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Cancers, birth defects, childhood asthma, learning and behavior disorders, even obesity and early puberty, are ever more prevalent in our society. Each of these conditions has links to chemicals in wide use in common consumer products, released to our air and water, or in toxic waste sites right in our neighborhoods. We are working to ensure that the American public has full knowledge about chemical use and risks, to reduce or eliminate the use of chemicals that are known hazards, and to require polluters to pay for the clean up of toxic waste sites to eliminate the health risk posed to the public.
Campaigns:
Exposing Toxics Use: The Bush administration has proposed to hide pollution from the public by weakening the toxics release inventory program, which provides the public with basic information about toxic pollution.
Getting Rid Of The Worst First: In order to adequately protect human health and the environment, we must phase out the most hazardous chemicals on the market, and replacing them with safer alternatives.
Ending Chemical Accidents: Across the U.S., thousands of industrial facilities use and store hazardous chemicals in quantities that could put large numbers of Americans at risk of serious injury or death. Chemical plants should use safer chemicals or technology to prevent an off-site consequence of an accident or an attack.
Cleaning Up Toxic Waste: One in four Americans, including 10 million children, lives within four miles of a Superfund site. Congress must restore the law’s polluter pays fees to fully fund these clean ups and protect the public health.
Stop Testing Pesticides On People: The Bush administration is using dangerous, unethical and unscientific pesticide tests conducted on humans.
Protecting Our Food Safety Net: In the days of bird flu and mad cow disease, we need to be more vigilant about the safety of our food supply, not less. Unfortunately, the food industry is working to nullify 200 proven state and local food safety and right-to-know requirements.
Eliminating the Worst Toxic Chemicals: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are perhaps the world's most dangerous toxic chemicals, including dioxins, PCBs, and DDT. They cause cancer, birth defects, and a host of other health problems. Because POPs degrade slowly, they can travel long distances and accumulate up the food chain. The U.S. must lead the way to establish international rules to protect the public health.
In The States:
News Releases:
House Protects Public’s Right to Know About Toxic Pollution 5/19/06
DuPont Shareholders Demand Options for Improved Chemical Plant Safety 4/26/06
2004 TRI Data Shows Increase in Water Pollution EPA Proposal Would Keep Public in the Dark 4/12/06
Rep. Solis’ “POPs” Bill: A True Step Forward Toward Protecting Public Health and the Environment 2/17/06
Statement of Meghan Purvis, Environmental Health Advocate, Human Pesticides Testing Rule 1/27/06
Reports:
Preventing Toxic Terrorism: How Some Chemical Facilities Are Removing Danger To American Communities 4/25/06
Undisclosed Pollution: Local Impacts of the Bush Administration’s Attack on the Toxics Release Inventory Program 12/1/05
The Right Start: The Need to Eliminate Toxic Chemicals from Baby Products 10/12/05
