Jennifer Sass's Blog
Better living with better chemical policies
July 4, 2008
Posted by Jennifer Sass in Health and the Environment
Today the Economist reported on new proposed legislation in the European Union that will shift the regulation of pesticides from an assumption of "innocent until proven guilty" to a precautionary requirement that manufacturers provide data that their products can be used safely before gaining market access. This doesn't mean the product has to be inherently safe, although that is a preferable option, but rather that it must be used in a way that prevents unsafe human exposures or unsafe environmental releases.
Imagine what our nation's health would look like if this were the policy for industrial chemicals in the U.S. For example, an NRDC report advising a precautionary approach to nanotechnologies compares modern nanomaterials to asbestos, a chemical that was new in the early 20th century. Because of our reckless and widespread use of asbestos in the United States we still have more than one death per hour—approximately 10,000 per year—as a legacy from past and continuing exposure to asbestos. The global death rate is estimated to be 10 times higher.
In April, 2007 a coalition of 11 global unions together representing over 300 million members in more than 150 countries launced a 'zero cancer in the workplace' campaign, noting that "over 600,000 deaths a year – one death every 52 seconds – are caused by occupational cancer, making up almost one-third of all work-related deaths."
Modern scientists with precautionary philosophies are turning back to the lab to re-design the periodic table in a manner that is sustainable, earth-friendly, and safe. Green Chemistry, as it is often called, is a fledgling but growing field of study; these inter-disciplinary scientific visionaries will, I hope, lead us to a future where chemistry and engineering are consistent with a healthy sustainable planet. The US EPA even has Presidential Awards for green chemistry innovations.
But, what do we do with our legacy of toxic industrial chemicals? Once a chemical or substance is determined to be hazardous, then if it is persistent, bioaccumulative, or highly toxic it should not be commercialized, and all health and safety information should be fully disclosed to workers, communities, and regulators.
We cannot turn back the clock, but we can move forward with more 'smarts'.
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- Jennifer Sass
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- Washington, D.C.
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