New report on chemicals law gives pointers to U.S.

Many new chemicals are flooding the market each year.

The United States Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is almost 40 years old and most people agree that it needs to be updated.

However, industry officials, lawmakers and environmental groups have different opinions as to what the new legislation should look like.

A new report from Indiana University examines the European Union’s new law, which went into effect in 2006.

Their new chemicals law is called REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals), and the Indiana researchers say the United States can learn a lot from the European experience with REACH.

The EU law makes the industry responsible for proving the safety of the chemical, not government.

The key principle in the registration process is “no data, no market”, meaning manufacturers, producers and importers need to provide a minimum safety-related data set for many existing chemicals.

A clear definition of safety is important in any chemicals law reform, the researchers say.

The US should focus on reducing risks to human health and the environment and make it easier for industry to comply by allowing cross-Atlantic recognition of registration dossiers.

Source: Indiana University

Chemicals remain a concern

With the burden of proof of safety (or danger) resting on government, most US residents continue to be exposed to a wide variety of chemicals that may or may not be harmful to human health.

In some cases, for example bisphenol A, phthalates, formaldehyde, tetrachloroethylene and more, the danger has been identified, yet the chemicals continue to be around.

AllerAir offers powerful and portable air purifiers with the right air filters to remove a wide range of airborne chemicals, gases, fumes and odors while also trapping particles, dust, bacteria, viruses, mold and pollen.

Many pounds of granular activated carbon are the best defense against potentially harmful chemicals, along with source control and ventilation.

For more information and air purifier options, contact AllerAir today.
 

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The NRDC is urging the public to ask their senators to co-sponsor the Safe Chemicals Act:



From the NRDC:

"Under the current law, it is almost impossible for the EPA to take regulatory action against dangerous chemicals, even those that are known to cause cancer or other serious health effects.

When the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was enacted in 1976, it was intended to ensure that chemicals are safe throughout their lifecycle, from manufacture to use and disposal. But weaknesses in the law have left the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) largely unable to act on known health dangers or require testing on specific chemicals that may be unsafe. Other laws, such as those setting air, water, and workplace safety standards, do not adequately regulate exposure to most chemicals, nor do they address the hazards a chemical may pose over its entire lifecycle.

When the law was first passed, 62,000 chemicals were allowed to remain on the market without testing for their effects on health or the environment. In more than 30 years, the EPA has only required testing of about 200 of those chemicals, and has partially regulated only five. The rest have never been fully assessed for toxic impacts on human health and the environment.

For the 22,000 chemicals introduced into commerce since 1976, chemical manufacturers have provided little or no information to the EPA regarding their potential health or environmental impacts.

Cancer, learning disabilities, infertility, birth defects and other reproductive problems have all been associated to some degree to exposure to toxic chemicals – chemicals found in children's products, cleaning and personal care products, toys, furniture, electronics, food and beverage containers, building materials, fabrics, and auto interiors.

Under the current law, the EPA must prove a chemical poses an "unreasonable risk" to health or the environment before it can be regulated. The law is widely considered to be a failure and, most recently, the EPA's own Inspector General found it inadequate to ensure that new chemicals are safe.

Since 1976, scientists have linked exposure to toxic chemicals to a wide array of health risks. It is now widely accepted that exposure to low doses of certain chemicals, particularly in the womb or during early childhood, can result in irreversible and life-long impacts on health. It is now commonly understood that some toxic chemicals persist in the environment, sometimes for decades, and build up in the food chain and in our bodies. It is now well-recognized that some chemicals are able to disturb our hormonal, reproductive, and immune systems and that multiple chemicals can act in concert to harm health.

To protect the public’s health and allow TSCA to work as originally intended, new legislation must strengthen TSCA by shifting the burden of proof from EPA to the chemical industry; requiring all new or existing chemicals to be tested for safety, and establishing safety standards for chemicals to protect children and other vulnerable groups. It must ensure the public's right to know about the safety and use of chemicals and give EPA the authority to protect the public from unsafe chemicals, including expedited action for the most dangerous, toxic chemicals.

Legislation has been introduced to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act. The Safe Chemicals Act would shift the burden back to the chemical industry to prove its products are safe, establish health standards for chemicals to protect children and other vulnerable groups, and strengthen the public's right to know about the safety and use of chemicals."

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Unlike most air cleaners, AllerAir room air purifiers are specially designed to remove airborne chemicals, odors and particles. Our activated carbon and HEPA units are used by industry, manufacturing, aerospace, health care professionals and thousands of families to improve indoor air quality.