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

Chemicals Policy ReformChemicals Policy ReformWhy You Should CareWhy You Should Care

By Clean and Green OregonBy Clean and Green Oregon Graphic – all our logosGraphic – all our logos

Is it safe?Is it safe?

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

The system is broken.The system is broken.

Broken watchBroken watch

Crisis and OpportunityCrisis and Opportunity

Three CrisesThree Crises

1. The regulatory system is broken.1. The regulatory system is broken.

2. We learn more about the health effects 2. We learn more about the health effects of toxic chemicals every day.of toxic chemicals every day.

3. We worry about the cost of cleaning up. 3. We worry about the cost of cleaning up.

Crisis: The system is brokenCrisis: 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, Comprehensive Environmental Response,

Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund)Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund)• Toxic Substances Control ActToxic Substances Control Act• Federal insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act Federal insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act

(FIFRA)(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 ActThe Toxic Substances Control Act

1976 - “Tosca”1976 - “Tosca”– Screen new and existing chemicals.Screen new and existing chemicals.– IdentifyIdentify hazardous product or uses. hazardous product or uses.– 62,000 chemicals in 197962,000 chemicals in 1979– Now, 82,000 chemicals inventoriedNow, 82,000 chemicals inventoried– 3,000 of them are used in quantities 3,000 of them are used in quantities

of more than 1M pounds/year. of more than 1M pounds/year.

The EPAThe EPA– Cost benefit analysis doesn’t consider health Cost benefit analysis doesn’t consider health

effects. effects. – EPA accepts the data the manufacture supplies, EPA accepts the data the manufacture supplies,

however incomplete it may be.however incomplete it may be.– Manufacturers supply the data, but are allowed to Manufacturers supply the data, but are allowed to

keep “trade secrets.” keep “trade secrets.” – Must prove a chemical is risky before can get more Must prove a chemical is risky before can get more

data to prove risk.data to prove risk.– Regulates one chemical at a time, which is time-Regulates one chemical at a time, which is time-

consuming and laborious. We will never catch up consuming and laborious. We will never catch up at the rate we’re going.at the rate we’re going.

– Don’t test for health effects of exposures to Don’t test for health effects of exposures to multiple chemicals in lots of combinations .multiple chemicals in lots of combinations .

Opportunity: Opportunity: “No data, no go.”“No data, no go.”

““Safer chemicals policy will foster a healthy Safer chemicals policy will foster a healthy Oregon for future generations.”Oregon for future generations.”

New chemicalsNew chemicals - Manufacturers should: - Manufacturers should: Provide safety data before chemicals Provide safety data before chemicals

go to market. go to market. Make trade secrets public.Make trade secrets public.

Opportunity: Opportunity: More knowledgeMore knowledge

For existing chemicals -For existing chemicals - Public agencies should: Public agencies should:

Identify chemicals with inadequate data and Identify chemicals with inadequate data and assess safety.assess safety.

Classify chemicals according to levels of Classify chemicals according to levels of concern. concern.

Have the authority to mandate reduction and/or Have the authority to mandate reduction and/or elimination of chemicals of highest concern. elimination of chemicals of highest concern.

Support a multi-state chemical safety Support a multi-state chemical safety clearinghouse.clearinghouse.

Crisis: Health EffectsCrisis: Health Effects

An example, An example, Bisphenol A (BPA):Bisphenol A (BPA):

-Over 90% of gov -Over 90% of gov funded studies funded studies show significant show significant negative health negative health affects at low doses affects at low doses (more than 100 (more than 100 studies on the studies on the subject)subject)

-All industry funded -All industry funded studies claim the studies claim the substance is safe.substance is safe.

It’s often difficult to make It’s often difficult to make a direct link between a direct link between toxin and disease.toxin and disease.

But scientific evidence is But scientific evidence is mounting.mounting.

We’re seeing exceptional We’re seeing exceptional changes in public health: changes in public health: cancer, obesity, diabetes, cancer, obesity, diabetes, autism, infertility, asthma.autism, infertility, asthma.

Toxicology is advancing. Toxicology is advancing.

Primarily studied Primarily studied exposures in adult exposures in adult males.males.

The greater the The greater the dose, the bigger dose, the bigger the effect.the effect.

One chemical at a One chemical at a time.time.

““Windows of Windows of development” - development” - timing is critical.timing is critical.

Different dose-Different dose-response curves.response curves.

Mixtures can Mixtures can amplify, change, or amplify, change, or mute effects.mute effects.

Toxicology in the 1970sToxicology in the 1970s Toxicology todayToxicology today

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

newborns.newborns.

