A Chemical Safety Net for Our Kids

Many parents assume that our current government regulations do a pretty good job of protecting our children from exposures to unhealthy chemicals – not realizing that the current law from the 1970’s is now as ridiculous and out-of-date as a polyester leisure suit. Of the more than 80,000 synthetic chemicals now on the market in the US, the EPA has only been able to require safety testing on about 200. This needs to change, and leaders across the political spectrum are calling for action.

On January 21, 2010 a broad coalition called Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families has released a powerful, readable report called The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Yes, they make a strong health case (at least one percent of all disease comes from environmental exposures, and 10 percent of diabetes, and up to 30 percent of now-epidemic conditions like asthma). But beyond this they (Or I guess “we”. both DrGreene.com and Healthy Child Healthy World are part of this coalition) make a powerful economic case. Chemical policy reform should save us at least $5 billion in health care costs each and every year.

“In simplest terms, real reform will lead to more healthy babies, fewer women with breast cancer, a return to normal fertility patterns, and a lower number of people with Alzheimer’s disease. This is the promise of TSCA reform.”