Senate Passes Bill to Restrict Sale of High Concentration Sodium Nitrite

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate has passed bipartisan legislation led by Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth that would ban the sale of high concentration sodium nitrite to consumers as an effort to help prevent youth suicide. The Youth Poisoning Prevention Act would add products containing more than 10 percent sodium nitrite to the list of banned hazardous products under the Consumer Product Safety Act while allowing the chemical to remain available for commercial and industrial uses. Supporters said the substance has no recognized household use and has been linked to a growing number of suicides involving young people since 2017. The measure now heads to the U.S. House for consideration.