Citizens for Fire Safety (CFFS) was a nonprofit based out of Sacramento, California that advocated for usage of chemical fire retardants in household furniture. After investigation by the Chicago Tribune released in May of 2012, Citizens For Fire Safety was discovered to be a front group, with intention to utilize lobbying and congressional testimonies to reduce the regulatory pressure regarding the production of flame retardant products.[1] The group was shut down in 2012.[2]
CFFS was founded in 2007 by chemical manufacturers Albemarle Corp., Chemtura Corp. and ICL Industrial Products (Hawthorne/Roe),[3] together which controlled over 40% of the flame retardants' world market. CFFS stated goal was "protecting the United States with the highest standards of fire safety, through a coalition of fire professionals, educators, burn centers, doctors, fire departments and industry leaders."[2] The former executive director of CFFS, Grant David Gilham, was a legislative staffer and veteran political consultant.[4] The group's funding was obtained through membership dues and assessments, particularly from chemical manufacturing corporations. Between the years of 2008 and 2010, CFFS' total funding was about $17 million dollars.[5]
Objectivesedit
One of the main objectives of CFFS was to fight anti-chemical state legislature. To accomplish this, CFFS hired doctors and burn experts to testify in state senates against anti-chemical bills. In 2011, burn expert Dr. David Heimbach testified in front of the California State Senate. The bill which Dr. Heimbach testified against proposed a restriction on fire retardant chemicals in household furniture. Dr. Heimbach told a detailed story of an infant who was severely burned from a fire started by a candle. The infant was asleep on a pillow which lacked flame retardant chemicals.[6] This testimony was later discovered to be fabricated, as state records showed no evidence of any fire or infant mortality due to a candle fire. Further investigation revealed two additional testimonies from Dr. Heimbach in 2009 and 2010 which detailed infant deaths from fires were also fabricated.
Investigation and Exposureedit
In 2012, the Chicago Tribune conducted an investigation in which they discovered that flame retardants’ producer companies were distorting scientific studies related to their toxic chemicals. The companies were stating that the substances were beneficial for society in general, since, for example, according to researches, “they give people a 15-fold increase in time to escape fires,” and also “they prevent residential fires and save lives.” The chemicals, however, were very dangerous substances and also associated with a series of health issues to humans, such as cancer, developing problems, neurological deficits and impaired fertility.[7] What happened was a “grossly distorted” of the scientific true, with twisted research results and misinterpretations of reality. The goal was to influence lawmakers regarding the production of flame retardants.
The Chicago Tribune's investigation revealed that CFFS was created by chemical companies with the intention of "promoting common business interests of members involved with the chemical manufacturing industry," identifying them as an industry front group.[6]
Testing Mattressesedit
In 2012, three different brands of baby mattresses were found to have toxic flame retardants and contained possible carcinogens, as tested by laboratories for the Chicago Tribune. The mattresses were distributed in stores such as Babies R Us, Foundations, and Angeles. Linda Birnbaum, director of the federal government's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, said "If these chemicals are in your child's mattress, they are going to be constantly exposed."[8]
CFFS supported finding a solution to this issue, and proposed that mattresses must pass federal fire-safety tests that are far more stringent. The results found by the Tribune were that all the mattresses were imported from China. However, none of the mattresses contained any amounts of chlorinated Tris. With regards to the tests from the manufactures of the mattresses, the results varied.[8]
Companies were quick to defend themselves against the accusations. In a statement from Summer Infant Inc., one of the manufactures for Babies R Us, stated "Simply put, the statements made are misleading and reckless in that they imply a health hazard that doesn't actually exist."[8] Dr. Jerome Paulson, a pediatrician from George Washington University, stated to the Tribune regarding children alone that "because they are smaller than adults and their bodies are still developing, children face greater risks from exposure to toxic chemicals."[8]
Referencesedit
^"American Chemistry Council lied about lobbying role on flame retardants, consultant says". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
^ ab"Citizens for Fire Safety - SourceWatch". www.sourcewatch.org. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
^"CFC SB 772 Fact Sheet: Citizens for Fire Safety ' A Toxic Front Group | Consumer Federation of California". Retrieved 2020-03-11.
