Chemicals Policy Reform Why You Should Care  By Clean and Green Oregon  Graphic – all our logos

Is it safe? Graphic: headlines collage of recent scares about lead in toys, contaminants in cat food and dairy products from China, BPA in polycarbonate water bottles, Pollution in People.

The system is broken. Broken watch

Crisis and Opportunity

Three Crises  1. The regulatory system is broken.  2. We learn more about the health effects of toxic chemicals every day.  3. We worry about the cost of cleaning up.

Crisis: The system is broken The regulatory system is REALLY complicated. The regulatory system is REALLY complicated. Clean Air ActClean Air Act Clean Water ActClean Water Act Safe Drinking Water ActSafe Drinking Water Act Food Quality Protection ActFood Quality Protection Act Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund)Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund) Toxic Substances Control ActToxic Substances Control Act Federal insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)Federal insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic ActFederal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act Hazard Communications Standard (in OSHA regs)Hazard Communications Standard (in OSHA regs)

The Toxic Substances Control Act  “Tosca” –Screen new and existing chemicals. –Identify hazardous product or uses. –62,000 chemicals in 1979 –Now, 82,000 chemicals inventoried –3,000 of them are used in quantities of more than 1M pounds/year.

The EPA –Cost benefit analysis doesn’t consider health effects. –EPA accepts the data the manufacture supplies, however incomplete it may be. –Manufacturers supply the data, but are allowed to keep “trade secrets.” –Must prove a chemical is risky before can get more data to prove risk. –Regulates one chemical at a time, which is time-consuming and laborious. We will never catch up at the rate we’re going. –Don’t test for health effects of exposures to multiple chemicals in lots of combinations.

Opportunity: “No data, no go.” “Safer chemicals policy will foster a healthy Oregon for future generations.”  New chemicals - Manufacturers should: Provide safety data before chemicals go to market. Provide safety data before chemicals go to market. Make trade secrets public. Make trade secrets public.

Opportunity: More knowledge For existing chemicals - Public agencies should: Identify chemicals with inadequate data and assess safety. Classify chemicals according to levels of concern. Have the authority to mandate reduction and/or elimination of chemicals of highest concern. Support a multi-state chemical safety clearinghouse.

Crisis: Health Effects An example, Bisphenol A (BPA): -Over 90% of gov funded studies show significant negative health affects at low doses (more than 100 studies on the subject) -All industry funded studies claim the substance is safe.  It’s often difficult to make a direct link between toxin and disease.  But scientific evidence is mounting.  We’re seeing exceptional changes in public health: cancer, obesity, diabetes, autism, infertility, asthma.

Toxicology is advancing.  Primarily studied exposures in adult males.  The greater the dose, the bigger the effect.  One chemical at a time.  “Windows of development” - timing is critical.  Different dose- response curves.  Mixtures can amplify, change, or mute effects. Toxicology in the 1970s Toxicology today

There are chemicals in your blood, and in the blood of newborns.

Opportunity: More knowledge  “Safer chemicals policies will foster a healthy Oregon for future generations.”  Invest in more and better science. Safety data should consider the most vulnerable populations. Safety data should consider the most vulnerable populations.  We have the right to know - access. The public and regulators should be able to access all health and safety data.

Crisis: The Environment or the Economy?  Graphic – abandoned mills, unemployment lines, empty shelves

Opportunity: It isn’t either/or  “Safer chemicals policies will foster a healthy Oregon for future generations.”  Safe and clean design of chemicals, materials and products is good for businesses, workers, communities and ecosystems.  Businesses that produce safe products are gaining customers and bigger market share and creating more employment.

Example: Shower gel  What kind of soap does the river want?  Typical gel = 23 ingredients, some of which counteract the harsh effect of others.  Redesign = 9 ingredients, more expensive.  Consider the whole process - preparation, storage - =15% cheaper per unit.

Plywood Glue  A joint effort between Oregon State University and Columbia Forest Products has already developed and patented a safer non-toxic chemical alternative to formaldehyde called PureBond™, and Columbia Forest Products now produces all of its standard hardwood plywood formaldehyde-free.

There are many possibilities.  We can: Invest in institutional capacity to research alternatives. Invest in institutional capacity to research alternatives. Promote sustainable procurement policies for state, local and municipal governments and other large institutions such as hospitals, universities, and schools. Promote sustainable procurement policies for state, local and municipal governments and other large institutions such as hospitals, universities, and schools. Offer investment incentives to ensure that all communities can participate in the new green economy. Offer investment incentives to ensure that all communities can participate in the new green economy.

Yet more possibilities. Provide tax incentives for, and provide technical assistance to, firms working towards safer alternatives. Provide tax incentives for, and provide technical assistance to, firms working towards safer alternatives. Direct research and economic development dollars to promote safer alternatives, particularly in key sectors ripe for alternatives. Direct research and economic development dollars to promote safer alternatives, particularly in key sectors ripe for alternatives.

The Precautionary Principle  "When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof. The process of applying the precautionary principle must be open, informed and democratic and must include potentially affected parties. It must also involve an examination of the full range of alternatives, including no action." –1998 Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle

Many Opportunities  “No data, no go”  More information and more access to it.  Make investments, and provide incentives to do the right thing.

A Call for Safer Chemicals  Safer chemical policies will foster a healthy Oregon for future generations.”  Graphic – CHILDREN USING A SAFER PRODUCT, OR SOMETHING ACTIVE AND NOT PASSIVE.

What You Can Do  Sign on to the Call.  Work for passage of relevant legislation. Bill numbers etc Bill numbers etc  Ask your friends and business associates to sign on.  Adopt sustainable purchasing policies for your business, faith group, and local government – and do so in your own home.

Resources      Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the way we make things, by William McDonough & Michael Braungart. North Point Press, 2002.