Michigan

Michigan is a rustbelt, agricultural, swing state, situated in the heart of the Great Lakes. As such, Michigan has both a legacy of contamination from heavy industry, and environmental toxicants from our state’s unique geography. Michigan’s tourism and fishing industries rely on strong environmental protections for our precious natural resources. For many years, coalitions of health and environmental groups have worked with lawmakers of both parties to protect children and the Great Lakes from toxic chemicals. We’ve banned toxic flame retardants like PBDEs which studies have found present in Great Lakes sediments, fish, and people living in the basin, and worked to restrict the use of heavy metals such as lead and mercury in children’s products and medical devices to prevent children’s exposure and contamination of the environment. Michigan passed the first-in-the-nation Green Chemistry Executive Directive; and our chemical, manufacturing and agricultural industries have much to gain from Green Chemistry advances happening in Michigan.