^"Association data for Citizens For Fire Safety". www.cfboard.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
^reporters, By Michael Hawthorne and Sam Roe, Chicago Tribune. "Makers of flame retardants cut ties with industry front group". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-04-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abPatricia Callahan and Sam Roe. "Fear fans flames for chemical makers". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
^"Tribune Watchdog: Playing with Fire". media.apps.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
^ abcdPatricia Callahan and Sam Roe. "Chemicals in the crib". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
External linksedit
Fireproof Guide, Gears & Reviews
November 01, 2023
citizens, fire, safety, cffs, nonprofit, based, sacramento, california, that, advocated, usage, chemical, fire, retardants, household, furniture, after, investigation, chicago, tribune, released, 2012, citizens, fire, safety, discovered, front, group, with, in. Citizens for Fire Safety CFFS was a nonprofit based out of Sacramento California that advocated for usage of chemical fire retardants in household furniture After investigation by the Chicago Tribune released in May of 2012 Citizens For Fire Safety was discovered to be a front group with intention to utilize lobbying and congressional testimonies to reduce the regulatory pressure regarding the production of flame retardant products 1 The group was shut down in 2012 2 Contents 1 History 2 Objectives 3 Investigation and Exposure 4 Testing Mattresses 5 References 6 External linksHistory editCFFS was founded in 2007 by chemical manufacturers Albemarle Corp Chemtura Corp and ICL Industrial Products Hawthorne Roe 3 together which controlled over 40 of the flame retardants world market CFFS stated goal was protecting the United States with the highest standards of fire safety through a coalition of fire professionals educators burn centers doctors fire departments and industry leaders 2 The former executive director of CFFS Grant David Gilham was a legislative staffer and veteran political consultant 4 The group s funding was obtained through membership dues and assessments particularly from chemical manufacturing corporations Between the years of 2008 and 2010 CFFS total funding was about 17 million dollars 5 Objectives editOne of the main objectives of CFFS was to fight anti chemical state legislature To accomplish this CFFS hired doctors and burn experts to testify in state senates against anti chemical bills In 2011 burn expert Dr David Heimbach testified in front of the California State Senate The bill which Dr Heimbach testified against proposed a restriction on fire retardant chemicals in household furniture Dr Heimbach told a detailed story of an infant who was severely burned from a fire started by a candle The infant was asleep on a pillow which lacked flame retardant chemicals 6 This testimony was later discovered to be fabricated as state records showed no evidence of any fire or infant mortality due to a candle fire Further investigation revealed two additional testimonies from Dr Heimbach in 2009 and 2010 which detailed infant deaths from fires were also fabricated Investigation and Exposure editIn 2012 the Chicago Tribune conducted an investigation in which they discovered that flame retardants producer companies were distorting scientific studies related to their toxic chemicals The companies were stating that the substances were beneficial for society in general since for example according to researches they give people a 15 fold increase in time to escape fires and also they prevent residential fires and save lives The chemicals however were very dangerous substances and also associated with a series of health issues to humans such as cancer developing problems neurological deficits and impaired fertility 7 What happened was a grossly distorted of the scientific true with twisted research results and misinterpretations of reality The goal was to influence lawmakers regarding the production of flame retardants The Chicago Tribune s investigation revealed that CFFS was created by chemical companies with the intention of promoting common business interests of members involved with the chemical manufacturing industry identifying them as an industry front group 6 Testing Mattresses editIn 2012 three different brands of baby mattresses were found to have toxic flame retardants and contained possible carcinogens as tested by laboratories for the Chicago Tribune The mattresses were distributed in stores such as Babies R Us Foundations and Angeles Linda Birnbaum director of the federal government s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences said If these chemicals are in your child s mattress they are going to be constantly exposed 8 CFFS supported finding a solution to this issue and proposed that mattresses must pass federal fire safety tests that are far more stringent The results found by the Tribune were that all the mattresses were imported from China However none of the mattresses contained any amounts of chlorinated Tris With regards to the tests from the manufactures of the mattresses the results varied 8 Companies were quick to defend themselves against the accusations In a statement from Summer Infant Inc one of the manufactures for Babies R Us stated Simply put the statements made are misleading and reckless in that they imply a health hazard that doesn t actually exist 8 Dr Jerome Paulson a pediatrician from George Washington University stated to the Tribune regarding children alone that because they are smaller than adults and their bodies are still developing children face greater risks from exposure to toxic chemicals 8 References edit American Chemistry Council lied about lobbying role on flame retardants consultant says Center for Public Integrity Retrieved 2020 03 11 a b Citizens for Fire Safety SourceWatch www sourcewatch org Retrieved 2020 03 11 CFC SB 772 Fact Sheet Citizens for Fire Safety A Toxic Front Group Consumer Federation of California Retrieved 2020 03 11 Association data for Citizens For Fire Safety www cfboard state mn us Retrieved 2020 03 11 reporters By Michael Hawthorne and Sam Roe Chicago Tribune Makers of flame retardants cut ties with industry front group chicagotribune com Retrieved 2020 04 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link a b Patricia Callahan and Sam Roe Fear fans flames for chemical makers chicagotribune com Retrieved 2020 04 12 Tribune Watchdog Playing with Fire media apps chicagotribune com Retrieved 2020 04 09 a b c d Patricia Callahan and Sam Roe Chemicals in the crib chicagotribune com Retrieved 2020 04 09 External links editFireproof Guide Gears amp Reviews Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Citizens for Fire Safety amp oldid 1177442997, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
