8.4 Chemical Policy Reform


In reading the Louisville Charter for Safer Chemicals Policy, it reminded me off learning about all the toxic and harmful chemicals in my beauty products, the extensive list of chemicals found in umbilicord blood and how maddening it was to read about how there was little to no government regulation on a majority of these chemicals. The most important chemical laws are the ones that enacted and put in place for the community's welfare and provides protection of every individual's health against harmful effects of  household, personal products, clothes, pesticides and all other chemicals put on the market. The elements of this safer chemicals policy that stand out to me the most is the requirement to provide a comprehensive safety data on all chemicals before they are placed on the market or to remain on the market. The tagline, " No Data, No Market" says it all. We live in a world where driverless cars are a possibility and of sending people to Mars, it is hard to imagine safer alternatives to chemicals are not possible. Our country is full of bright innovative scientists who can find safer cost-effective alternative chemicals for use in the community and the environment. The requirement for safer substitutes and solutions is another element that stands out. All the elements in this policy reform are equally important to make the shift towards enacting the necessary laws to protect all people and the environment. The government needs to hold all companies accountable that put harmful chemicals on the market or use harmful chemicals by punishing them with large fines and banning their products at all cost. The only way this will be possible is with federal laws and regulations firmly in place.

Comments

  1. Krissy PamatmatOctober 20, 2017 at 2:48 PM

    Hi Mayra,

    I also like the fifth reform that was mentioned in the Louisville Charter's website. I think it is important for the manufacturers to be transparent and provide safety information about the chemicals that they use in their products. They government need to enforce these regulations and they should not let the manufacturers sell their product if they didn't follow the regulations. I agree that the government should punish companies that put harmful chemicals on the market by asking them to pay large fines and banning their products.

    - Krissy

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