Autism and the Environment 101: Online Course 17
The Role of Government in Regulating Chemicals
The federal government’s efforts to regulate chemicals for industrial and consumer use include the Toxic Substances Control Act. Enacted in 1976, the TSCA gives the Environmental Protection Agency the ability to track industrial chemicals currently produced or imported into the United States. The EPA screens these chemicals and can require reporting, testing or banning of those that may pose an environmental or human-health hazard.
A new bill would expand our protections. This is the Kid Safe Chemicals Act introduced by Senators Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Jeffords (I-VT). This Senate bill would require chemical manufacturers to provide health and safety information on chemicals used in consumer products instead of presuming a substance is safe until proven dangerous.