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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.

TSCA
You keep hearing this, but truly, it is time to take action. The Kid Safe Chemicals Act (a bill to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act, TSCA) will be introduced any day now. Contact your legislature – they are currently on a holiday break and back in their home districts until April 9th. Visit their office, or make a phone call, and ask them to co-sponsor the bill.

If they aren’t interested in co-sponsoring, reforming the TSCA still needs to be on your legislature’s radar! When introduced, those that represent you in the House and Senate need to be prepared to pass the bill.

Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Coalition
This week, the GlobalChem conference took place, and Safer Chemicals Healthy Families (SCHF) was there. SCHF is a coalition of companies and organizations that have a clear idea of reform. A rally of parents and members of the coalition set up a humongous blow-up rubber duck, representing children’s products that contain chemicals.

The chemical industry is willing to talk about reform now, but they weren’t not too long ago. SCHF notes that chemical companies are open to a weaker reform that what is really needed. Their new campaign, Don’t Be Duped, seeks to outline the different intentions of the chemical industry.

Parents voicing their concerns about chemicals in products have made a difference. An article on Chemweek.com thinks this is the reason chemical companies are open to reform.

Meanwhile, a Government Accountability Office report shows the EPA hasn’t been protecting children from harmful chemicals.

TAKE ACTION: Learn the difference between the chemical industry and public health advocates reform platforms.

BPA 
Both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are now looking into the effects of BPA. New research by the EPA asks companies to provide data of the effects on wildlife and children. This tactic is similar to the European Union REACH reform, and what some hope a reformed TSCA would do – place the burden of proof on companies.

Washington State has banned BPA in water bottles and products meant for use by children. Industry continues to argue that the effects of BPA are unproven. However, an article about the ban notes that over 900 studies show a link.

Illinois is also moving toward a ban on BPA in children’s beverage containers and formula and baby food containers.

Household Products Labeling Act
The Household Products Labeling Act, calling for required labeling of chemicals on cleaning products, is moving forward.

TAKE ACTION: Women’s Voices for the Earth suggests ways of getting involved.

Share Your Experience!
Are you working on changing local policy, such as getting your school to clean green or your office to have a fragrance-free policy? Let us know by leaving a comment! Have you contacted your elected officials about environmental health issues? How did it go? Sharing your experience helps inspire others. Likewise, maybe someone in our community will have advice for moving forward. Join the movement!

Image Courtesy Of laura padgett / CC BY-ND 2.0

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