By Rep. Jane Eberle

 Every year, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Board of Pesticides Control partner to collect obsolete pesticides from homeowners across the state. Products that include such harmful chemicals as DDT, lead, mercury and arsenic are collected at sites throughout the state and shipped to qualified disposal facilities out of state.

The deadline to pre-register for this valuable program is fast approaching. Though collection will happen in October, you must register by Sept. 15 to participate. If you have any of these products in your home, I urge you to take part in this program. Disposing of these harmful chemicals yourself through the trash or other means is not only illegal, it threatens groundwater supplies and can pose a serious risk to people, animals and the environment in general.

 It is now widely accepted that the chemicals in these pesticides are highly toxic and dangerous, but when they were brought onto the market they were met with great fanfare for their effectiveness. So now it is even more disturbing to know that many products on store shelves today contain chemicals which have not been tested for their effects on humans. Of the 80,000 chemicals in everyday products, only 10 percent have been tested for toxicity.

 The federal government has failed to take action on this issue, putting us far behind other developed countries in monitoring and banning toxic chemicals in household items. This has led to some companies manufacturing two versions of their products: a non-toxic one for European countries that have banned the use of some harmful chemicals and a cheaper, toxic version for the American market. Last year, a coalition of 12 groups from nine states tested more than 1,200 common children’s toys on the U.S. market and found that many contained lead, arsenic, mercury or PVC plastic.

 Here in Maine, we have taken steps to protect our children. The Legislature this year passed a strong chemical oversight policy that requires the state to test, track and eliminate dangerous chemicals from products that children are exposed to. We also passed a law that prohibits the manufacture, distribution and sale of children’s products that contain lead.

 Last year, we passed legislation to phase out the use of the deca-BDE flame retardant in Maine households. Major out-of-state chemical companies spent huge amounts of money trying to fight this measure even though it has been proven that the chemical has negative impacts on human brain development, animals and the environment, and that equally effective alternatives are available. But we stood up to those companies, keeping Maine on a path to hold companies responsible for the safety of their products and putting the burden on them to prove they’re safe.

 As consumers, we should be able to determine what is in the products we buy and be able to feel confident that they will not harm our families or the environment we live in. You may notice that stores have new signs that indicate fertilizers containing phosphorous are not appropriate for use on your lawn due to the potential adverse effects on water quality. Phosphorous runoff has been linked to algae blooms, which can lead to decreased fish populations due to lack of oxygen in the water. These signs are the result of a new law I proposed to get phosphorous out of our waterways and keep consumers aware of the harmful effects of this chemical.  And again:  Safer, equally effective alternatives are available!

 With proper monitoring, regulation and education, we can get these toxic chemicals out of our homes and environment. You can start with your own home by registering for the pesticide collection day. Go to www.maine.gov/agriculture/pesticides/public/obsolete.htm or call 287-2731 for more information. The Web site also has information on how to properly store your pesticides until they can be collected for proper disposal.

 Rep. Jane Eberle, D-South Portland, represents South Portland and Cape Elizabeth in the Maine House of Representatives. She serves on the Natural Resources and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife committees.