Richard Denison, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist.
The Consumer Specialty Products Association found some nice things to say about it. DuPont did too. Even the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association acknowledged some improvements.
And the American Chemistry Council? Read More
Richard Denison, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist.
It’s only a little more than 30 miles from Washington, DC to Annapolis, the Capitol of the State of Maryland. But to judge from testimony given there on February 24 and March 1 by representatives of the chemical, formulated products and food industries, you’d think Annapolis existed in a parallel universe, with only a passing resemblance to the one in DC.
The occasions were hearings on companion bills introduced into the Maryland State Senate, SB 637, and the State House of Delegates, HB 759, titled the “Healthy Kids, Healthy Maryland – Toxic Chemical Identification and Reduction.”
Actually, the industry associations’ testimonies suggest either of two alternative universes. In one of them, Maryland should do nothing to address dangerous chemical exposures because the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and other related laws are working quite well, thank you very much. Residing in this parallel universe are the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the American Cleaning Institute (ACI, until recently the more accurately named Soap and Detergent Association), the Maryland Industrial Technology Alliance and the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA).
In the other parallel universe, Maryland should do nothing to address dangerous chemical exposures because it will only get in the way of TSCA reform, which is just around the corner. Inhabiting this alternative universe are the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), the Can Manufacturers Institute, and yes – as another indication that it just can’t quite make up its mind about TSCA reform – once again, the American Chemistry Council. Read More
Richard Denison, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist.
A couple of weeks ago, a short letter was sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under this rather unusual letterhead:
The letter noted: “Our three organizations have been working together to discuss how best to achieve effective processor reporting of use and exposure information, which is a clear demonstration of our mutual interest in providing EPA with reliable use and exposure information on chemicals in commerce.”
What's up with that? Read More
Richard Denison, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist.
Over the last few months, I was heartened to hear a number of industry stakeholders in the debate over TSCA reform embrace the idea of designating in TSCA reform legislation a "jump-start" or "quick-start" list of chemicals of high concern or priority. The idea was to allow EPA to hit the ground running, by having an agreed-to list of chemicals on which it could immediately initiate action. Well, it now appears many in industry actually have something far slower and far more cumbersome in mind. Read More
Science, health, and business experts at Environmental Defense Fund comment on chemical and nanotechnology issues of the day.
Effective April, 2009, we have expanded the scope of our blog to encompass our work and perspectives on both chemicals and nanomaterials.
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