Some chemicals that are common in commercial products and processes are known to find their way into the environment and seriously (even fatally) harm human health. Yet current U.S. law makes it hard for EPA to keep companies from using them. Sometimes the chemicals used to replace them are just as bad, but the law does not even require those to be tested. A vast regime of secrecy based on unchallenged claims of "confidential business information" makes the danger to public health worse. Often, not even the EPA employees responsible for protecting people can access information about the toxic chemicals. The chemical reform bills now pending in Congress won't fix the problem.
Sharon Lerner reports for The Intercept March 3, 2016.
SEE ALSO:
"New Teflon Toxin Causes Cancer in Lab Animals" (The Intercept)
Chemical Shell Game: How DuPont Concealed Dangers of New Teflon Toxin
Source: The Intercept, 03/04/2016
