,979
disprove because the
author himself, after many,
867
00:41:42,003 --> 00:41:45,990
many years, came out and said,
"No, they're distorting it,
868
00:41:46,014 --> 00:41:46,998
and I want them to stop."
869
00:41:47,022 --> 00:41:48,984
So, they manipulated
your research
870
00:41:49,008 --> 00:41:49,994
to suit their needs?
871
00:41:50,018 --> 00:41:51,998
Well, in an exceedingly blatant
872
00:41:52,022 --> 00:41:54,994
and disgraceful way, yes.
873
00:41:55,018 --> 00:41:57,990
And they wouldn't stop.
They just kept going.
874
00:41:58,014 --> 00:41:59,991
It made me think that some
of these other studies that
875
00:42:00,015 --> 00:42:02,980
they've been using over the
years, you know, might have
876
00:42:03,004 --> 00:42:04,989
similar problems.
877
00:42:05,013 --> 00:42:08,983
Then they came up with the
Simonson study, saying that
878
00:42:09,007 --> 00:42:11,990
the study out of Sweden
proved all these things.
879
00:42:12,014 --> 00:42:14,988
There have been several studies,
particularly in Sweden.
880
00:42:15,012 --> 00:42:17,994
The Swedish National
Research and Testing Lab SP,
881
00:42:18,018 --> 00:42:19,986
with Margaret Simonson
and her group
882
00:42:20,010 --> 00:42:23,991
at SP found, is that you
have orders of magnitude
883
00:42:24,015 --> 00:42:27,987
better environment
from the point of view
884
00:42:28,011 --> 00:42:30,978
of toxicity, when you have
materials that are...
885
00:42:31,002 --> 00:42:32,995
Products that are
more fire safe.
886
00:42:33,019 --> 00:42:35,983
It's just incredible.
887
00:42:36,007 --> 00:42:38,979
And if you drill down on this
study, you'll find that
888
00:42:39,003 --> 00:42:42,996
the foundation of all
those broad claims are
889
00:42:43,020 --> 00:42:44,979
an obscure study...
890
00:42:45,003 --> 00:42:47,995
So obscure that it's only
available in Swedish.
891
00:42:50,004 --> 00:42:52,991
It's a government report
out of Sweden 15 years ago
892
00:42:53,015 --> 00:42:56,990
that has nothing to do
with flame retardants.
893
00:42:57,014 --> 00:42:58,997
And the study is so
obscure, the industry
894
00:42:59,021 --> 00:43:00,988
doesn't have a copy.
895
00:43:01,012 --> 00:43:01,995
You can't find it online.
896
00:43:02,019 --> 00:43:03,992
It's not published anywhere.
897
00:43:04,016 --> 00:43:05,996
And we had to go
to the only library
898
00:43:06,020 --> 00:43:08,100
in the world that I could
find that has a copy of it,
899
00:43:09,001 --> 00:43:10,990
the National Library of
Sweden, to get a copy.
900
00:43:11,014 --> 00:43:13,984
And then we had it
translated in English.
901
00:43:14,008 --> 00:43:15,988
And what you'll find is
that all these broad claims
902
00:43:16,012 --> 00:43:17,995
that they've been
making are based
903
00:43:18,019 --> 00:43:22,992
on 8 TV fires
that occurred outside
904
00:43:23,016 --> 00:43:26,996
of Stockholm in '95 and '96.
905
00:43:27,020 --> 00:43:28,986
Well, that logic is so
906
00:43:29,010 --> 00:43:30,992
fundamentally flawed
because it's such
907
00:43:31,016 --> 00:43:32,992
a small sample.
908
00:43:33,016 --> 00:43:34,996
But once they made that claim...
909
00:43:35,020 --> 00:43:37,988
That because of those
8 TV fires, flame
910
00:43:38,012 --> 00:43:38,995
retardants work...
911
00:43:39,019 --> 00:43:42,022
They used that finding
and that logic to do
912
00:43:43,000 --> 00:43:43,984
other studies.
913
00:43:44,008 --> 00:43:46,048
So, then they could say,
"Well, it reduces pollution
914
00:43:47,001 --> 00:43:47,994
"because there's fewer fires.
915
00:43:48,018 --> 00:43:50,983
"It saves society millions
of dollars because flame
916
00:43:51,007 --> 00:43:51,985
"retardants work.
917
00:43:52,009 --> 00:43:52,992
It saves money."
918
00:43:53,016 --> 00:43:57,983
Basically, that's the main
study that they highlight.
919
00:43:58,007 --> 00:43:59,997
I thought there
would be a lot of studies
920
00:44:00,021 --> 00:44:02,993
that support that flame
retardants work, that
921
00:44:03,017 --> 00:44:06,980
the industry would have more
in their... they'd have more
922
00:44:07,004 --> 00:44:07,993
ammunition than what they had.
923
00:44:08,017 --> 00:44:10,995
They basically had two,
and both of them...
924
00:44:11,019 --> 00:44:12,983
Both of their
arguments were really
925
00:44:13,007 --> 00:44:14,023
fundamentally flawed.
926
00:44:24,014 --> 00:44:24,993
With a normal cover...
927
00:44:25,017 --> 00:44:26,991
As far
as furniture goes, when we
928
00:44:27,015 --> 00:44:30,987
looked into it we found
that government scientists
929
00:44:31,011 --> 00:44:33,992
and independent scientists
have looked at this over
930
00:44:34,016 --> 00:44:36,023
and over again and have
found they provide no
931
00:44:37,001 --> 00:44:40,023
meaningful benefit
for consumers.
932
00:44:41,001 --> 00:44:42,998
And so it's, you know,
they don't work.
933
00:44:46,018 --> 00:44:48,978
Now, the good news
is: fire-related
934
00:44:49,002 --> 00:44:50,993
deaths have decreased
significantly, not only
935
00:44:51,017 --> 00:44:53,978
in this country but
throughout the western
936
00:44:54,002 --> 00:44:57,998
world because we have
rightfully required that
937
00:44:58,022 --> 00:45:02,990
all new construction have
sprinkler systems and smoke
938
00:45:03,014 --> 00:45:07,987
alarms and that cigarettes
self-extinguish.
939
00:45:08,011 --> 00:45:12,990
So, we've changed the way
we deal with fire risk already.
940
00:45:13,014 --> 00:45:15,991
The second thing is there
are ways to mandate that
941
00:45:16,015 --> 00:45:20,994
the fabric meet a certain
weave and thickness standard
942
00:45:21,018 --> 00:45:23,991
with no chemicals
added that makes it
943
00:45:24,015 --> 00:45:27,993
resistant to fire caused by
small flames or cigarettes
944
00:45:28,017 --> 00:45:29,994
even it helps with
the cigarette problem,
945
00:45:30,018 --> 00:45:33,979
and all of that has
nothing to do with chemicals.
946
00:45:34,003 --> 00:45:39,991
My view is today,
you can have fire safety
947
00:45:40,015 --> 00:45:43,984
without the use of
fire retardant chemicals.
948
00:45:44,008 --> 00:45:46,998
So, again,
then why are we requiring
949
00:45:47,022 --> 00:45:52,995
that products be made with
these potentially and known
950
00:45:53,019 --> 00:45:54,023
dangerous chemicals?
951
00:46:06,016 --> 00:46:07,992
STEFANI, VOICE-OVER:
When I contracted cancer,
952
00:46:08,016 --> 00:46:11,992
I got to the point where I
had run out or was close to
953
00:46:12,016 --> 00:46:14,982
running out of my sick
time, my vacation time.
954
00:46:15,006 --> 00:46:15,998
I got to the point where
there was going to be
955
00:46:16,022 --> 00:46:21,004
no money coming into my house
for my family, my two sons.
956
00:46:25,021 --> 00:46:26,984
At that time, I was a captain.
957
00:46:27,008 --> 00:46:30,981
There was approximately 200
officers that were able to
958
00:46:31,005 --> 00:46:31,993
donate time to me.
959
00:46:32,017 --> 00:46:33,997
And just about every single one
960
00:46:34,021 --> 00:46:37,993
of those 200 that had time
donated time to me so I
961
00:46:38,017 --> 00:46:40,989
could continue to go
through my treatment,
962
00:46:41,013 --> 00:46:44,978
recovery, and put
a paycheck on my table.
963
00:46:45,002 --> 00:46:48,988
I called every single
one of those people up
964
00:46:49,012 --> 00:46:51,990
and thanked them
for what they did.
965
00:46:52,014 --> 00:47:00,009
But... I didn't
think it was enough.
966
00:47:07,002 --> 00:47:07,993
And then a crazy thing happened.
967
00:47:08,017 --> 00:47:10,995
I was involved in a pretty lousy
968
00:47:11,019 --> 00:47:13,984
cycling accident.
969
00:47:14,008 --> 00:47:16,995
I was out getting
some exercise, and got hit
970
00:47:17,019 --> 00:47:18,022
by a pickup truck.
971
00:47:21,019 --> 00:47:22,994
My doctor at UCSF told me,
972
00:47:23,018 --> 00:47:26,013
"Tony, you're here
for a reason."
973
00:47:28,017 --> 00:47:29,983
It was in the back of my
mind, and I said,
974
00:47:30,007 --> 00:47:30,992
"You know, doc, you're right.
975
00:47:31,016 --> 00:47:32,985
"I'm going to try to put
a non-profit foundation
976
00:47:33,009 --> 00:47:35,994
together, and work
toward preventing cancer
977
00:47:36,018 --> 00:47:37,992
in firefighters
here in the city."
978
00:47:38,016 --> 00:47:38,994
What are you hoping
is going to
happen today?
979
00:47:39,018 --> 00:47:40,992
What are you looking forward to?
980
00:47:41,016 --> 00:47:41,992
Well, it's the first time our
981
00:47:42,016 --> 00:47:42,993
foundation has actually had
982
00:47:43,017 --> 00:47:44,979
a sit-down roundtable conference
983
00:47:45,003 --> 00:47:46,994
with researchers
in the cancer field.
984
00:47:47,018 --> 00:47:48,981
We're hoping to get a pla...
985
00:47:49,005 --> 00:47:49,997
A game plan together
here in San Francisco
986
00:47:50,021 --> 00:47:51,979
to look at the problem
we have with
987
00:47:52,003 --> 00:47:52,983
both the men and the women
988
00:47:53,007 --> 00:47:54,987
in this department
contracting cancers at
989
00:47:55,011 --> 00:47:55,991
pretty alarming rates.
990
00:47:56,015 --> 00:47:58,999
We are fully aware of
Technical Bulletin 117
991
00:47:59,023 --> 00:48:01,987
that has been
put in place since the 1970s
992
00:48:02,011 --> 00:48:03,991
here in the state of
California that has to do
993
00:48:04,015 --> 00:48:04,997
with flame retardants.
994
00:48:05,021 --> 00:48:06,991
We know that it's
an outdated standard.
995
00:48:07,015 --> 00:48:09,993
We know that the chemicals
they use are carcinogenic.
996
00:48:10,017 --> 00:48:11,994
We know that the off gas
during a fire,
997
00:48:12,018 --> 00:48:14,992
that off gas is
furons and dioxin.
