Broader Reforms Needed to Make People Safe
March 27, 2013 (Washington, DC) — Today the U.S. EPA announced that it would assess twenty chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The vast majority of the chemicals are flame retardants that have been linked to developmental disabilities are used widely in sofas and other furnishings.
Andy Igrejas, executive director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families said:
“We applaud today’s EPA announcement. Flame retardants have become exhibit A for our nation’s failed chemical policy. Many have have turned out to be very toxic, and yet they have found their way into our homes and our bodies through their use in consumer products. Recent investigative journalism, as well as Senate oversight has revealed deeply deceptive practices used by the chemical industry to market these chemicals, inflating evidence of their efficacy while suppressing evidence of their toxicity.
“EPA is right to tackle a broader group of chemicals and break the cycle where one chemical is scrutinized, leading to replacements, which later turn out to also be problematic. The assessments can help shed new light on these chemicals and inform the market place about which ones to avoid. Unfortunately, until there is reform of TSCA, they will be severely limited in what they can actually do with the results of their assessments. That’s why it is so important that congress pass the Safe Chemicals Act, which Senator Lautenberg will soon reintroduce.”
