TSCA

Mesothelioma Awareness Day: Our Past Must Dictate the Future

Charles MacGregor,

September 25, 2017 6:08 PM EDT

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that asbestos isn’t good for you. The mineral is a known carcinogen and has been tied to thousands of deaths from mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases. On average, close to 3,000 people each year in the United States are diagnosed with mesothelioma. And for those unfortunate enough to be diagnosed with the incredibly rare disease, the results are often not good. Patients are usually given a grim prognosis averaging somewhere between 12 and 21 months. Read more >

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Why Senator Lankford’s “BEST Act” Is Really the Worst for Federal Science

, Washington representative, Center for Science and Democracy

April 3, 2017 5:22 PM EDT

A few weeks ago, Sen. James Lankford (OK) introduced legislation called the “Better Evaluation of Science and Technology Act,” or “BEST Act” for short. The proposal takes the scientific standards language from the recently updated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and applies it to the Administrative Procedures Act (which governs all federal rulemaking). Sen. Lankford claims the BEST Act would guarantee that federal agencies use the best available science to protect public health, safety, the environment, and more.

Nice sound bite, right? Read more >

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Transatlantic Trade: What the Latest Leak Means for Science-Based Safeguards

, Washington representative, Center for Science and Democracy

May 6, 2016 3:54 PM EDT

On Monday, Greenpeace Netherlands released 248 pages of leaked documents from the ongoing negotiations of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the United States and the European Union. The documents reveal a lot of interesting information, and also seemed to confirm some of the concerns my UCS colleagues and many of our partners have had about this trade deal. Read more >

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“Excuse Me, Sir, Are There Chemicals in That?” Why TSCA Reform Needs to Improve Our Chemical Safety

, Research Director, Center for Science and Democracy

November 6, 2015 3:32 PM EDT

As any air traffic controller will tell you, sometimes having more information can be a burden.  As a pregnant environmental engineer with pollutant exposure knowledge, I’ve never been more convinced of this.  Knowing that there are chemicals in the environment that could be harmful to my growing baby makes me hyper-aware of what I’m exposed to, for how long, and at what quantities. Read more >

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New Report Illuminates the American Chemistry Council’s Efforts to Undermine the Chemical Policies that Protect Us

, Research Director, Center for Science and Democracy

July 15, 2015 11:19 AM EDT

I always assumed that if chemicals were in use, they were safe. As a child, I’d play in the grass despite pesticide warning signs and never thought about my water bottle’s material. If there was evidence that the chemicals were harmful, we wouldn’t be allowed to use them, right? This is, of course, how it should work. But the reality is that special interests can get in the way of public health protections when it comes to our chemical policies. My new report shows just how harmful that influence can be. Read more >

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