998
00:48:15,016 --> 00:48:16,992
I mean, this is
a fundamental shift for us.
999
00:48:17,016 --> 00:48:18,999
Like, how many of you
have walked into the station
1000
00:48:19,023 --> 00:48:21,995
and you can smell smoke
and you go,
1001
00:48:22,019 --> 00:48:23,996
"They had a fire last night"?
1002
00:48:24,020 --> 00:48:25,991
We've all done that.
1003
00:48:26,015 --> 00:48:28,991
When I hear all this,
I want to either go,
1004
00:48:29,015 --> 00:48:31,994
"La la la la la, because
I like my job, la la la la,"
1005
00:48:32,018 --> 00:48:33,992
or run out of the room.
1006
00:48:34,016 --> 00:48:34,999
You know, one of the challenges
1007
00:48:35,023 --> 00:48:38,983
we face in doing advocacy work
is, you know,
1008
00:48:39,007 --> 00:48:39,993
the chemical industry,
which would like
1009
00:48:40,017 --> 00:48:42,979
to continue to create
these chemicals,
1010
00:48:43,003 --> 00:48:45,022
are requiring or trying
to sell the fact
1011
00:48:46,000 --> 00:48:47,992
that we need
incontrovertible evidence
1012
00:48:48,016 --> 00:48:52,984
to take steps to
regulate these chemicals.
1013
00:48:53,008 --> 00:48:55,984
We are... you can't
experiment on human beings.
1014
00:48:56,008 --> 00:48:57,993
The closest we do is
what we do to you, really,
1015
00:48:58,017 --> 00:48:59,992
which is we send you
into a bunch of
1016
00:49:00,016 --> 00:49:01,993
really toxic environments,
and you come out
1017
00:49:02,017 --> 00:49:02,998
and we see what happens.
1018
00:49:03,022 --> 00:49:04,981
And we don't even look that
1019
00:49:05,005 --> 00:49:05,992
closely at what happens,
and we should.
1020
00:49:06,016 --> 00:49:06,994
And I think that's
part of what we're
1021
00:49:07,018 --> 00:49:07,996
trying to say here.
1022
00:49:08,020 --> 00:49:09,992
But we're never... even if we...
1023
00:49:10,016 --> 00:49:12,978
I've had
co-workers die in fires.
1024
00:49:13,002 --> 00:49:15,981
And I've had a lot
more die of cancer.
1025
00:49:16,005 --> 00:49:18,008
It seems important
that we do something.
1026
00:49:20,009 --> 00:49:20,988
Before I joined
the Fire Department,
1027
00:49:21,012 --> 00:49:22,993
I was in research,
working at UCSF.
1028
00:49:23,017 --> 00:49:25,991
And so I ended up
learning from Tony
1029
00:49:26,015 --> 00:49:28,993
that they could use some help.
1030
00:49:29,017 --> 00:49:31,993
Tony's starting to do
research to try and link
1031
00:49:32,017 --> 00:49:33,990
the specific chemicals
that are released
1032
00:49:34,014 --> 00:49:35,134
at different kinds of fires.
1033
00:49:36,001 --> 00:49:36,993
I thought, "This is...
I would love to do this.
1034
00:49:37,017 --> 00:49:38,988
"This is fascinating. I can
1035
00:49:39,012 --> 00:49:40,992
"cross-reference it online,
and try and find out
1036
00:49:41,016 --> 00:49:44,981
what's out there,
and make this a little easier."
1037
00:49:45,005 --> 00:49:47,991
Not to stop what we do,
but to educate us.
1038
00:49:48,015 --> 00:49:49,994
We have to make sure we're
safe so that we can then
1039
00:49:50,018 --> 00:49:52,983
take care of other people.
1040
00:49:53,007 --> 00:49:54,995
Years ago,
when Tony and I started this,
1041
00:49:55,019 --> 00:49:56,579
in order to get
attention for it, we put
1042
00:49:57,001 --> 00:49:57,997
a pair of boots out on
the steps of City Hall
1043
00:49:58,021 --> 00:50:00,988
for every firefighter who
died with their boots off.
1044
00:50:01,012 --> 00:50:02,991
We wanted the world to know
that a lot of firefighters
1045
00:50:03,015 --> 00:50:05,980
die in a hospice,
they die in a hospital bed,
1046
00:50:06,004 --> 00:50:06,990
or they die at home.
1047
00:50:07,014 --> 00:50:08,374
And they don't get
the folded flag,
1048
00:50:09,000 --> 00:50:10,979
and they don't get the hero's
ceremony, but they should.
1049
00:50:11,003 --> 00:50:11,993
And this is the first time
1050
00:50:12,017 --> 00:50:13,995
since Tony and I
have started this
1051
00:50:14,019 --> 00:50:15,992
that I feel like someone's
listening to our call for help.
1052
00:50:16,016 --> 00:50:20,010
So, I wanted to thank you
very much for doing this.
1053
00:50:22,015 --> 00:50:23,991
We have a problem.
We're contracting cancer.
1054
00:50:24,015 --> 00:50:25,982
We can do so much
to protect ourselves.
1055
00:50:26,006 --> 00:50:28,984
But if we could eliminate
the problem to begin with,
1056
00:50:29,008 --> 00:50:30,983
the problem would
no longer exist.
1057
00:50:31,007 --> 00:50:31,993
Here we have this
unique situation.
1058
00:50:32,017 --> 00:50:35,991
California is, in a sense,
causing poisoning of...
1059
00:50:36,015 --> 00:50:39,996
Of the country and Canada,
and maybe the world,
1060
00:50:40,020 --> 00:50:44,982
when we should stop it
here in its tracks.
1061
00:50:45,006 --> 00:50:47,990
And so, how do you stop that?
1062
00:50:48,014 --> 00:50:48,995
You know, there is always
1063
00:50:49,019 --> 00:50:51,983
a chance it could get
through the Assembly.
1064
00:50:52,007 --> 00:50:54,982
If we don't try,
we'll never get anywhere.
1065
00:50:55,006 --> 00:50:55,997
LENO, VOICE-OVER:
We were working...
1066
00:50:56,021 --> 00:50:58,987
Trying to work with the
industry over the... somewhere...
1067
00:50:59,011 --> 00:51:00,993
5, 6, 7 years ago.
1068
00:51:01,017 --> 00:51:04,023
One of my staffers
suggested that I go to
1069
00:51:05,001 --> 00:51:09,979
Berkeley on a Sunday night
for a dinner party that
1070
00:51:10,003 --> 00:51:13,978
a chemist from UC Berkeley
was hosting at her home.
1071
00:51:14,002 --> 00:51:14,992
This would be Arlene Blum.
1072
00:51:15,016 --> 00:51:16,991
And that there would
be some other
1073
00:51:17,015 --> 00:51:19,992
community activists there,
and the subject matter was
1074
00:51:20,016 --> 00:51:22,994
the proliferation of
brominated and chlorinated
1075
00:51:23,018 --> 00:51:25,983
flame retardants
in consumer products.
1076
00:51:26,007 --> 00:51:27,992
And that Arlene was
going to suggest that
1077
00:51:28,016 --> 00:51:31,984
I author a bill that would
ban these chemicals
1078
00:51:32,008 --> 00:51:34,997
from these products,
and begin to mitigate
1079
00:51:35,021 --> 00:51:37,993
some of the damage that's been
done to the environment.
1080
00:51:38,017 --> 00:51:39,996
I think there's
a snowball rolling here.
1081
00:51:40,020 --> 00:51:41,980
So, maybe we might
need to adjust
1082
00:51:42,004 --> 00:51:42,990
this myth a little bit
to reflect
1083
00:51:43,014 --> 00:51:44,985
the great burden thing head on...
1084
00:51:45,009 --> 00:51:46,980
There's gonna be above them
1085
00:51:47,004 --> 00:51:48,985
agencies who are
gonna have to...
1086
00:51:49,009 --> 00:51:51,982
Is there fewer fire deaths,
it's because of
1087
00:51:52,006 --> 00:51:53,981
fire sprinklers
and smoke detectors
1088
00:51:54,005 --> 00:51:54,992
and not flame retardants.
1089
00:51:55,016 --> 00:51:56,992
We need to organize
the key people
1090
00:51:57,016 --> 00:51:58,997
who should be
interested in this.
1091
00:51:59,021 --> 00:52:00,978
Putting these pieces together,
1092
00:52:01,002 --> 00:52:02,983
calendaring out what
the next couple months
1093
00:52:03,007 --> 00:52:03,996
to a year is going to look like.
1094
00:52:04,020 --> 00:52:05,992
MASCARENAS, VOICE-OVER: If
we show that you can prevent
1095
00:52:06,016 --> 00:52:07,990
these chemicals
from being out there,
1096
00:52:08,014 --> 00:52:09,983
that you don't have
to go to the store
1097
00:52:10,007 --> 00:52:10,993
and try and be a chemist,
1098
00:52:11,017 --> 00:52:12,991
and look at every single
label, and, you know,
1099
00:52:13,015 --> 00:52:14,997
spend more money, or just
not know if you're buying
1100
00:52:15,021 --> 00:52:16,984
the safest thing
for your family.
1101
00:52:17,008 --> 00:52:18,994
If we can change that on
the front end, that's what
1102
00:52:19,018 --> 00:52:21,983
I'm dedicating my time to.
1103
00:52:22,007 --> 00:52:22,982
Welcome, Don.
1104
00:52:23,006 --> 00:52:23,994
We were just talking about you.
1105
00:52:24,018 --> 00:52:24,995
Oh, look what he brought...
1106
00:52:25,019 --> 00:52:25,995
His nursing pillow.
1107
00:52:26,019 --> 00:52:27,991
He's got a new baby.
1108
00:52:28,015 --> 00:52:31,985
And there's
chlorinated Tris
inside.
1109
00:52:32,009 --> 00:52:34,981
In a way, I fault
the scientific community
1110
00:52:35,005 --> 00:52:36,994
for not being
more vocal in talking about
1111
00:52:37,018 --> 00:52:38,023
these sort of things.
1112
00:52:39,001 --> 00:52:40,980
And so, to me, the more
scientists we get involved
1113
00:52:41,004 --> 00:52:42,988
in the combustion
aspects of this
1114
00:52:43,012 --> 00:52:43,994
and the health aspects of this,
1115
00:52:44,018 --> 00:52:46,980
the better the answer
that we're going to get.
1116
00:52:47,004 --> 00:52:47,996
So, Dr. Vito Babrauskas,
1117
00:52:48,020 --> 00:52:50,994
we're very pleased
to have you here today.
1118
00:52:51,018 --> 00:52:54,978
BABRAUSKAS, VOICE-OVER: I felt
a ethical obligation that
1119
00:52:55,002 --> 00:52:59,992
I really don't want my
profession to do harm
1120
00:53:00,016 --> 00:53:04,984
in the name of
promoting fire safety.
