House Consumer Protection Committee advances bill banning forever chemicals in cosmetics, dental floss, menstrual products
Rep. Greg Scott April 29, 2026 | 3:42 PM
HARRISBURG, April 29 — State Rep. Greg Scott, D-Montgomery, today announced that his bill banning toxic PFAS forever chemicals from high-contact consumer products in Pennsylvania was approved by the House Consumer Protection Committee, advancing to the full House of Representatives for further consideration.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals linked to a range of serious health risks, including cancer, immune-system suppression, pregnancy-related hypertension, reduced fertility, and more. House Bill 2145 would ban the use of PFAS in the manufacture of many daily-use household products.
Products that would be covered by the bill include cosmetics, dental floss, children’s products, and menstrual pads and tampons.
“These are products that people use every day. And every time a person uses these products, they’re being exposed to PFAS and the significant health risks PFAS carry,” Scott said. “We can’t say we’re taking the health of our residents seriously if we continue to allow such toxic materials to be used in manufacturing these types of products.”
According to Scott, the focus on cosmetics, dental floss, menstrual products and many products used to care for children and babies is due to their daily, high-contact use. Cosmetics are used directly on the sensitive skin of the face, eyes, and around the mouth; many products for kids are designed with the expectation that babies and toddlers will mouth them as they teeth and explore the world.
“Over a lifetime – from toddlerhood to adulthood – that’s a significant increase in risk of health complications simply from using very common products,” Scott said.
House Bill 2145 was introduced in January with bipartisan support. It was approved by the committee on Tuesday by unanimous vote.