The New Mexico legislature has passed new bills aimed at banning consumer products containing PFAS, or 'forever chemicals,' in response to growing health and environmental concerns. The push for legislation highlights the gap in public knowledge about the safety of such products, as illustrated by Environment Secretary James Kenney's experience at a furniture store. New Mexico becomes the third state to legislate a PFAS ban, following trends in other states. Currently, at least 29 states are considering PFAS-related legislation as industries mobilize to protect their interests amid these changes.
Last week, the New Mexico legislature passed a pair of bills that Kenney hopes will help protect consumers in his state. If signed by the governor, the legislation would eventually ban consumer products that have added PFAS-per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, known colloquially as "forever chemicals."
I think about your normal, everyday New Mexican who is trying to get by, make their furniture last a little longer, and they think, 'Oh, it's safe, great!' It's not safe. It just so happens that they tried to sell it to the environment secretary.
As health and environmental concerns about forever chemicals mount nationally, New Mexico joins a small but growing number of states that are moving to limit-and, in some cases, ban-PFAS in consumer products.
Ten other states have bans or limits on added PFAS in certain consumer products, including cookware, carpet, apparel, and cosmetics. This year, at least 29 states-a record number-have PFAS-related bills before state legislatures.
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