1121
00:53:05,008 --> 00:53:06,983
The group that was lined up
1122
00:53:07,007 --> 00:53:10,991
in support of changing
Technical Bulletin 117,
1123
00:53:11,015 --> 00:53:13,991
it wasn't just a few
environmental activists.
1124
00:53:14,015 --> 00:53:18,983
You know, it was firefighters
who had been sick.
1125
00:53:19,007 --> 00:53:20,980
And it was nursing moms.
1126
00:53:21,004 --> 00:53:21,995
And it was public
health advocates
1127
00:53:22,019 --> 00:53:23,022
and it was scientists.
1128
00:53:24,000 --> 00:53:25,991
It was a diverse group.
1129
00:53:26,015 --> 00:53:27,993
Ultimately, here's what
it all boils down to.
1130
00:53:28,017 --> 00:53:30,990
My work of 40 years
boils down to this.
1131
00:53:31,014 --> 00:53:34,983
Either you have people
behind you or money behind you.
1132
00:53:35,007 --> 00:53:36,127
And we don't have the money.
1133
00:53:53,015 --> 00:53:58,983
Boat mail today.
We're getting
boat mail today.
1134
00:53:59,007 --> 00:54:00,999
This is an island of 350 people.
1135
00:54:01,023 --> 00:54:02,994
Literally you
have to be involved
1136
00:54:03,018 --> 00:54:04,993
to live in this town.
1137
00:54:05,017 --> 00:54:06,981
Aww.
1138
00:54:07,005 --> 00:54:08,245
I don't want to kiss that baby.
1139
00:54:10,016 --> 00:54:12,136
PINGREE, VOICE-OVER: So,
I grew up with the sense that
1140
00:54:13,000 --> 00:54:13,981
if you want to fix something,
1141
00:54:14,005 --> 00:54:15,995
everybody has got
to pitch in and help.
1142
00:54:16,019 --> 00:54:19,990
Wait. Let me see on...
1143
00:54:20,014 --> 00:54:21,992
I think I had
a cell phone
for her somewhere.
1144
00:54:22,016 --> 00:54:23,988
I would like
to introduce the Maine
1145
00:54:24,012 --> 00:54:26,997
Speaker of the House,
Representative Hannah Pingree.
1146
00:54:27,021 --> 00:54:28,984
Welcome to the State House...
1147
00:54:29,008 --> 00:54:30,993
PINGREE, VOICE-OVER:
I think I was... 2003, 2004,
1148
00:54:31,017 --> 00:54:32,984
I was a freshman legislator.
1149
00:54:33,008 --> 00:54:35,980
And a group of folks who work on
1150
00:54:36,004 --> 00:54:38,999
environmental issues said,
you know, "We're thinking
1151
00:54:39,023 --> 00:54:41,982
"about putting forward
this bill to ban
1152
00:54:42,006 --> 00:54:44,984
"the group of brominated
flame retardants.
1153
00:54:45,008 --> 00:54:46,986
"And we need a legislator
who's kind of willing
1154
00:54:47,010 --> 00:54:48,992
to take on a fight against
the chemical industry."
1155
00:54:49,016 --> 00:54:50,991
And for some reason,
they decided
1156
00:54:51,015 --> 00:54:55,992
that a 25-year-old legislator
was the right choice.
1157
00:54:56,016 --> 00:54:58,993
And, of course, you know,
I was up for big fights,
1158
00:54:59,017 --> 00:55:01,983
and I was like,
"Let's go for it."
1159
00:55:02,007 --> 00:55:03,981
When they first came to me,
you know, even the name
1160
00:55:04,005 --> 00:55:04,995
of all the chemicals...
1161
00:55:05,019 --> 00:55:06,022
Penta, octa, deca...
1162
00:55:07,000 --> 00:55:08,980
I mean, it was like
chemical soup.
1163
00:55:09,004 --> 00:55:09,991
But the more I learned
about the issue,
1164
00:55:10,015 --> 00:55:13,023
the more I thought, "This is
absolutely outrageous that,
1165
00:55:14,001 --> 00:55:15,991
"you know, our entire
environment is filled
1166
00:55:16,015 --> 00:55:16,993
"with these chemicals
1167
00:55:17,017 --> 00:55:18,997
"and no one's really
talking about it.
1168
00:55:19,021 --> 00:55:21,021
No one's really
taking action on it."
1169
00:55:23,023 --> 00:55:27,993
I had my own body tested
in 2006 for toxic chemicals.
1170
00:55:28,017 --> 00:55:28,995
I said, "I'm
willing to do this."
1171
00:55:29,019 --> 00:55:30,259
I was one of 13 Mainers tested.
1172
00:55:31,001 --> 00:55:31,989
I said, "I'm willing to do this
1173
00:55:32,013 --> 00:55:33,999
"for the stake of, you know,
good public policy and science.
1174
00:55:34,023 --> 00:55:38,022
Sure, you can have my hair,
blood, and urine."
1175
00:55:39,000 --> 00:55:39,994
I always thought,
you know, here I am.
1176
00:55:40,018 --> 00:55:40,994
I grew up on this
beautiful island
1177
00:55:41,018 --> 00:55:42,023
off the coast of Maine.
1178
00:55:43,001 --> 00:55:44,986
You know, I spent a few
years living in cities,
1179
00:55:45,010 --> 00:55:46,994
but I've mostly lived
on this island
1180
00:55:47,018 --> 00:55:48,991
or in this very clean place.
1181
00:55:49,015 --> 00:55:50,987
So, when I had my body tested,
1182
00:55:51,011 --> 00:55:53,979
I assumed I would be better
off than most of the people
1183
00:55:54,003 --> 00:55:54,986
who lived, you know,
1184
00:55:55,010 --> 00:55:58,980
even in more industrial
areas of my state.
1185
00:55:59,004 --> 00:56:01,992
But when the results came
back, and I saw that I had
1186
00:56:02,016 --> 00:56:03,990
all these chemicals
in my body, including
1187
00:56:04,014 --> 00:56:05,994
flame retardants, including
mercury and arsenic
1188
00:56:06,018 --> 00:56:09,986
and, you know, BPA
and phthalates at levels
1189
00:56:10,010 --> 00:56:11,995
that were high enough
to impact my health or
1190
00:56:12,019 --> 00:56:15,987
the health of a developing,
you know, child, I suddenly...
1191
00:56:16,011 --> 00:56:16,998
You know, I went from being
1192
00:56:17,022 --> 00:56:18,993
a policy maker
who cared about this
1193
00:56:19,017 --> 00:56:21,979
to a person who was,
you know, really angry
1194
00:56:22,003 --> 00:56:24,123
about the fact that this
could be impacting my health.
1195
00:56:25,016 --> 00:56:27,983
It's one thing to say
to the chemical industry,
1196
00:56:28,007 --> 00:56:28,993
you know, "More Americans
1197
00:56:29,017 --> 00:56:30,994
"have these flame retardants
in them compared to Europe,
1198
00:56:31,018 --> 00:56:32,618
where they've started
to phase them out."
1199
00:56:33,001 --> 00:56:34,987
And you can make
a real technical argument.
1200
00:56:35,011 --> 00:56:35,996
But when you can say,
"I have these flame
1201
00:56:36,020 --> 00:56:36,999
retardants in me."
1202
00:56:37,023 --> 00:56:39,991
And, you know,
it makes me angry.
1203
00:56:40,015 --> 00:56:41,986
You know, Maine doesn't
require flame retardants
1204
00:56:42,010 --> 00:56:43,980
to be in our couches
or computers.
1205
00:56:44,004 --> 00:56:46,982
This came from, you know,
the state of California
1206
00:56:47,006 --> 00:56:48,982
and that's now impacting me
all the way
1207
00:56:49,006 --> 00:56:51,979
on the other coast, in Maine.
1208
00:56:52,003 --> 00:56:52,992
You know, it's a good
lesson in public policy,
1209
00:56:53,016 --> 00:56:54,994
but it's also something
that should make
1210
00:56:55,018 --> 00:56:56,987
a lot of people angry.
1211
00:57:03,012 --> 00:57:04,997
I ask you to consider today
that the real motivation
1212
00:57:05,021 --> 00:57:08,988
of our opponents is to sell
more fire retardants
1213
00:57:09,012 --> 00:57:12,023
at any cost, including
the health and safety
1214
00:57:13,001 --> 00:57:13,999
not only of our
kids, but of every
1215
00:57:14,023 --> 00:57:17,987
human generation hereafter
through genetic mutation
1216
00:57:18,011 --> 00:57:20,022
and lingering poisons
that have contaminated
1217
00:57:21,000 --> 00:57:22,988
our homes, our waters,
our wildlife,
1218
00:57:23,012 --> 00:57:24,988
and even our mothers' milk.
1219
00:57:25,012 --> 00:57:27,992
AB706 provides
a robust framework...
1220
00:57:28,016 --> 00:57:30,979
LENO, VOICE-OVER: The first time
that we introduced a bill
1221
00:57:31,003 --> 00:57:32,992
on the subject,
the chemical industry
1222
00:57:33,016 --> 00:57:35,991
spent over $6 million
on a multimedia,
1223
00:57:36,015 --> 00:57:40,023
multi-million dollar campaign
of full-page color ads
1224
00:57:41,001 --> 00:57:43,984
in newspapers up and down
the state of California...
1225
00:57:44,008 --> 00:57:47,993
Radio commercials, robocalls,
mailers to households,
1226
00:57:48,017 --> 00:57:52,979
and television commercials...
Urging voters
1227
00:57:53,003 --> 00:57:54,989
to contact their
state legislator
1228
00:57:55,013 --> 00:57:57,989
to vote against this bill.
1229
00:57:58,013 --> 00:57:59,813
The California legislature
1230
00:58:00,000 --> 00:58:02,983
is considering a bill that
will endanger our children.
1231
00:58:03,007 --> 00:58:05,986
We cannot afford to take
our safety for granted.
1232
00:58:06,010 --> 00:58:07,992
The furnishings inside
the average home
1233
00:58:08,016 --> 00:58:09,994
will contribute to most
of the flame spread
1234
00:58:10,018 --> 00:58:10,997
and fire spread.
1235
00:58:11,021 --> 00:58:12,993
So those furnishings
need to be protected
1236
00:58:13,017 --> 00:58:15,979
by a fire retardant material...
1237
00:58:16,003 --> 00:58:19,995
They ran television commercials
on TV in Maine for weeks,
1238
00:58:20,019 --> 00:58:20,998
saying that Maine legislators
1239
00:58:21,022 --> 00:58:22,998
were trying to ban
this flame retardant
1240
00:58:23,022 --> 00:58:25,992
that would literally cause
people's homes to burn down.
1241
00:58:26,016 --> 00:58:28,983
They spent hundreds of
thousands of dollars to try
1242
00:58:29,007 --> 00:58:30,994
to convince the Maine people
that the Maine legislature
1243
00:58:31,018 --> 00:58:32,993
was about to do
something very dangerous.
1244
00:58:33,017 --> 00:58:35,996
And the entire campaign
was based on fear
1245
00:58:36,020 --> 00:58:41,022
that your house will burn down,
your child will die of flames.
