What is the Problem: U.S. Laws Do not Protect Human Health

Major loopholes in federal and state laws allow manufacturers and businesses to sell a chemical or product without generating or disclosing adequate information about its potential health or environmental hazards.

Additionally, under the current chemical regulatory framework public agencies are unable to:

1. Efficiently gather chemical hazard information (i.e. is the chemical a carcinogen, does it cause reproductive or developmental disability, etc…) from producers;
2. Proactively regulate known hazards; or
3. Require producers to accept greater responsibility for the lifecycle impacts of their products.

Source: Green Chemistry: Cornerstone to a Sustainable California

Cracks in the Current Chemical Regulatory system:

• Risk-based -requires regulators to show toxins pose unreasonable risks before taking action to reduce exposure or ban them.

• Relies on a “dose makes the Poison” framework and discounts low-level chemical exposures.

• Ignores cumulative and synergistic impacts chemicals may have on humans.

• Has failed to test a majority of chemicals for their effects on human health.

What does good chemical policy look like?

• Requires safer substitutes and solutions.

• Phases-out persistent, bio-accumulative, or highly toxic chemicals.

• Gives the public and workers the full right-to-know.

• Takes a precautionary approach.

• Requires comprehensive safety data for all chemicals before they go to market.

• Takes immediate action to protect communities and workers.

For more information on chemical policy and what it should look like check out:

The Louisville Charter for Safer Chemicals, Applying the Precautionary Principle at the Science and Environmental Health Network's website, and Californians for a Healthy and Green Economy.

Health Impacts of Chemical Exposure

Pathways of Chemical Exposure

PSR-LA's Chemical Policy Reform Work