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Claire Moss

Thursday, March 04, 2010

U.S. chemical regulation is not protecting human health as it should. Take action! The Scoop will keep you up-to-date on the latest news and ways to get involved. Check out our Policy Section, for further information about national and state initiatives.

The Precautionary Principle
During my research for this blog, the precautionary principle came up several times. It is often a basis for discussion concerning chemical reform as well as the environment and global warming. You may already be familiar with the principle, however I think it merits a short summary:

How much evidence is needed before something can be called “unsafe’? Clear cause-and-effect cannot always be proven, although there is often a fair amount of evidence showing connection between a product or action and an outcome. There is however much disagreement as to the amount of evidence needed. For some, any evidence of negative effects, fully proven or not, should be cause for immediate regulatory action. Others draw the line further back, and require a clearer correlation before taking action.

According to TSCA, chemicals are in effect innocent until proven guilty – they can be used in products until they are found harmful. Currently the responsibility for proving chemicals are unsafe (burden of proof) falls on the EPA. This, along with other bureaucratic aspects, makes testing all chemicals an unwieldy task for the EPA, to say the least.

Pesticide policy, after undergoing reform, works differently. New pesticides and those being used for a new purpose must be registered with the EPA before being sold. A process of testing takes place for each pesticide, and reasonable evidence must prove that no harm is caused by the pesticide when used as directed.

TSCA
A US Senate hearing today focused on PBTs: TSCA and Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals: Examining Domestic and International Actions.

PBT is an overarching description for chemicals that are Persistent, Bioaccumulative and/or Toxic. To be considered a PBT, a chemical must exhibit at least one of the three qualities. Many chemicals, including those that have already been banned, are considered PBTs: perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), DDT, mercury and PCBs, among others.

Take Action: Read more about PBTs.

Senator Lautenberg and Representative Waxman, major players in the Senate and House of Representatives respectively, have indicated bills to reform TSCA will soon be introduced to both the House of Representatives and Senate.

Take Action: Learn about the US Legislative process.

Sanjay Gupta, MD, talked about the Kids Safe Chemical Act (the proposed TSCA reform bill) on CNN February 23rd. During the segment, Dr. Gupta spoke about the inherent conflict of considering chemicals safe until proven unsafe. His report about chemical exposure and policy, Toxic Towns USA, will air on Earth Day, April 24th.

Take Action: Watch Dr. Gupta's segment on chemical reform below.

It's so easy to feel overwhelmed about toxins and their widespread impact. But take note of the legislation mentioned above - there can and will be positive change in chemical policy. Check out our Public Policy section, where you'll find further information about national and state initiatives. Get your friends and family involved by discussing chemicals and the lack of chemical regulation. Stay positive and come back for an update in two weeks!

Image Courtesy Of laura padgett / CC BY-ND 2.0