1246
00:58:42,000 --> 00:58:43,990
I care about flame retardants
and fire safety
1247
00:58:44,014 --> 00:58:46,134
because I see what happens
to burn survivors every day
1248
00:58:47,000 --> 00:58:48,978
and I go though it
myself every day,
1249
00:58:49,002 --> 00:58:50,990
and as a result of that,
I cannot support
1250
00:58:51,014 --> 00:58:53,994
legislation which threatens
to remove flame retardants
1251
00:58:54,018 --> 00:58:56,998
from fabrics and other
things that protect our people.
1252
00:58:57,022 --> 00:58:59,980
Say no to laws that put
1253
00:59:00,004 --> 00:59:00,993
our children in danger.
1254
00:59:01,017 --> 00:59:02,990
This whole campaign of TV ads
1255
00:59:03,014 --> 00:59:06,994
and newspaper ads
and, you know, hiring an army
1256
00:59:07,018 --> 00:59:08,995
of lobbyists, I mean,
that's not something
1257
00:59:09,019 --> 00:59:09,996
Maine sees very often.
1258
00:59:10,020 --> 00:59:11,980
I mean, that happens
maybe more often
1259
00:59:12,004 --> 00:59:12,988
in New York or California.
1260
00:59:13,012 --> 00:59:14,993
That never happens in Maine.
1261
00:59:15,017 --> 00:59:16,996
Why would we want to tie ourself
1262
00:59:17,020 --> 00:59:20,978
to something 35 years old,
and close our minds
1263
00:59:21,002 --> 00:59:23,992
to any possibility that
we might know more now,
1264
00:59:24,016 --> 00:59:28,022
and there might be a better way
to address fire safety?
1265
00:59:29,000 --> 00:59:30,988
There was a bill in California
1266
00:59:31,012 --> 00:59:33,995
that would have changed
Technical Bulletin 117.
1267
00:59:34,019 --> 00:59:36,988
I went to that really not
knowing what I was going to see.
1268
00:59:37,012 --> 00:59:38,995
You're going to hear a lot of
conflicting testimony today,
1269
00:59:39,019 --> 00:59:41,023
and what I'd like to do
is just to remind you...
1270
00:59:42,001 --> 00:59:42,984
And there was a group called
1271
00:59:43,008 --> 00:59:45,993
Citizens for Fire Safety
that was fighting it.
1272
00:59:46,017 --> 00:59:47,217
And I was really curious about
1273
00:59:48,000 --> 00:59:48,992
Citizens for Fire Safety,
really curious.
1274
00:59:49,016 --> 00:59:52,984
Mr. Chairman, members.
Joe Lang, representing
1275
00:59:53,008 --> 00:59:55,979
Citizens for Fire Safety
Institute...
1276
00:59:56,003 --> 00:59:56,981
You know, rumor on the street
1277
00:59:57,005 --> 00:59:58,988
was that Citizens
for Fire Safety
1278
00:59:59,012 --> 01:00:00,992
was the chemical industry.
1279
01:00:01,016 --> 01:00:05,993
But I didn't see evidence
that proved it.
1280
01:00:06,017 --> 01:00:07,137
Was it really a front group?
1281
01:00:08,001 --> 01:00:08,990
That was... you know, that was
one of the questions.
1282
01:00:09,014 --> 01:00:09,994
And I have to be
able to pin it down.
1283
01:00:10,018 --> 01:00:10,996
I have to be able
to document it.
1284
01:00:11,020 --> 01:00:12,988
It's not just
rumor and innuendo.
1285
01:00:13,012 --> 01:00:14,982
You got to prove it.
1286
01:00:15,006 --> 01:00:17,981
And I think what fascinated me
about Citizens for Fire Safety
1287
01:00:18,005 --> 01:00:21,987
from the get-go
was... their website.
1288
01:00:22,011 --> 01:00:25,994
It had this picture of these
5 smiling children holding up
1289
01:00:26,018 --> 01:00:28,989
a banner that said "Fire Safety"
1290
01:00:29,013 --> 01:00:30,985
with a little heart
dotting the "I."
1291
01:00:31,009 --> 01:00:34,983
And behind them is
a red brick fire station.
1292
01:00:35,007 --> 01:00:35,993
You know, it could be on
any corner in America.
1293
01:00:36,017 --> 01:00:37,987
It was very...
This very wholesome,
1294
01:00:38,011 --> 01:00:39,985
Americana kind of picture
1295
01:00:40,009 --> 01:00:42,992
of "We're all
about fire safety."
1296
01:00:43,016 --> 01:00:45,991
OK, so what they said
was that they were
1297
01:00:46,015 --> 01:00:48,989
"a coalition of fire
professionals, educators,
1298
01:00:49,013 --> 01:00:51,992
"community activists,
burn centers, doctors,
1299
01:00:52,016 --> 01:00:53,995
"fire departments,
and industry leaders,
1300
01:00:54,019 --> 01:00:56,999
"united to ensure that
our country is protected by
1301
01:00:57,023 --> 01:00:59,990
the highest standards
of fire safety."
1302
01:01:00,014 --> 01:01:01,984
We already have the highest
1303
01:01:02,008 --> 01:01:03,992
fire safety standard of
any state in the country.
1304
01:01:04,016 --> 01:01:07,981
To change that standard,
and yet somehow not
1305
01:01:08,005 --> 01:01:09,979
compromise fire safety,
it's just...
1306
01:01:10,003 --> 01:01:11,999
It's not logical,
it doesn't make sense,
1307
01:01:12,023 --> 01:01:12,999
and it can't be done.
1308
01:01:13,023 --> 01:01:14,991
You know, right from the start,
1309
01:01:15,015 --> 01:01:19,986
lots of chemical industry
people showed up and told us
1310
01:01:20,010 --> 01:01:22,982
that all the science
that had come out was false,
1311
01:01:23,006 --> 01:01:25,985
and everything we were
saying was baloney.
1312
01:01:26,009 --> 01:01:27,990
So, clearly, they had
a lot at stake.
1313
01:01:28,014 --> 01:01:30,993
I mean, this young legislator
in this tiny state of Maine
1314
01:01:31,017 --> 01:01:32,986
was taking on a chemical that
1315
01:01:33,010 --> 01:01:33,997
was making a lot
of money for them.
1316
01:01:34,021 --> 01:01:38,978
Flame retardants are important
to do the job to save lives.
1317
01:01:39,002 --> 01:01:39,990
Thank you.
1318
01:01:40,014 --> 01:01:40,997
My name is Tony Stefani.
1319
01:01:41,021 --> 01:01:42,990
I'm a retired captain
with the San Francisco
1320
01:01:43,014 --> 01:01:44,022
Fire Department...
1321
01:01:45,000 --> 01:01:46,993
STEFANI, VOICE-OVER: I spoke
on behalf of Senate Bill 147.
1322
01:01:47,017 --> 01:01:49,993
And I watched the state senators
1323
01:01:50,017 --> 01:01:53,984
on the subcommittee
actually not even
1324
01:01:54,008 --> 01:01:55,987
pay attention to the testimony
that was being given
1325
01:01:56,011 --> 01:01:58,993
by experts, scientists
that say that this
1326
01:01:59,017 --> 01:02:00,991
technical bulletin
has to be changed.
1327
01:02:01,015 --> 01:02:02,999
There are safer products
out there that can be used.
1328
01:02:03,023 --> 01:02:05,103
But I did see them perk up
when they had people there
1329
01:02:06,000 --> 01:02:06,991
from the chemical industry talk.
1330
01:02:07,015 --> 01:02:08,999
It was pretty discouraging.
1331
01:02:09,023 --> 01:02:11,992
That if we continue
to ban chemicals
1332
01:02:12,016 --> 01:02:14,992
that are developed
before they're used,
1333
01:02:15,016 --> 01:02:16,991
we won't have any
chemicals to use,
1334
01:02:17,015 --> 01:02:17,995
and you won't be able to create
1335
01:02:18,019 --> 01:02:19,986
the new jobs that people want
1336
01:02:20,010 --> 01:02:22,979
to create here in California.
1337
01:02:23,003 --> 01:02:23,989
And I do want to point out,
1338
01:02:24,013 --> 01:02:26,984
once again, that as I was
surrounded by this opposition,
1339
01:02:27,008 --> 01:02:28,995
I was the only one
at this table that was
1340
01:02:29,019 --> 01:02:33,994
not receiving dollars
from the chemical industry.
1341
01:02:34,018 --> 01:02:36,987
AstroTurf organizations are
1342
01:02:37,011 --> 01:02:39,993
a phenomenon that's
from the, you know,
1343
01:02:40,017 --> 01:02:42,980
sort of the mid-to late
20th century,
1344
01:02:43,004 --> 01:02:43,994
where corporate America decided,
1345
01:02:44,018 --> 01:02:45,979
"Oh, there's ways to create
1346
01:02:46,003 --> 01:02:49,023
"phony groups that appear
to be consumer groups.
1347
01:02:50,001 --> 01:02:53,982
But what they do
and work on is our agenda."
1348
01:02:54,006 --> 01:02:55,988
So, what do they do is,
quote unquote,
1349
01:02:56,012 --> 01:02:58,992
"Citizen non-profit
doing fire prevention."
1350
01:02:59,016 --> 01:03:00,997
They give grants
to fire departments.
1351
01:03:01,021 --> 01:03:05,986
They worked their way in
with their line of BS.
1352
01:03:06,010 --> 01:03:08,988
They donate money to different
funding activities
1353
01:03:09,012 --> 01:03:11,978
that a fire department
might be doing.
1354
01:03:12,002 --> 01:03:17,991
But the the back lot activity
is sort of sickening.
1355
01:03:18,015 --> 01:03:22,989
A couple partners called and
asked us about flame retardants.
1356
01:03:23,013 --> 01:03:26,989
They were all communities
of color, and they had
1357
01:03:27,013 --> 01:03:29,980
been contacted by
Citizens for Fire Safety
1358
01:03:30,004 --> 01:03:33,979
because Citizens for Fire
Safety was saying that,
1359
01:03:34,003 --> 01:03:35,984
"Your community is
affected more by fires.
1360
01:03:36,008 --> 01:03:38,991
"Therefore, this legislation
in California is going to
1361
01:03:39,015 --> 01:03:40,989
cause more fires and deaths
in your community."
1362
01:03:41,013 --> 01:03:44,993
Tim Martinez, Hispanic Chamber
of Stanislaus County.
1363
01:03:45,017 --> 01:03:45,999
We oppose the measure.
1364
01:03:46,023 --> 01:03:47,981
Thank you.
1365
01:03:48,005 --> 01:03:48,993
They convinced them
that these are
1366
01:03:49,017 --> 01:03:51,996
crazy environmentalists
and all they want to do is,
1367
01:03:52,020 --> 01:03:55,981
you know, all they
want to do is protect
1368
01:03:56,005 --> 01:03:57,982
the environment, not people.
1369
01:03:58,006 --> 01:03:58,990
My name is Kiki Vo,
1370
01:03:59,014 --> 01:04:02,984
I'm a burn survivor, and I
greatly oppose this bill.
