The U.S. chemical industry is the largest in the world, accounting for 25% of all chemical production, and more than 63% of chemical production is centered in 10 states, including California.

Each day, a total of 42 billion pounds of chemical substances are produced or imported in the U.S. for commercial and industrial uses, 90% of which rely on fossil fuel feedstocks.

On a daily basis, humans are unknowingly exposed to these hazardous chemicals which contaminate our air, soil, food, and water and accumulate in our bodies. Despite our routine exposure to these chemicals, few have undergone even minimal screening for their potential to cause health impacts to humans -- prior to being put on the market.

Of the 80,000 chemicals currently on the U.S. market, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that fewer than 10% of high production chemicals (over one million pounds per year) have undergone even a limited set of tests to assess their health effects on humans.

To Find Out More Information on Chemicals as well as PSR-LA's Chemical Policy Work Go To:

Health Impacts of Chemical Exposure

Pathways of Chemical Exposure

Why Current Chemical Policy Does not Work

PSR-LA's Chemical Policy Reform Work

back to top