Opportunity:Opportunity:More knowledgeMore knowledge

““Safer chemicals policies will foster a Safer chemicals policies will foster a healthy Oregon for future generations.”healthy Oregon for future generations.”

Invest in more and better science.Invest in more and better science.Safety data should consider the most Safety data should consider the most vulnerable populations. vulnerable populations.

We have the right to know - access. We have the right to know - access. The public and regulators should be able to The public and regulators should be able to access all health and safety data.access all health and safety data.

Crisis: Crisis: The Environment or the The Environment or the

Economy?Economy?

Graphic – abandoned mills, Graphic – abandoned mills, unemployment lines, empty shelvesunemployment lines, empty shelves

Opportunity: Opportunity: It isn’t either/orIt isn’t either/or

““Safer chemicals policies will foster a Safer chemicals policies will foster a healthy Oregon for future generations.”healthy Oregon for future generations.”

Safe and clean design of chemicals, materials Safe and clean design of chemicals, materials and products is good for businesses, workers, and products is good for businesses, workers, communities and ecosystems. communities and ecosystems.

Businesses that produce safe products are Businesses that produce safe products are gaining customers and bigger market share gaining customers and bigger market share and creating more employment.and creating more employment.

Example:Example:Shower gelShower gel

What kind of soap does the river What kind of soap does the river want?want?

Typical gel = 23 ingredients, some of Typical gel = 23 ingredients, some of which counteract the harsh effect of which counteract the harsh effect of others.others.

Redesign = 9 ingredients, more expensive.Redesign = 9 ingredients, more expensive. Consider the whole process - preparation, Consider the whole process - preparation,

storage - =15% cheaper per unit. storage - =15% cheaper per unit.

Plywood GluePlywood Glue

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

There are many possibilities.There are many possibilities.

We can:We can: Invest in institutional capacity to research Invest in institutional capacity to research

alternatives.alternatives. Promote sustainable procurement policies for Promote sustainable procurement policies for

state, local and municipal governments and state, local and municipal governments and other large institutions such as hospitals, other large institutions such as hospitals, universities, and schools.universities, and schools.

Offer investment incentives to ensure that all Offer investment incentives to ensure that all communities can participate in the new green communities can participate in the new green economy.economy.

Yet more possibilities.Yet more possibilities.

Provide tax incentives for, and provide technical Provide tax incentives for, and provide technical assistance to, firms working towards safer assistance to, firms working towards safer alternatives.alternatives.

Direct research and economic development dollars to Direct research and economic development dollars to promote safer alternatives, particularly in key sectors promote safer alternatives, particularly in key sectors ripe for alternatives.ripe for alternatives.

The Precautionary PrincipleThe Precautionary Principle "When an activity raises threats of harm to human "When an activity raises threats of harm to human

health or the environment, precautionary measures health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context the proponent of an activity, rather than this context the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof. The the public, should bear the burden of proof. The process of applying the precautionary principle must process of applying the precautionary principle must be open, informed and democratic and must include be open, informed and democratic and must include potentially affected parties. It must also involve an potentially affected parties. It must also involve an examination of the full range of alternatives, examination of the full range of alternatives, including no action."including no action." – 1998 Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle1998 Wingspread Statement on the Precautionary Principle

Many OpportunitiesMany Opportunities

““No data, no go”No data, no go”

More information and more access to it. More information and more access to it.

Make investments, and provide Make investments, and provide incentives to do the right thing.incentives to do the right thing.

A Call for Safer ChemicalsA Call for Safer Chemicals

Safer chemical policies will foster a Safer chemical policies will foster a healthy Oregon for future generations.”healthy Oregon for future generations.”

Graphic – Graphic – CHILDREN USING A SAFER CHILDREN USING A SAFER PRODUCT, OR SOMETHING ACTIVE PRODUCT, OR SOMETHING ACTIVE AND NOT PASSIVE.AND NOT PASSIVE.

What You Can DoWhat You Can Do

Sign on to the Call. Sign on to the Call. Work for passage of relevant legislation.Work for passage of relevant legislation.

Bill numbers etcBill numbers etc Ask your friends and business associates to Ask your friends and business associates to

sign on. sign on. Adopt sustainable purchasing policies for Adopt sustainable purchasing policies for

your business, faith group, and local your business, faith group, and local government – and do so in your own home.government – and do so in your own home.

ResourcesResources

www.oregonpsr.orgwww.oregonpsr.org www.oeconline.orgwww.oeconline.org www.ota.orgwww.ota.org www.oregon-health.orgwww.oregon-health.org

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