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AUGUSTA, Maine

Democrats criticize proposed Maine chemicals rules

Democrats and environmental groups said that a Maine Department of Environmental Protection plan to require companies to report whether children’s products contain certain chemicals does not do enough to protect kids. The proposed rules would require companies to report whether products intended for children under age 12 contain mercury, arsenic, cadmium, or formaldehyde. A department spokeswoman said that the chemicals are known carcinogens and that the state now has no way of knowing whether they are in children’s products. But Democratic lawmakers and the Environmental Health Strategy Center said chemicals such as mercury have already been banned, so the rules will have little impact.