Pressure Mounts For Better Regulation of Toxic Chemicals Found in Everyday Products

According to a policy statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics late last month, the federal government is not doing enough to protect children and pregnant women from hazardous chemicals.

"Over the past few decades, tens of thousands of new chemicals have been introduced into the environment, often in extremely large quantities. But the primary federal law that governs chemical management in the U.S. – the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) – has not undergone any meaningful revision since it was first passed in 1976," the AAP said in a statement.

The AAP notes that the TSCA has only been used to regulate five chemicals or chemical classes. The group is joining environmentalists, maternal and childrens' advocates and even some federal lawmakers in calling for an overhaul of the TSCA.

In mid-April, US Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011, which, according to a press release, would mandate that chemical manufacturers "demonstrate the safety of industrial chemicals used in everyday household products."

The bill was co-sponsored by Charles Schumer (D-NY), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Al Franken (D-MN).

“The average American has more than 200 industrial chemicals in their body, including dozens linked to cancer and other health problems," Sen. Lautenberg said. "The shocking truth is that the current law does not require tests to ensure chemicals used in everyday household products are safe."

He noted that of more than 80,000 chemicals registered in the US, the EPA has only been able to require testing of 200. The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 would update the TSCA to allow for the EPA to mandate testing by chemical manufacturers before new chemicals are allowed on the market.

Lautenberg introduced a similar bill to the Senate in 2010, but it stalled in committee.

If signed into law, the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 would follow suit with the EU's 2006 "Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals" law, which aims to "to improve protection of health and the environment from the risks of chemicals while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry." Regulation of all chemicals and restriction of use of toxic chemicals is being phased in through 2016.

According to the AAP's policy statement, "Chemical Management Policy: Prioritizing Children’s Health," the TSCA has failed to protect children and pregnant women from harmful chemicals, even though the public is aware of the health risks associated with chemicals used in everyday products such as toys, clothing, , and that are present in the air.

"It is because of the inadequacies of the TSCA that parents and pediatricians have been subjected to multiple high-profile media blitzes about specific chemicals, such as phthalates in toys and bisphenol A in infant bottles that create anxiety without solving the problems of risky chemical exposures," the statement said.

Noting that cancer rates amongst children have increased since the 1970s, the Presidential Cancer Panel last year said in a report that kids .

"Children of all ages are considerably more vulnerable than adults to increased cancer risk and other adverse effects from virtually all harmful environmental exposures," the panel said.

According to a 2010 report by the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Campaign, entitled "The Case for Reforming the TSCA," public health costs could be drastically reduced if governmental policy more staunchly regulated the use of chemicals that have been linked with ailments such as neurological disorders, cancer, infertility and asthma.

"Conservative estimates show that if reductions in toxics led to even a 0.1 percent incidence of these diseases the US would save $5 billion annually in health care costs, and New York would save nearly $300 million annually," the report states.

Some products that contain chemicals pollutants include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, moth balls, carpeting, paints and air fresheners, according to the report. Also noted to be proven or suspected of causing cancer in humans are such common chemicals as lead, nickel, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene (TCE,) which is used in adhesives, pepper spray and spot cleaners.

The pressure is mounting for lawmakers to overhaul the TSCA. But what can a regular parent do to support safer products and a healthier environment for our families?

Here are three ideas:

Be an educated consumer.

Through the basic laws of supply and demand, companies will be less likely to use harmful chemicals in their products if consumers boycott them. While we may not be able to do much to immediately reduce our exposure to toxins in the air, we can make it a point to make small changes, like not buying shower curtains made with PVC, purchasing eco-friendly cleaning products and boycotting .

Contact your representatives.

While New York is one of only a handful of states that has made illegal hazardous chemicals like (BPA,) it appears as if public health is not on most government representatives' short list of priorities. So write a letter or call your state and federal representatives and ask them to sponsor legislation that would reduce the public's exposure to harmful chemicals in everyday products like toys, cleaners, food and clothing.

Here are links to the websites of your representatives:

• NYS Senator Suzi Oppenheimer
• NYS Assemblyman George Latimer
  
• US Senator Charles Schumer
• US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
• US Congresswoman Nita Lowey

Spread the word.

Talk to your family and friends about the presence of toxic chemicals in our lives. Doing so will likely convince them to make changes in their daily routines.