Overview
We know that it's possible to produce a water bottle that is both safe and convenient. Certainly the lining of a can of soup should keep our food fresh, but shouldn't it also pose no risk whatsoever to our health? You would think that the regulations would state that manufacturers that make these products would not only have to prove them effective, but also safe.
Yet, the truth is that no law requires the industries that produce the chemicals in these everyday products to prove that these products are safe for our communities and our children's health, and research shows that toxic chemicals do show up throughout our households and businesses, from the toner of the office copier and the lining of soup cans.
Scientific research shows that the widespread use of chemicals harms our health and the health of our children. Early-onset puberty is linked to chemicals in plastic that mimic estrogen, chemicals frequently found in cookware and clothing cause delays in a family’s ability to get pregnant, and that famous “new-car-smell” is linked to higher rates of cancer.
It’s time for a new way of doing business. Just like the FDA requires pharmaceutical companies to prove prescription drugs are safe before they can sell them, we need to require chemical companies to demonstrate that their chemical is safe before they can put it on the market. And any chemical known to be unsafe should be replaced with safer alternatives.