1371
01:04:03,008 --> 01:04:04,990
We were, are outraged.
1372
01:04:05,014 --> 01:04:06,989
It's exploitation.
It's manipulative.
1373
01:04:07,013 --> 01:04:08,996
Imagine hearing someone you love
1374
01:04:09,020 --> 01:04:12,978
say, "I love you,"
and that might be
1375
01:04:13,002 --> 01:04:15,988
the last time that you will
hear them say that.
1376
01:04:16,012 --> 01:04:20,995
So please vote no on SB 772,
and keep us safe from fire.
1377
01:04:21,019 --> 01:04:23,014
Thank you for your testimony.
1378
01:04:28,015 --> 01:04:31,994
So, when you look into
Citizens for Fire Safety,
1379
01:04:32,018 --> 01:04:33,986
here's what you find.
1380
01:04:34,010 --> 01:04:35,982
You know, people think that
investigative reporting is,
1381
01:04:36,006 --> 01:04:37,978
you know, meeting with
mysterious tipsters
1382
01:04:38,002 --> 01:04:39,980
in parking garages,
and mostly it's just
1383
01:04:40,004 --> 01:04:41,987
looking through
really boring documents
1384
01:04:42,011 --> 01:04:45,983
and finding little
puzzle pieces, little gems.
1385
01:04:46,007 --> 01:04:46,992
So this is one of the gems.
1386
01:04:47,016 --> 01:04:49,999
So this is the 2010
franchise tax report
1387
01:04:50,023 --> 01:04:51,992
that they filed with
the state of Delaware.
1388
01:04:52,016 --> 01:04:53,992
And you have to list
your headquarters,
1389
01:04:54,016 --> 01:04:55,988
your principal place
of business.
1390
01:04:56,012 --> 01:04:58,999
And sure enough, when I
looked up this address
1391
01:04:59,023 --> 01:05:02,993
in Reno, Nevada, it's just
a mail forwarding service.
1392
01:05:03,017 --> 01:05:05,983
It literally is 24-hour access
1393
01:05:06,007 --> 01:05:07,982
at a prestigious
California Avenue address
1394
01:05:08,006 --> 01:05:08,992
in tax-free Nevada.
1395
01:05:09,016 --> 01:05:11,993
So, its headquarters,
according to this form,
1396
01:05:12,017 --> 01:05:13,986
is a mail forwarding service.
1397
01:05:14,010 --> 01:05:15,985
That piqued my interest.
1398
01:05:16,009 --> 01:05:17,992
But again, I still didn't have
who are the members?
1399
01:05:18,016 --> 01:05:20,990
There's still a chance
that they could be truly
1400
01:05:21,014 --> 01:05:22,980
a broad coalition, right?
1401
01:05:23,004 --> 01:05:26,986
So, sure enough, good,
old California form 602.
1402
01:05:27,010 --> 01:05:28,490
You have to list
the number of members
1403
01:05:29,001 --> 01:05:29,996
in your association.
1404
01:05:30,020 --> 01:05:31,992
It says, "Check
appropriate box."
1405
01:05:32,016 --> 01:05:32,999
So they check the "50 or less."
1406
01:05:33,023 --> 01:05:34,991
Well, in parentheses, it says,
1407
01:05:35,015 --> 01:05:38,981
"Provide names of all members
on an attachment."
1408
01:05:39,005 --> 01:05:41,979
So you would think there would
be an attachment there, right?
1409
01:05:42,003 --> 01:05:42,990
This is all online.
1410
01:05:43,014 --> 01:05:45,984
If you look at that document,
there's no attachment.
1411
01:05:46,008 --> 01:05:47,984
There was no list.
1412
01:05:48,008 --> 01:05:53,991
So I asked the Secretary of
State's Office in California
1413
01:05:54,015 --> 01:05:55,998
to go through their archives
and find that list.
1414
01:05:56,022 --> 01:05:57,979
It's a public record.
1415
01:05:58,003 --> 01:05:58,988
It's not like I was
asking for a favor.
1416
01:05:59,012 --> 01:06:00,983
It's a public record.
It should've been in there.
1417
01:06:01,007 --> 01:06:03,989
So, sure enough, the day
that this arrived,
1418
01:06:04,013 --> 01:06:05,991
it was a very,
very big day for me
1419
01:06:06,015 --> 01:06:11,978
because here is the list of
the Citizens for Fire Safety
1420
01:06:12,002 --> 01:06:13,014
Institute member list.
1421
01:06:15,010 --> 01:06:16,023
Take a look.
1422
01:06:17,001 --> 01:06:18,978
Is it a broad coalition? No.
1423
01:06:19,002 --> 01:06:22,021
It is the 3 largest makers of
flame retardants in the world.
1424
01:06:25,003 --> 01:06:26,983
And ultimately,
one of my colleagues
1425
01:06:27,007 --> 01:06:28,997
flew over
the plant where they make
1426
01:06:29,021 --> 01:06:29,999
their flame retardants.
1427
01:06:30,023 --> 01:06:33,996
And it's not a
red brick fire station.
1428
01:06:34,020 --> 01:06:37,979
It's an industrial
compound and everything
1429
01:06:38,003 --> 01:06:40,022
you would imagine
a chemical company would be.
1430
01:06:41,000 --> 01:06:41,989
This was one of
those moments, though,
1431
01:06:42,013 --> 01:06:47,992
in the reporting where had
they showed up and said,
1432
01:06:48,016 --> 01:06:48,998
you know, "We are the chemical...
1433
01:06:49,022 --> 01:06:50,991
"we are the voice of
the chemical industry
1434
01:06:51,015 --> 01:06:56,984
and here are the reasons why
we think this law is wrong,"
1435
01:06:57,008 --> 01:06:58,988
I might have walked
away from it at that point.
1436
01:06:59,012 --> 01:07:01,990
But that's not what they did.
They were lying.
1437
01:07:02,014 --> 01:07:05,986
The group was presenting itself
as something it was not.
1438
01:07:06,010 --> 01:07:10,978
And it was presenting
itself to the public,
1439
01:07:11,002 --> 01:07:12,978
it was presenting itself
to firefighters,
1440
01:07:13,002 --> 01:07:16,986
it was presenting
itself to state legislatures...
1441
01:07:17,010 --> 01:07:19,002
as something it wasn't.
1442
01:07:27,009 --> 01:07:28,983
PINGREE, VOICE-OVER:
Chemical industry
1443
01:07:29,007 --> 01:07:30,982
had a huge amount of money,
1444
01:07:31,006 --> 01:07:32,989
lots of scare tactics.
1445
01:07:33,013 --> 01:07:33,997
They were doing
everything possible.
1446
01:07:34,021 --> 01:07:36,978
They spent hundreds of
thousands of dollars
1447
01:07:37,002 --> 01:07:40,981
to try to influence Mainers
and Maine legislators.
1448
01:07:41,005 --> 01:07:42,999
And they had so little
impact in the end.
1449
01:07:43,023 --> 01:07:46,992
I mean, we had pregnant women
and public health groups
1450
01:07:47,016 --> 01:07:49,983
and firefighters
all coming to say,
1451
01:07:50,007 --> 01:07:51,991
"This chemical is bad
for people's health.
1452
01:07:52,015 --> 01:07:55,007
There are safer alternatives.
It needs to go."
1453
01:07:56,021 --> 01:08:00,978
We ended up, I think, passing
nearly unanimously.
1454
01:08:01,002 --> 01:08:01,999
I mean, we had people on
both sides of the aisle
1455
01:08:02,023 --> 01:08:05,002
deciding that this was
the right thing to do.
1456
01:08:06,016 --> 01:08:08,989
As soon as I took on that
one first bill, I think
1457
01:08:09,013 --> 01:08:10,988
I sponsored 4 or
5 more after that.
1458
01:08:16,016 --> 01:08:17,992
PINGREE, VOICE-OVER:
Maine had this great system
1459
01:08:18,016 --> 01:08:18,996
of clean elections.
1460
01:08:19,020 --> 01:08:20,988
I could run for the
House of Representatives
1461
01:08:21,012 --> 01:08:22,996
with $5,000, and literally
just knocking on the doors
1462
01:08:23,020 --> 01:08:23,995
of my neighbors.
1463
01:08:24,019 --> 01:08:25,980
I didn't have TV ads.
1464
01:08:26,004 --> 01:08:28,008
I didn't have
anything like that.
1465
01:08:29,011 --> 01:08:29,996
See ya!
1466
01:08:30,020 --> 01:08:31,997
PINGREE, VOICE-OVER: I also
think people in Maine don't
1467
01:08:32,021 --> 01:08:35,985
appreciate a lot of
out-of-state money coming in.
1468
01:08:36,009 --> 01:08:37,988
And they knew from these TV ads
1469
01:08:38,012 --> 01:08:41,979
that were very slick and very
extreme that the wool...
1470
01:08:42,003 --> 01:08:44,978
Some kind of wool was being
pulled over their eyes.
1471
01:08:45,002 --> 01:08:46,998
Clearly, despite spending
a lot of money, the public
1472
01:08:47,022 --> 01:08:49,995
didn't call after
seeing all those TV ads.
1473
01:08:50,019 --> 01:08:51,992
They didn't show up and protest.
1474
01:08:52,016 --> 01:08:53,993
They said, "Good for you,
Maine legislators.
1475
01:08:54,017 --> 01:08:56,021
Like, I don't trust
the chemical industry."
1476
01:08:58,019 --> 01:09:00,988
It didn't pan out
that way in California.
1477
01:09:06,011 --> 01:09:08,983
I'm wonderfully naive when
I jump into a subject matter.
1478
01:09:09,007 --> 01:09:11,996
I had no clue the kind of opposition
we were going to be facing.
1479
01:09:12,020 --> 01:09:13,992
To determine the safety
1480
01:09:14,016 --> 01:09:15,992
of chemicals used
to meet California's...
1481
01:09:16,016 --> 01:09:16,995
LENO, VOICE-OVER:
The first year, we just wanted
1482
01:09:17,019 --> 01:09:18,978
an outright ban.
1483
01:09:19,002 --> 01:09:20,023
Get these chemicals out.
1484
01:09:21,001 --> 01:09:24,014
And the industry
easily defeated us.
1485
01:09:26,020 --> 01:09:28,993
So then we decided
we'll take another stab at it.
1486
01:09:29,017 --> 01:09:34,990
We're talking about cribs
and strollers and backpacks...
1487
01:09:35,014 --> 01:09:37,994
Again, items that children
have the most daily
1488
01:09:38,018 --> 01:09:39,992
and intimate contact with.
1489
01:09:40,016 --> 01:09:43,022
Federal government has
determined no fire risk.
1490
01:09:44,000 --> 01:09:44,978
In fact, I have...
1491
01:09:45,002 --> 01:09:45,982
LENO, VOICE-OVER:
We were defeated by
1492
01:09:46,006 --> 01:09:47,286
the chemical industry yet again.
1493
01:09:49,009 --> 01:09:51,990
But so then we thought, "OK,
we'll address it another way.
