Rubber Ducky, you’re the one…fighting to keep people safe from toxic chemicals

A giant, inflated rubber ducky graced Baltimore’s Inner Harbor yesterday, where it was clearly visible to chemical industry leaders attending the annual GlobalChem conference at the hotel next door. 

Flanked by parents, kids, nurses, and public health advocates, the brave ducky was the backdrop for a rally and press conference calling for real reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act.

NRDC was there as well, as part of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families  coalition that organized the event.  You can read a great Baltimore Sun story about the rally here.

Why confront the chemical industry with a giant rubber ducky? Chronic diseases linked to toxic chemicals are on the rise. The ducky represents the countless products that, under the current law, continue to legally contain chemicals that either have known health risks or have never been adequately tested and approved for safety. It’s time for reform of TSCA.  But what kind of reform?  That’s an important question.  

After years of defending the weak, risky current law, the industry has now joined in the call for reform.  The problem is, the actual “reform” proposals they’ve offered protect their interests while falling far short of what’s needed to protect the public.  The industry, as you might imagine, would prefer to test only a few chemicals for safety, drag out needed action by continuing to study chemicals already shown to be dangerous, and operate on the assumption that people are only exposed to chemicals one at a time.

Here’s a good summary of chemical industry positions contrasted with public health advocacy community positions from Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families. 

So when you hear chemical industry spokespeople agreeing that we need to “reform” TSCA , don’t ignore the 800 pound rubber ducky in the room.  Ask what “reform” means to them.

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