SAFE CHEMICAL POLICIES
April 10, 2013 Senator Lautenburg, (D-NJ), reintroduced the “Safe Chemicals Act”. This is a long over due bill to reform the Toxic Chemical Substance Act of 1976 (TSCA). The EPA currently has little authority to actually ban or even regulate toxic chemicals and more importantly, American citizens do not have the means to be informed regarding what toxic chemicals are in the products they purchase. Reforming the TSCA legislation has been a difficult task due to the strong lobbying of the American Chemistry Council and manufacturers. However, the time may be now as the Safe Chemicals Act has a good start with 29 co-sponsors.
http://www.lautenberg.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=341330&
Neonatal Nurses need to be involved in the debate over toxic chemicals. We see and treat 2 of the most vulnerable populations: pregnant women and infants. The science is overwhelming regarding the reproductive effects of many of the toxic chemicals that are in our everyday products. Safer Chemicals Healthy Families is a coalition of organizations seeking to safe guard the public against toxic chemicals through education and legislative action. Currently they are asking for constituents to contact their senators and request them to co-sponsor Sen. Lautenberg’s Safe Chemicals Act. http://www.saferchemicals.org/safe-chemicals-act/index.html
As advocacy groups work at the federal level, individual states are starting to look at ways to ban and/or regulate toxic chemicals in their own states. Advocating at a state level can often be more successful as the legislators are in closer contact with their constituents. So far 26 states are considering toxic chemical legislation in 2013. http://www.saferstates.com/states_in_the_lead/
Nurses can have a much closer relationship with their state representative and state senator then at the federal level, in advocating on the health risks of toxic chemicals in children’s products. Discussing the health effects of toxic flame retardants, bisphenol A, cadmium and lead in baby products, food containers, furniture and clothing can leave a powerful message. Scientific evidence has clearly shown relationships between such toxic chemicals and miscarriages, low birth weight, hormonal disruptions and neurological deficits. Nurses need to share their expertise with legislators, consumers and advocacy groups to help interpret the science behind the research and what this can mean for public health outcomes. Nursing practice is evidenced based. As more evidence is emerging linkng specific health conditions to chemical exposures we must be involved at all levels in affecting change.