1494
01:09:52,014 --> 01:09:54,997
"What if we allowed for
some other method of meeting
1495
01:09:55,021 --> 01:09:56,983
"the fire safety standard?
1496
01:09:57,007 --> 01:09:59,979
Let the consumer decide."
When you hear these
1497
01:10:00,003 --> 01:10:02,984
business interests arguing
against deregulation,
1498
01:10:03,008 --> 01:10:05,982
I think there is
some irony in that.
1499
01:10:06,006 --> 01:10:07,994
"Regulations working
just fine for us.
1500
01:10:08,018 --> 01:10:10,983
Government, stay
out of our lives."
1501
01:10:11,007 --> 01:10:12,247
I would ask for your "ay" vote.
1502
01:10:14,016 --> 01:10:14,995
Yet another time.
1503
01:10:15,019 --> 01:10:17,987
Neurological and developmental
impairments,
1504
01:10:18,011 --> 01:10:21,987
reduced IQ, endocrine
disruption, and cancer.
1505
01:10:22,011 --> 01:10:23,988
We were defeated yet again.
1506
01:10:28,004 --> 01:10:31,991
One of the unfortunate aspects
of the business
1507
01:10:32,015 --> 01:10:36,991
in which I find myself as
a lawmaker is that we have
1508
01:10:37,015 --> 01:10:42,983
a symbiotic relationship
with the lobbying industry.
1509
01:10:43,007 --> 01:10:45,991
What I think a lot of
voters don't understand
1510
01:10:46,015 --> 01:10:51,991
is that the very lobbyists
who may be in my office trying
1511
01:10:52,015 --> 01:10:54,992
to convince me that
their point of view
1512
01:10:55,016 --> 01:10:57,992
on a particular issue is
the point of view that
1513
01:10:58,016 --> 01:11:01,991
I should hold so that I will
vote in a particular way
1514
01:11:02,015 --> 01:11:05,992
is the very same individual
that I may be calling from
1515
01:11:06,016 --> 01:11:08,992
across the street
3 days later to invite
1516
01:11:09,016 --> 01:11:14,992
to my quarterly fundraiser
and asking for a contribution.
1517
01:11:15,016 --> 01:11:20,991
And it could look
very crass and quid pro quo.
1518
01:11:21,015 --> 01:11:25,988
And I'm not blaming any of
my colleagues for anything
1519
01:11:26,012 --> 01:11:31,004
because it's not a good
system at its core.
1520
01:11:33,016 --> 01:11:34,984
Whether it's lead, mercury,
1521
01:11:35,008 --> 01:11:36,982
or flame retardants,
the assumption is that
1522
01:11:37,006 --> 01:11:38,993
somebody's minding the store,
and that somebody is trying
1523
01:11:39,017 --> 01:11:41,992
to prevent harm
and prevent exposure.
1524
01:11:42,016 --> 01:11:44,985
And we have this burden
of proof to show you
1525
01:11:45,009 --> 01:11:45,997
that we've been harmed.
1526
01:11:46,021 --> 01:11:48,994
That's a standard that is
very difficult for many
1527
01:11:49,018 --> 01:11:50,022
communities to meet.
1528
01:11:51,000 --> 01:11:52,991
And they rely on you to
protect them from this.
1529
01:11:53,015 --> 01:11:55,981
And their assumption is
that somebody is preventing
1530
01:11:56,005 --> 01:11:57,985
these chemicals from
getting in the environment
1531
01:11:58,009 --> 01:12:00,978
and getting in our bodies,
and leaving a legacy
1532
01:12:01,002 --> 01:12:02,993
of contamination
for our grandchildren
1533
01:12:03,017 --> 01:12:04,981
and nephews and nieces.
1534
01:12:05,005 --> 01:12:06,005
Thank you.
1535
01:12:10,022 --> 01:12:11,995
People assume the government is
1536
01:12:12,019 --> 01:12:13,984
keeping us safe
and protecting us from
1537
01:12:14,008 --> 01:12:16,987
this kind of behavior,
but that's actually not true.
1538
01:12:17,011 --> 01:12:18,991
It's not true, and why
should a small nonprofit
1539
01:12:19,015 --> 01:12:21,992
with 25 staff have
to do something to protect
1540
01:12:22,016 --> 01:12:24,985
people from companies
that have literally
1541
01:12:25,009 --> 01:12:26,991
billions of dollars
and thousands
1542
01:12:27,015 --> 01:12:28,992
or even tens or hundreds
of thousands of employees?
1543
01:12:29,016 --> 01:12:30,021
That's just not right.
1544
01:12:35,022 --> 01:12:37,991
Whenever I hear that the EPA is
1545
01:12:38,015 --> 01:12:41,023
this awful, you know,
Nazi-like organization
1546
01:12:42,001 --> 01:12:44,022
that is coming
down hard on businesses
1547
01:12:45,000 --> 01:12:49,992
and whatnot... we've got this
very perverse system right now.
1548
01:12:50,016 --> 01:12:53,022
There's 84,000 chemicals
being used in commerce.
1549
01:12:54,000 --> 01:12:56,989
84,000 chemicals... almost
none of those have been
1550
01:12:57,013 --> 01:12:59,021
tested adequately for their
health impacts.
1551
01:13:01,014 --> 01:13:02,989
This law, the Toxic Substances
1552
01:13:03,013 --> 01:13:05,991
Control Act from 1976...
1553
01:13:06,015 --> 01:13:06,993
Most of the chemicals that
1554
01:13:07,017 --> 01:13:09,991
were already on
the market were just
1555
01:13:10,015 --> 01:13:12,978
rolled in and said,
you know, "Everything's fine."
1556
01:13:13,002 --> 01:13:17,982
How one agency can then do
the science on 84,000 chemicals
1557
01:13:18,006 --> 01:13:20,983
with another thousand or so
being invented each year
1558
01:13:21,007 --> 01:13:22,991
and say, categorically,
"This one's safe, this one's
1559
01:13:23,015 --> 01:13:25,998
not safe," on the budget
they have is just ridiculous.
1560
01:13:26,022 --> 01:13:29,990
Especially in an era
when Congress is cutting budgets
1561
01:13:30,014 --> 01:13:32,988
and saying that the EPA
should do less.
1562
01:13:35,015 --> 01:13:37,987
HAWTHORNE, VOICE-OVER:
I think the best thing
I've ever heard about this
1563
01:13:38,011 --> 01:13:40,991
is from a researcher
at NYU who said
1564
01:13:41,015 --> 01:13:44,990
that we are in the middle
of a giant uncontrolled
1565
01:13:45,014 --> 01:13:47,021
experiment on American children.
1566
01:13:49,000 --> 01:13:49,991
It's not just with
flame retardants.
1567
01:13:50,015 --> 01:13:52,979
It's with scores of these
toxic chemicals that are
1568
01:13:53,003 --> 01:13:55,980
in our baby products,
that are in our toys,
1569
01:13:56,004 --> 01:13:57,992
that are in
our furniture, our TVs,
1570
01:13:58,016 --> 01:14:00,992
basically everything
that's in our homes.
1571
01:14:01,016 --> 01:14:04,988
Most of the chemicals
that are in those products
1572
01:14:05,012 --> 01:14:10,023
haven't been tested or
if they have been tested,
1573
01:14:11,001 --> 01:14:12,988
it's very difficult to do
anything about them
1574
01:14:13,012 --> 01:14:15,021
if those tests found
that they cause harm.
1575
01:14:17,020 --> 01:14:18,996
There is going to be
eventually some change,
1576
01:14:19,020 --> 01:14:20,988
and the reason there is
going to be some change
1577
01:14:21,012 --> 01:14:22,993
is the system is
so profoundly broken that
1578
01:14:23,017 --> 01:14:24,996
sooner or later,
something will give.
1579
01:14:36,004 --> 01:14:37,990
In our series, we called this
a decades-long
1580
01:14:38,014 --> 01:14:38,994
campaign of deception.
1581
01:14:39,018 --> 01:14:42,978
We talked about how
they distorted science.
1582
01:14:43,002 --> 01:14:43,994
We talked about
Citizens for Fire Safety
1583
01:14:44,018 --> 01:14:44,998
being a front group.
1584
01:14:45,022 --> 01:14:47,991
Those are not words I throw
about trivially.
1585
01:14:48,015 --> 01:14:51,986
Those are words that we
back up with documents
1586
01:14:52,010 --> 01:14:53,996
that show deception.
1587
01:14:54,020 --> 01:14:55,985
Some editors read through it.
1588
01:14:56,009 --> 01:14:57,986
Our lawyers read
through this material.
1589
01:14:58,010 --> 01:14:59,992
Everything has to be
completely factual.
1590
01:15:00,016 --> 01:15:01,999
You have to have
every nuance correct.
1591
01:15:02,023 --> 01:15:04,985
Because you don't want,
at the end of the day,
1592
01:15:05,009 --> 01:15:06,992
someone picking up the
newspaper and saying,
1593
01:15:07,016 --> 01:15:08,994
"Well, you missed
this little fact."
1594
01:15:09,018 --> 01:15:09,997
You don't want to...
1595
01:15:10,021 --> 01:15:11,982
You don't want to
make one little error.
1596
01:15:12,006 --> 01:15:13,992
Because if they say,
you know, "He got this wrong.
1597
01:15:14,016 --> 01:15:16,991
Imagine all the other things
that are wrong in here."
1598
01:15:17,015 --> 01:15:18,998
And so, I mean, that
means everything to us.
1599
01:15:37,018 --> 01:15:37,996
You never know.
1600
01:15:38,020 --> 01:15:39,460
You never know when
you write a story
1601
01:15:40,000 --> 01:15:40,986
what's going to
resonate with people.
1602
01:15:41,010 --> 01:15:42,992
So you kind of put it out
there, and hope that people
1603
01:15:43,016 --> 01:15:45,980
are going to read it,
and hope that
1604
01:15:46,004 --> 01:15:47,986
someone's going to read it
and it's going to empower
1605
01:15:48,010 --> 01:15:49,991
somebody to try
and solve a problem, right?
1606
01:16:01,004 --> 01:16:03,990
The science doesn't reach people
the way journalism does.
1607
01:16:04,014 --> 01:16:04,993
But there's got to be ultimately
1608
01:16:05,017 --> 01:16:09,988
national, over and over
media coverage
1609
01:16:10,012 --> 01:16:12,991
for this issue to rise
to the level it should be at
1610
01:16:13,015 --> 01:16:14,991
in the public consciousness.
1611
01:16:15,015 --> 01:16:17,987
And when the public is educated
and knows about it,
1612
01:16:18,011 --> 01:16:20,996
then our advocacy efforts, our
lobbying efforts with no money
1613
01:16:21,020 --> 01:16:25,022
in state capitals or
the federal level, have power.
1614
01:16:26,000 --> 01:16:27,994
MASCARENAS, VOICE-OVER: It
seemed like it just wasn't gonna
1615
01:16:28,018 --> 01:16:30,098
happen this year, and that
we should instead redirect
1616
01:16:31,000 --> 01:16:31,993
our focus on the governor.
1617
01:16:32,017 --> 01:16:33,978
And this has been working out.
