REDUCTIONS IN TOXIC CHEMICAL EXPOSURE WOULD MAKE MICHIGAN AND THE REST OF THE U.S. HEALTHIER, WEALTHIER, NEW REPORT FINDS

Reform of toxics laws could save at least $150 million annually in Michigan, billions across the nation

(Ann Arbor, MI -- January 21, 2010) - Evidence is strong and growing that chemical exposures contribute significantly to the rise in many chronic diseases, according to a new report synthesizing peer-reviewed science released today. “The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act” finds that Michiganders and all Americans would be healthier if exposure to toxic chemicals was reduced. Michiganders could conservatively save over $150 million annually in health care costs. As the debate rages over the costs of health care and its reform, the report vividly illustrates the opportunity to prevent disease and reduce health care costs by overhauling chemicals policies.

“Many families are avoiding consumer products that contain toxic chemicals where they can, but they lack sufficient information on the majority of chemicals,” said Rebecca Meuninck, Environmental Health Organizer, Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health. “Better regulation of these chemicals will reduce the incidence of disease and associated health care costs in Michigan.”

“The Health Case” documents the enormous health care costs of treating cancer, learning and developmental disabilities, asthma and other diseases linked to chemical exposures. The report shows that if a new health-based federal legislative framework to safely regulate chemicals yields even a 0.1 percent decrease in the incidence of chronic diseases—a very conservative estimate—annual U.S. health care costs would be reduced by $5 billion annually. This dollar figure is based on expected health care costs projected for 2020, and assumes full implementation of the new legislation by that year.

The primary federal law governing chemical safety is the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which has never been significantly amended since its adoption in 1976. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has identified comprehensive reform of the toxics law as a key Obama Administration priority, stating that the antiquated law fails to provide EPA with the authority it needs to ensure chemicals are safe. Of the 80,000 chemicals available for use in the U.S., EPA has been able to require safety testing on only 200. New legislation to bring the toxics law into the 21st century will soon be introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) in early 2010. Given the long delay in federal action, states such as Michigan are passing their own chemical reform policies.

“The use of chemicals is pervasive in our modern society and, when properly tested and used, they improve the quality of life for families here and throughout the world,” said U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection. “But just because chemicals have value, does not mean they are always beneficial to our health, particularly the health and maturation of young children and those whose health has already been compromised. As we work to reform TSCA, I will continue to vigorously prod industry to seek out and invest in the development of safer, more viable alternatives to hazardous chemicals and substances.”

“TSCA has failed to require testing for possible toxicity of 60,000 chemicals that were grandfathered in for use without any health safety data, plus thousands of new chemicals that have come into commerce since 1976,” said Meuninck. “Michigan’s children are not adequately protected from exposures to toxic chemicals that can cause cancer, or lead to impaired physical or mental development. We cannot afford to wait for federal action. We are working to pass the Michigan Children’s Safe Products Act to give Michigan citizens the right to know what harmful chemicals are in children’s products.”

“In Michigan the Children’s Safe Products Act would be a step in the right direction while we work towards TSCA reform. Michigan families are calling on their elected officials to reform our broken chemicals policies,” said Meuninck.

The report released today summarizes a number of peer-reviewed studies that estimate the disease burden attributable to chemical exposure. These estimates vary widely, from five percent of childhood cancer to 30 percent of childhood asthma.

“Scientific evidence is piling up, revealing how chemicals are contributing to the alarming increases we are seeing in childhood leukemia, learning disabilities, reproductive disorders and other health problems,” says Charlotte Brody, RN, National Field Director of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition and lead author of the report. “But meanwhile the federal law that is supposed to protect us has stayed frozen in time.”

Leukemia and other childhood cancers have increased by more than 20 percent since 1975. A woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is now one in eight, up from one in ten in 1973. Infertility affected 40 percent more women in 2002 than in 1982. The once-rare birth defect of undescended testicles in baby boys increased 200 percent between 1970 and 1993. Since the early 1990s, reported cases of autism spectrum disorder have increased tenfold.

“As a mother of three I am concerned with the growing evidence linking exposure to hazardous chemicals to many chronic diseases,” said Jackie Igafo-T’eo, Learning Disabilities Association of Michigan’s Healthy Children Project. “My middle son has Autism, Asthma, and Bipolar Disorder. As a parent I should be able to have control over what chemicals my children are exposed to.”

The Safer Chemicals, Healthy Family report concludes, “in simplest terms, real [TSCA] reform will lead to more healthy babies, fewer women with breast cancer, a return toward normal fertility patterns, and lower numbers of people with Alzheimer’s disease. This is the promise of TSCA reform.”

The full report, additional quotes and state-based economic information is available at www.saferchemicals.org

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