How consumer products in Washington got safer in 2025

Most people assume that if a product is on store shelves, it's safe to use. But some consumer products contain toxic chemicals that can build up in bodies over time, spread into the environment, and harm people and wildlife.

It's not always easy to know what's in the products we use everyday. Ingredient lists can be confusing, and some lists don't include every chemical used in the product. From cleaning products and jewelry to cookware and moisturizers, transparency can be limited.

Ecology's Safer Products for Washington program continues to increase that transparency.

The program identifies harmful chemicals in consumer products and evaluates whether safer alternatives are available. When safer options are available and already in use, we take steps to restrict harmful chemicals, helping make consumer products in Washington safer for people and the environment.

Reducing "forever chemicals" exposure and pollution in 2025

PFAS, or "forever chemicals," are widely used in products because they're inexpensive and effective. But the long-term costs of PFAS pollution are far higher than the cost of using them in products.

Here's how much it can cost to clean up PFAS contamination:

• $2.7 to $18 million to remove 1 pound of PFAS from wastewater.
• $700,000 to $4 million per pound to remove PFAS from biosolids, which are treated sewage solids.
• Around $5.5 billion each year in human disease costs caused by PFAS.
• Nearly $1 billion to clean up Washington's contaminated drinking water.

Safer Products for Washington helps reduce PFAS pollution at its source by regulating harmful chemicals in products before they enter the environment.

In 2025, we adopted regulations to restrict PFAS in automotive washes, apparel and gear, and cleaning products. The regulation also requires companies to report intentional use of PFAS in additional products such as cookware, footwear, ski waxes, floor polishes, firefighting protective equipment, and more.

These reporting requirements help Ecology understand where PFAS are still being used and if safer alternatives exist that can provide a similar function. They also encourage greater transparency in supply chains and product contents - information that can support future restrictions.

Building on progress

As we move into 2026, we continue researching and evaluating chemicals and products from previous and current cycles of the program, so we can respond to emerging data, support the shift to products that are safer, and prevent pollution.

Our team of chemists and toxicologists is taking a closer look at the chemicals used in everyday products - such as cosmetics, paints, and nail products - to determine whether they are truly needed.

For example, the team is evaluating:

• Cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes (cVMS) used in some cosmetics. These chemicals can cause reproductive and hormone-related effects, and they can persist and buildup in wildlife.
• Benzene, toulene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) in nail coatings, glues, hardeners, polish removers and thinners. These chemicals are associated with reproductive and developmental harm.
• PFAS and alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) in some paints used for building interiors and exteriors, as well as other structures. These chemicals persist in the environment and can harm humans and aquatic wildlife.

By examining the roles these chemicals play and the feasibility and availability of safer alternatives, this research provides the scientific foundation for regulatory recommendations.

Learn more about how this work fits into the Safer Products for Washington five-year process in the video below.

What's next?

In late 2026, Ecology will release a draft report with recommendations and hold informational webinars where the public can learn more and provide input.

In addition, Safer Products outreach and engagement staff will host focus groups to better understand how various building materials - such as paints, sealants, caulks, and adhesives - are used and perform in practice. These conversations will also explore health and safety concerns workers may have and who makes decisions about which products are used, to provide additional insights for the program's ongoing work.

To get email updates on our product work and how you can contribute, subscribe to our Safer Products for Washington list.