1618
01:16:34,002 --> 01:16:36,984
The governor issued
an amazing press release,
1619
01:16:37,008 --> 01:16:40,992
which he wrote himself,
that was so accurate
1620
01:16:41,016 --> 01:16:42,989
on the lack of
fire safety benefit
1621
01:16:43,013 --> 01:16:44,984
and all the harm from
the flame retardants.
1622
01:16:57,008 --> 01:17:00,992
The first regulation in '75,
that's a reform.
1623
01:17:01,016 --> 01:17:03,993
But what I found
is that every reform
1624
01:17:04,017 --> 01:17:05,995
at some point needs a reform.
1625
01:17:06,019 --> 01:17:09,992
And there's been resistance
because you have a reform,
1626
01:17:10,016 --> 01:17:12,984
someone figures out
a way to satisfy it,
1627
01:17:13,008 --> 01:17:15,023
fix the foam up, fill it
full of chemicals,
1628
01:17:16,001 --> 01:17:18,981
make lots of money,
so why change?
1629
01:17:19,005 --> 01:17:21,990
It's very hard to make
these changes, but when
1630
01:17:22,014 --> 01:17:26,983
the science reaches a point
where, "Wow, that's not good
1631
01:17:27,007 --> 01:17:29,997
and it's peer-reviewed and we
know it," then we take action.
1632
01:17:30,021 --> 01:17:31,991
We're here today. In June,
1633
01:17:32,015 --> 01:17:32,997
the governor directed the Bureau
1634
01:17:33,021 --> 01:17:35,981
to review and revise
our current upholstered
1635
01:17:36,005 --> 01:17:37,993
furniture flammability standard,
1636
01:17:38,017 --> 01:17:40,981
currently known as TB117.
1637
01:17:41,005 --> 01:17:42,979
Of course I want to thank
1638
01:17:43,003 --> 01:17:43,992
Governor Jerry Brown,
1639
01:17:44,016 --> 01:17:47,992
who has changed the course
of this discussion
1640
01:17:48,016 --> 01:17:51,981
once and for all,
that we can do better.
1641
01:17:52,005 --> 01:17:54,994
We want to bring
Technical Bulletin 117
1642
01:17:55,018 --> 01:17:57,994
into the 21st century.
1643
01:17:58,018 --> 01:17:59,986
I'm Arlene Blum. I'm...
1644
01:18:00,010 --> 01:18:00,997
BLUM, VOICE-OVER: I have to say,
you know, I've been talking
1645
01:18:01,021 --> 01:18:04,984
about this for about 5 years,
where I've just felt
1646
01:18:05,008 --> 01:18:06,979
like this boring lady
where you want to kind of move
1647
01:18:07,003 --> 01:18:08,993
away from her at the dinner
party because all she does
1648
01:18:09,017 --> 01:18:10,979
is talk about flame retardants.
1649
01:18:11,003 --> 01:18:12,995
And I had really wondered
if I would go to my grave
1650
01:18:13,019 --> 01:18:16,987
being the boring lady ranting
about flame retardants.
1651
01:18:17,011 --> 01:18:20,978
And then suddenly,
after the "Tribune" article
1652
01:18:21,002 --> 01:18:22,986
and the governor's press
release, people like
1653
01:18:23,010 --> 01:18:25,983
Dick Durbin, who's the Majority
Whip in the Senate,
1654
01:18:26,007 --> 01:18:28,982
were ranting about flame
retardants, and were really mad.
1655
01:18:31,005 --> 01:18:32,986
We need to protect these
children and these families
1656
01:18:33,010 --> 01:18:34,991
when it comes to
toxic chemicals.
1657
01:18:35,015 --> 01:18:36,991
Let me tell you what
the bottom line is.
1658
01:18:37,015 --> 01:18:39,984
The "Chicago Tribune" series
made it clear
1659
01:18:40,008 --> 01:18:42,989
that over a span of
decades... decades...
1660
01:18:43,013 --> 01:18:46,980
There was a campaign of
marketing and deception.
1661
01:18:47,004 --> 01:18:48,984
Makes no difference
whether your grandbaby is
1662
01:18:49,008 --> 01:18:51,983
a Democrat, a Republican,
or an Independent.
1663
01:18:52,007 --> 01:18:53,998
We need to stand together
as families across America
1664
01:18:54,022 --> 01:18:55,023
to protect these kids.
1665
01:18:56,001 --> 01:18:57,241
Thank you for being here today.
1666
01:19:00,023 --> 01:19:01,993
Health advocates
and the chemical industry
1667
01:19:02,017 --> 01:19:03,999
are facing off
in Washington this week.
1668
01:19:04,023 --> 01:19:06,978
It's a move to update
safety standards
1669
01:19:07,002 --> 01:19:08,991
for chemicals used
in everyday products.
1670
01:19:09,015 --> 01:19:10,993
Today Barbara Boxer's
Senate subcommittee
1671
01:19:11,017 --> 01:19:12,990
met to discuss the overhaul of
1672
01:19:13,014 --> 01:19:15,995
the 1970s federal
chemical regulation.
1673
01:19:16,019 --> 01:19:18,985
The Safe Chemicals Act
would allow the EPA
1674
01:19:19,009 --> 01:19:20,992
to require proof
that they are safe
1675
01:19:21,016 --> 01:19:22,978
before they're
put on the market.
1676
01:19:23,002 --> 01:19:23,991
Among those testifying is
1677
01:19:24,015 --> 01:19:25,980
a San Francisco firefighter.
1678
01:19:30,000 --> 01:19:30,985
STEFANI, VOICE-OVER:
I was contacted by
1679
01:19:31,009 --> 01:19:32,089
Senator Lautenberg's office
1680
01:19:33,001 --> 01:19:34,992
and asked to go back
to Washington, DC
1681
01:19:35,016 --> 01:19:36,992
to testify before
a Senate committee
1682
01:19:37,016 --> 01:19:39,022
in favor of the
Safe Chemicals Act.
1683
01:19:48,022 --> 01:19:51,985
I've been in enough
situations in my life
1684
01:19:52,009 --> 01:19:54,980
that dealt with
life or death, on the job
1685
01:19:55,004 --> 01:19:57,993
as well as what
I've gone through.
1686
01:19:58,017 --> 01:20:00,985
And these are
our representatives.
1687
01:20:01,009 --> 01:20:03,981
They're working for us.
Why should I be intimidated?
1688
01:20:07,006 --> 01:20:09,986
"The rates of contracting
various forms of cancer
1689
01:20:10,010 --> 01:20:11,989
"in the firefighting profession
is increasing.
1690
01:20:12,013 --> 01:20:14,993
"We are also fully aware that
these flame retardant chemicals
1691
01:20:15,017 --> 01:20:17,980
"bioaccumulate in our blood.
1692
01:20:18,004 --> 01:20:20,982
"Senator Lautenberg,
Senator Lautenberg.
1693
01:20:21,006 --> 01:20:24,981
Neurodevelopmental,
neurodevelopmental."
1694
01:20:32,002 --> 01:20:34,000
Our meeting starts at
10 a.m. this morning.
1695
01:20:36,013 --> 01:20:37,016
I'm ready.
1696
01:20:40,008 --> 01:20:41,990
The hearing will come to order.
1697
01:20:42,014 --> 01:20:43,999
The purpose of this hearing
is to review the need to
1698
01:20:44,023 --> 01:20:46,990
reform the Toxic Substances
Control Act,
1699
01:20:47,014 --> 01:20:50,978
otherwise known as TSCA,
the primary law that regulates
1700
01:20:51,002 --> 01:20:51,992
chemicals in this country.
1701
01:20:52,016 --> 01:20:54,982
What we understand
right now is that these are
1702
01:20:55,006 --> 01:20:55,995
important chemicals that
have to be dealt with
1703
01:20:56,019 --> 01:20:58,979
because of their
bioaccumulative process
1704
01:20:59,003 --> 01:21:01,990
that is actually proven
in medical science right now.
1705
01:21:02,014 --> 01:21:03,023
OK.
1706
01:21:04,001 --> 01:21:05,999
My name is Hannah Pingree, and I
thank you for this invitation.
1707
01:21:06,023 --> 01:21:08,990
I am here as the former
Speaker of the Maine House.
1708
01:21:09,014 --> 01:21:10,991
PINGREE, VOICE-OVER: The fact
that Washington is now
1709
01:21:11,015 --> 01:21:14,022
really seemingly paying
attention is exciting.
1710
01:21:15,000 --> 01:21:16,986
I definitely did not
imagine myself, you know,
1711
01:21:17,010 --> 01:21:18,990
sitting next to the
Chemtura lobbyists
1712
01:21:19,014 --> 01:21:20,998
and the other industry
lobbyists, and a great
1713
01:21:21,022 --> 01:21:22,992
California firefighter.
1714
01:21:23,016 --> 01:21:24,978
But I, you know,
I felt good about it.
1715
01:21:25,002 --> 01:21:26,992
I felt like, "I am exactly
what we're talking about.
1716
01:21:27,016 --> 01:21:28,979
"I am a pregnant woman
who is being
1717
01:21:29,003 --> 01:21:30,995
impacted by these chemicals
and so I should be here."
1718
01:21:31,019 --> 01:21:32,991
The Senate bill would mandate
1719
01:21:33,015 --> 01:21:35,979
a new round of EPA review
for every new use
1720
01:21:36,003 --> 01:21:36,994
of a previously
approved chemical,
1721
01:21:37,018 --> 01:21:40,989
and every significant increase
in use of an existing chemical.
1722
01:21:41,013 --> 01:21:43,981
The implications for EPA's
overburdened resources,
1723
01:21:44,005 --> 01:21:45,285
for EPA's ability to prioritize,
1724
01:21:46,000 --> 01:21:46,994
and for industry's
ability to innovate
1725
01:21:47,018 --> 01:21:48,985
would be very significant.
1726
01:21:49,009 --> 01:21:50,978
Let me try
to get an answer
to my first question.
1727
01:21:51,002 --> 01:21:53,979
Does Chemtura concede
any danger from its...
1728
01:21:54,003 --> 01:21:54,995
From these two
flame retardants that
1729
01:21:55,019 --> 01:21:56,990
you've identified?
1730
01:21:57,014 --> 01:21:59,990
Again, in terms of
the expected exposures,
1731
01:22:00,014 --> 01:22:02,988
in 2006 EPSE published
expected exposures
1732
01:22:03,012 --> 01:22:05,022
and predicted exposures of TBB.
1733
01:22:06,000 --> 01:22:08,160
And those are much lower
than any level that would e...
1734
01:22:09,000 --> 01:22:10,980
Was predicted to have
any sort of an effect.
1735
01:22:11,004 --> 01:22:12,984
So, in those terms,
the answer to
your question
1736
01:22:13,008 --> 01:22:15,978
would be that, no, those
are, those are safe.
1737
01:22:16,002 --> 01:22:17,992
They're perfectly safe. OK.
1738
01:22:18,016 --> 01:22:20,980
In Maine, we had
an industry front group.
