Federal Chemical Policy Failures

Posted on Jan 23, 2009

Major shortcomings in the outdated federal law designed to regulate toxic chemicals, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), has left the public unprotected from chemical exposure. Passed by Congress in 1976, TSCA empowers the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate chemical usage based on the risk to human health. 

Since then, only an estimated 2 percent of the 62,000 chemicals in commerce at that time have been reviewed for human health risks; now it is estimated that more than 80,000 chemicals are in use today.  Many newer chemicals have also avoided full review.

In 32 years, only five chemical substances have been banned or restricted under TSCA: PCBs, chlorofluorocarbons, dioxin, asbestos and hexavalent chromium.  None have been banned since 1990, despite the vast expansion of scientific knowledge about chemicals and their effects on people, wildlife and the environment.  In fact, it was in 1991 that the term "endocrine disruptor" was first coined, and yet no chemicals have been removed from use because of their harm to our hormone systems.

Fortunately, change is coming. Organizations across the country are working at the state level to create effective state policy solutions and generate a national base of support for change in federal chemical policy. Reforms have been won in more than 13 states, forming the foundation of a strong movement for much needed federal change.