Poison in the Blood The Failure of EPA's Chemical Testing System

The EPA reported in 2007 that: "of the (top) 3,000 chemicals imported or produced by the United States ... 43% of these high production volume chemicals (HPV) have no testing data".

America's track record on testing poisonous chemicals has been one of complete neglect to public health and safety. Most Americans assume that chemicals in everyday products such as shampoos and detergents have been tested. In this assumption, they are dead wrong. In its entire history, the Environmental Protection Agency has only succeeded in banning five substances (New York Times). Unlike pharmaceuticals or pesticides, industrial chemicals do not have to be tested before they are put onto the market. The Toxic Substance Control Act is also the only environmental statute that has not been updated since the 1970s. An audit in 2009 found that the EPA was a failure on chemicals. The report said that the EPA lacked basic information detailing whether a chemical was a health risk or not. There are now chemicals everywhere in our society; in our air, water, environment - and yes, even our blood (Chemicals in the blood). Even more alarming is that there is no testing data on what these chemicals will do. It is time to protect the public. It is time to start testing these chemicals and to make a greater comittment to public safety.

We will list necessary laws below for protecting the public, useful organizations and links to news stories detailing the risk of these hazardous substances.

This act would put provisions in place that would help protect Americans from unsafe chemicals. It would focus attention on priority chemicals, secure access to health and safety data and establish a risk-based chemical management system based on sound science. A summary of the bill.

The Safe Chemicals Act of 2013 - This act would put provisions in place that would help protect Americans from unsafe chemicals. It would focus attention on priority chemicals, secure access to health and safety data and establish a risk-based chemical management system based on sound science.

TSCA Reform Legislation: Highlights and Comparisons 2013- (PDF-Richard Denison, Environmental Law Reporter) - A paper from Environmental Defense Fund scientist Richard Denison on reforming the failed Toxic Substances Control Act.

Might we soon be facing an effort to roll back the Toxic Substances Control Act? (Richard Denison, 4-11-13) - It seems like only yesterday that there was a broad consensus to strengthen the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), yet now there is growing legislation that would not only keep the flaws - but make the TSCA even weaker.

Revisiting the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 (PDF- 2-26-09) - Testimony to the U.S House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection on the reform of The Toxic Substance Control. The reform aids to regulate toxic chemicals that find their way into products and the environment.

EPA's Latest Chemical Proposals Get It Half Right, Recent EPA Toxics Adviser Says (12-9-08)

Chemicals Policy Reform - Health - Environmental Defense Fund (1-27-09) - As the EPA officially gets labeled as a "high risk" government program, those in favor of revisiting the Toxic Substance Control Act hope the warning will take the issue off of the Congressional back burner.

Toxic Ignorance (PDF) - The original 1997 report from the Environmental Defense fund that points out the lack of testing of top selling chemicals. This report pointed out that most chemicals have no testing record and no real proof of their safety, yet these are some of the most commonly used substances.

Gearing Up For TSCA Reform (4-10-13) - The TSCA is the nation's only major environmental law that has never been updated. There is a need for reform now.

100 Million+ Americans Exposed To Forgotten Toxics In Drinking Water (2-27-13) - A new EWG analysis has shown that water systems in 43 states that serve more than 100 million people have unwanted chemicals that elevate the risk of bladder cancer, miscarriage and other serious illnesses.

Many Americans assume that the chemcials in their everyday products like shampoo and detergent are safe. That assumption is dead wrong.

High Production Volume Chemicals make up the the products on our store shelves and many of the things that people use daily. The frightening fact is that only 7% of these chemicals have the proper testing data to insure safety.

Is the Environmental Protection Agency doing enough to protect the environment and the American people from dangerous chemicals?

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency routinely allows companies to keep information about their chemicals secret, including compounds that have been shown to cause cancer and respiratory problems.

Chemicals in Our Blood (Truthout- From Harpers Article 5-07) This article looks at a variety of tests done by different organizations. The tests found very hazardous and certainly unnatural compounds in all people tested. Younger people were found to have far more chemicals in their systems then elderly people, pointing out the astonishing rate at which people are absorbing hazardous substances.

Chemical Body Burden (PBS) - Bill Moyer takes blood and urine tests to see just how many different chemicals could be in the average persons body. The number is shockingly high.

2009 KEY CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF CHEMICAL TESTING

Congress begins to identify the worst of the worst chemicals (Safer Chemicals, 11-17-09)

Prioritizing Chemicals for Safety Determination (House Energy and Commerce, 11-17-09)

Oversight of Chemical Testing (Senate Environment 12-2-09)

POISON IN THE BLOOD