1739
01:22:21,004 --> 01:22:21,992
We had many of the companies
1740
01:22:22,016 --> 01:22:25,983
represented at this table,
the American Chemistry Council,
1741
01:22:26,007 --> 01:22:27,990
spending huge amounts of money,
1742
01:22:28,014 --> 01:22:29,992
misleading legislators,
and doing whatever they could.
1743
01:22:30,016 --> 01:22:32,990
I don't trust these
companies to tell
1744
01:22:33,014 --> 01:22:34,990
the truth about their
chemicals, and I don't think
1745
01:22:35,014 --> 01:22:38,992
the American public or you,
as senators, should, either.
1746
01:22:39,016 --> 01:22:40,984
I want to thank all of you
1747
01:22:41,008 --> 01:22:41,993
for coming here today.
1748
01:22:42,017 --> 01:22:42,995
So I have a question
1749
01:22:43,019 --> 01:22:44,988
I want each of you
to answer yes or no.
1750
01:22:45,012 --> 01:22:48,984
There's no other answer,
just yes or no.
1751
01:22:49,008 --> 01:22:51,022
And I'm gonna start with Hannah.
1752
01:22:52,000 --> 01:22:53,998
Do you agree that
chemical manufacturers
1753
01:22:54,022 --> 01:22:56,994
should have to prove
through unbiased studies
1754
01:22:57,018 --> 01:23:00,997
that their products are safe
for pregnant women, for infants,
1755
01:23:01,021 --> 01:23:03,992
and for children before
they can sell those
1756
01:23:04,016 --> 01:23:05,996
chemicals in the United States?
1757
01:23:06,020 --> 01:23:07,998
Yes.
1758
01:23:08,022 --> 01:23:10,001
Yes.
1759
01:23:15,001 --> 01:23:16,009
I... yes, I agree.
1760
01:23:18,017 --> 01:23:19,985
Could you repeat the question?
1761
01:23:20,009 --> 01:23:22,990
Do you agree that
chemical manufacturers
1762
01:23:23,014 --> 01:23:25,991
should have to prove
through unbiased studies
1763
01:23:26,015 --> 01:23:29,023
that their products are
safe for pregnant women,
1764
01:23:30,001 --> 01:23:32,978
for infants, and for
children before they can
1765
01:23:33,002 --> 01:23:35,022
sell those chemicals
in the United States?
1766
01:23:36,000 --> 01:23:36,023
Respectfully...
1767
01:23:37,001 --> 01:23:37,995
No, not respectfully.
1768
01:23:38,019 --> 01:23:39,978
Yes or no.
1769
01:23:40,002 --> 01:23:41,986
The question cannot be answered
without explanation.
1770
01:23:42,010 --> 01:23:43,022
Mr. Stefani.
1771
01:23:44,000 --> 01:23:44,990
Thank you.
1772
01:23:45,014 --> 01:23:48,994
Let me just say, I know
that it's a little harder
1773
01:23:49,018 --> 01:23:50,997
for lawyers to answer yes or no.
1774
01:23:51,021 --> 01:23:53,018
But this one?
1775
01:23:59,011 --> 01:24:00,993
PINGREE, VOICE-OVER: The fact
that they are holding hearings
1776
01:24:01,017 --> 01:24:03,022
and paying attention
is a big deal.
1777
01:24:04,000 --> 01:24:05,979
They got that it wasn't
just about flame retardants.
1778
01:24:06,003 --> 01:24:06,996
It was about the big picture.
1779
01:24:07,020 --> 01:24:09,989
But the reality is,
the American Chemistry Council
1780
01:24:10,013 --> 01:24:12,991
is working absolutely
overtime to try
1781
01:24:13,015 --> 01:24:16,981
to influence members of
Congress to stop this bill.
1782
01:24:17,005 --> 01:24:19,980
They know that it has traction
with the American public,
1783
01:24:20,004 --> 01:24:21,994
so they don't want it
to get out really into
1784
01:24:22,018 --> 01:24:22,999
the light of the day.
1785
01:24:23,023 --> 01:24:24,989
If it's on the floor
of the Senate,
1786
01:24:25,013 --> 01:24:25,994
they know it's problematic.
1787
01:24:26,018 --> 01:24:28,984
Because when you get
a group of moms angry,
1788
01:24:29,008 --> 01:24:31,978
politicians don't want to be
on the other side of them.
1789
01:24:33,017 --> 01:24:36,988
We brought the signatures
of 130,000 Americans with us,
1790
01:24:37,012 --> 01:24:39,992
gathered by...
1791
01:24:40,016 --> 01:24:41,992
We are delivering these
signatures to our senators
1792
01:24:42,016 --> 01:24:44,980
to show how many
people want action.
1793
01:24:45,004 --> 01:24:46,993
When people's voices
are heard, you know,
1794
01:24:47,017 --> 01:24:49,992
retailers might
start taking action.
1795
01:24:50,016 --> 01:24:51,985
Those kinds of
changes are happening.
1796
01:24:52,009 --> 01:24:52,993
But the only reason
they happen is that
1797
01:24:53,017 --> 01:24:54,993
regular people have
stood up and said, "Look.
1798
01:24:55,017 --> 01:24:55,999
"We're... we don't want to...
You know,
1799
01:24:56,023 --> 01:24:58,004
we don't want
to take it anymore."
1800
01:24:59,018 --> 01:25:00,992
So if there's
a furniture company that
1801
01:25:01,016 --> 01:25:03,984
wants to be a part of
the solution, we want to
1802
01:25:04,008 --> 01:25:05,980
meet with them, we want
to collaborate with them,
1803
01:25:06,004 --> 01:25:07,989
we want to actually
triangulate with them
1804
01:25:08,013 --> 01:25:09,991
to force the chemical
companies to stop making
1805
01:25:10,015 --> 01:25:12,991
those furniture companies
to use their chemicals.
1806
01:25:13,015 --> 01:25:14,991
And then, for companies that
actually are just looking
1807
01:25:15,015 --> 01:25:16,996
for a quick buck, we're
gonna kick them in the nuts
1808
01:25:17,020 --> 01:25:18,996
and force them to stop.
1809
01:25:21,019 --> 01:25:25,022
Citizens for Fire Safety,
they folded.
1810
01:25:26,000 --> 01:25:26,996
So... they said they're folded.
1811
01:25:27,020 --> 01:25:30,980
The website with
the smiling children
1812
01:25:31,004 --> 01:25:33,993
and the red brick
Americana firehouse,
1813
01:25:34,017 --> 01:25:36,000
that doesn't exist anymore.
1814
01:25:38,016 --> 01:25:39,987
You know, I think
the big question is,
1815
01:25:40,011 --> 01:25:41,981
will the world change?
1816
01:25:42,005 --> 01:25:42,998
It's not just our furniture.
1817
01:25:43,022 --> 01:25:46,995
It's not just California
Technical Bulletin 117.
1818
01:25:47,019 --> 01:25:50,991
It really is about how
we, as a society,
1819
01:25:51,015 --> 01:25:55,991
view chemicals, how we
vet them or don't vet them.
1820
01:25:56,015 --> 01:25:59,996
And who are we listening to
when we're being told
1821
01:26:00,020 --> 01:26:02,995
these chemicals are safe,
they work, they protect us,
1822
01:26:03,019 --> 01:26:04,993
they're essential to our lives?
1823
01:26:05,017 --> 01:26:06,023
Who are we listening to?
1824
01:26:07,001 --> 01:26:08,992
That's really, I think,
the crux of it.
1825
01:26:09,016 --> 01:26:09,999
So we're really excited
1826
01:26:10,023 --> 01:26:14,982
about the new Technical
Bulletin 117 2013 that's
1827
01:26:15,006 --> 01:26:18,979
going to be put in place to
eliminate these toxic chemicals.
1828
01:26:19,003 --> 01:26:22,986
Well, I'm optimistic
when a small band
1829
01:26:23,010 --> 01:26:24,990
of a thousand people
or two thousand people
1830
01:26:25,014 --> 01:26:28,982
can take on a multi-billion-
dollar industry and say
1831
01:26:29,006 --> 01:26:31,982
we will stop you from using
those poisonous chemicals
1832
01:26:32,006 --> 01:26:33,982
in our furniture.
1833
01:26:34,006 --> 01:26:35,990
We did that on people power.
1834
01:26:36,014 --> 01:26:40,982
However, I don't think
that we can celebrate yet.
1835
01:26:41,006 --> 01:26:43,991
I hope that what we did
in California is, in a way,
1836
01:26:44,015 --> 01:26:46,983
inspirational for the rest
of the country, to
1837
01:26:47,007 --> 01:26:49,986
in their legislatures, in
Congress and so on, to turn
1838
01:26:50,010 --> 01:26:54,995
the spigot off on these poisons
and have sane chemical policy.
1839
01:26:55,019 --> 01:26:57,999
Do you want some milk? Yeah.
1840
01:26:58,023 --> 01:27:02,979
KERR STONE, VOICE-OVER:
His name is Graham Alison
Kerr Stone.
1841
01:27:03,003 --> 01:27:04,983
And Graham is a family name.
1842
01:27:05,007 --> 01:27:06,987
And then Alison is our
friend who passed away,
1843
01:27:07,011 --> 01:27:07,995
Alison Greene.
1844
01:27:08,019 --> 01:27:09,983
So we said, first baby,
we said, "OK, it's a boy.
1845
01:27:10,007 --> 01:27:10,995
"We'll give this another shot.
1846
01:27:11,019 --> 01:27:13,994
If we have a girl, she can have
Alison as her middle name."
1847
01:27:14,018 --> 01:27:17,991
Well, we have a boy with Alison
as his middle name.
1848
01:27:18,015 --> 01:27:20,978
Right after her... in her memory
and her spirit.
1849
01:27:27,004 --> 01:27:27,992
STEFANI, VOICE-OVER:
Seeing firefighters
1850
01:27:28,016 --> 01:27:29,991
that I worked with for years
1851
01:27:30,015 --> 01:27:33,995
succumb to this hideous disease
called cancer,
1852
01:27:34,019 --> 01:27:38,992
it has a profound effect
on my life on a daily basis.
1853
01:27:39,016 --> 01:27:40,995
I know when I came in in 1974,
1854
01:27:41,019 --> 01:27:42,987
I was not concerned
about cancer.
1855
01:27:43,011 --> 01:27:45,022
It was the last
thing on my mind.
1856
01:27:46,000 --> 01:27:48,989
Every time that we rolled
out our doors, we were
1857
01:27:49,013 --> 01:27:52,022
going out for one reason,
and that was to help somebody.
1858
01:27:53,000 --> 01:27:55,996
And when you have a big fire,
it gets to the point where,
1859
01:27:56,020 --> 01:27:57,991
OK, we draw the line right here,
1860
01:27:58,015 --> 01:27:59,991
and this is as far as
that fire is going to go.
1861
01:28:00,015 --> 01:28:01,984
We're going to put it out.
1862
01:28:02,008 --> 01:28:04,995
You don't let the fire win.
We win.
1863
01:28:05,019 --> 01:28:08,020
Enjoy
146779
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