Contact State Legislators Insist On Chemical Safety

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Dear Marie,

https://secure2.edf.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display & page=UserAction & id=1640

Take action to reform America's toxic chemicals standards.

There are more than 80,000 man-made chemicals in use in the U.S. BUT only about

200 have been required to be tested for safety.

Every American alive today, including newborn babies, has hundreds of chemicals

flowing through our blood. Some of these substances may cause prostate and

breast cancers, diabetes, heart disease, lowered sperm counts, early puberty and

other diseases and disorders.

But current laws are tilted drastically in favor of the manufacturers. The

burden of proving that a chemical is harmful is so extreme that only one group

of chemicals, PCBs, has ever been banned.

It's time to reform and strengthen America's toxic chemical regulations.

Please take action to support legislation to protect our families from dangerous

toxic chemicals.

Background:

Thousands of chemicals that have not been tested for safety are used in common

items found in homes across America: in children's toys and bottles, in food

cans and soda can linings, in our mattresses, computers, shampoos, lotions and

more.

Reflecting decades of unchecked exposure, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention have found toxic chemicals in the bodies of virtually every

American.

Babies are born with hundreds of chemicals in their blood, some of which are

linked to prostate and breast cancers, diabetes, heart disease, lowered sperm

counts, early puberty and other diseases and disorders.

Unlike every other major environmental law, the nation's main chemical safety

law, TSCA, has never been significantly amended since it was adopted, in 1976.

TSCA has serious flaws that impede it from ensuring chemical safety in the U.S.

Specifically, TSCA:

*

Has failed to deliver the information needed to identify unsafe — as well

as safer chemicals;

*

Forbids the federal government from sharing much of the limited

information it does obtain;

*

Imposes an unreasonable burden on government to prove actual harm in order

to control or replace a dangerous chemical; and

*

Thereby perpetuates the chemicals industry's failure to innovate toward

inherently safer chemical and product design.

It's time to reform America's toxic chemicals law.

Please take action to support reform.

Thanks for your activism and support,

Denison

Senior Scientist, EDF