ABOUT

Smart discussion of the latest science and news on toxins in your food, water, and air, and what government agencies should be doing to protect public health. Written by EWG staff.

DONATE TO EWG TODAY

We need you to help protect your health and environment!  Please donate $5 to EWG today.

GET EWG'S TIPS & ACTION ALERTS

Sign Up here to receive email updates and tips from EWG and stay informed on the issues that matter most to you.

Get EWG widgets & blog badges.

ENVIROBLOG TO YOU

 Enviroblog in your Reader

ENVIROBLOG VIA EMAIL

Delivered by FeedBurner

You could (almost) eat this furniture

Is your sunscreen in EWG's Sunscreen Hall of Shame?

Fracking: Live chat with EWG & 'Gasland' director Josh Fox

Understanding Sunscreen: 4 Questions about SPF

SEARCH ENVIROBLOG

FIND PAST POSTS

select month July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004

FEATURED

Why, oh why is there plastic in my aluminum water bottle?

Cell phone radiation series - Part 2: 8 Ways to reduce your exposure

So what products CAN we use?

Infant formula: How to choose it & use it

EWG's Tips for Parents: The Series

EWG's Tips to avoid BPA exposure

Let's talk some serious shop about TSCA reform

EWG on TV

Cutting the Pork from U.S. Farm Bill

Toxic Tub?

Sunscreen safety & DC drinking water

Perchlorate in people, kids' personal care products & plastics, and sunscreen

BPA in baby formula & safe cosmetics

Ask EWG

What can I do about fluoride in my water?

What is new carpet treated with? What can I do?

What is "fragrance"?

Which infant formula is best?

Are stainless steel water bottles safe?

Is mineral-based makeup safer?

Ask EWG Archives

PEOPLE TALKING TOXICS

Breast Cancer Fund

The Daily Green

Eco Child's Play

Environmental Defense Fund

Green Moms Carnival

Grist

Healthy Child, Healthy World

Huffington Post Green

NRDC's Switchboard

Organic.org

Safer States

TreeHugger

TALK TO US

Did we miss something? Email Enviroblog.

« Blue Vinyl: Good movie. Bad plastic. | Main | Help EWG do bottled water research - and win a prize! »

Thank you, Administrator Jackson

By Nils Bruzelius, EWG Executive Editor

It's not news that getting anything substantive through Congress these days is like pushing very big rocks uphill, even when there is remarkable consensus on a topic.

That's why a broad array of organizations that care about people's health came together this week to thank Administrator Lisa P. Jackson of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for her principled and vigorous efforts to advance comprehensive reform of our broken system for regulating hazardous chemicals.

In a letter dated March 10, they wrote to her:

"We welcome the core principles you announced on September 29, 2009 in San Francisco that outlined the Obama Administration's plan to overhaul the nation's chemical regulatory program and give EPA greater authority to protect the public.

Our organizations and supporters applaud the Administration's intention to transform our country's chemical regulatory system and decision to make TSCA reform a top priority."

The letter's signers, who represent millions of members and supporters, have been urging members of Congress in hearings and through personal contact to introduce and take prompt action on a bill to correct the well-known failings of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act.

Environmental Working Group, which led the effort to recognize Administrator Jackson's initiative and commitment to reform, has long advocated for a thorough rewriting of the outdated law. In particular, EWG is urging adoption of a risk-based approach that gives priority to controlling all substances known to contaminate human bodies, particularly those chemicals detected in umbilical cord blood of newborn infants - the most vulnerable members of society.

So thank you, Lisa Jackson. We'll help in every way we can.

The full text of the letter and list of signers follows.

* * *

The Honorable Lisa P. Jackson
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Dear Administrator Jackson:

We, the undersigned organizations, sincerely thank you for your announced commitment to reforming the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Collectively, our groups represent millions of members, supporters and activists.

As you are aware, studies examining umbilical cord blood show American infants are being born with hundreds of industrial chemicals, pesticides and other pollutants already in their bodies. Some of these chemicals have been linked to a variety of adverse health effects including asthma, allergies, childhood cancer, obesity, infertility, birth defects and neurological disorders. These children are living proof that the current law is failing our country's most vulnerable.

In January 2009, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) identified TSCA as a government program in urgent need of reform and placed it on its "High Risk" list. The GAO report recommended the EPA be given more authority to obtain information critical to assessing the risks chemicals pose to human health and found:

• TSCA's regulatory structure impedes EPA's efforts to control toxic chemicals.
• EPA lacks sufficient data on potential health and environment risks of toxic chemicals. Under current law, chemicals are considered safe until proven otherwise.

Recognizing the consequences of this regulatory failure, government leaders, health professionals, children's health experts, environmental, consumer advocacy groups and faith-based organizations are supporting congressional efforts to reform TSCA.

We welcome the core principles you announced on September 29, 2009 in San Francisco that outlined the Obama Administration's plan to overhaul the nation's chemical regulatory program and give EPA greater authority to protect the public.

Our organizations and supporters applaud the Administration's intention to transform our country's chemical regulatory system and decision to make TSCA reform a top priority.

We appreciate and look forward to your continued leadership as we embark on passing historic legislation aimed at providing greater protection for all Americans in the near future and for generations to come.

Respectfully,

Allergy Kids
American Academy of Environmental Medicine
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Autism One
Autism Society of Illinois
Autism Society of Western New York
Breast Cancer Network of Western New York
Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future Citizens for Environmental Justice
Community Against Pollution
Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology
Developmental Delay Resources
Environmental Working Group
First Signs, Inc.
Iowa Breast Cancer Edu-Action
National Autism Association
Oregon Environmental Council
Plains Justice
Schafer Autism Report
The Rachel Carson Homestead Association
The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation
US Autism & Asperger Association

« Blue Vinyl: Good movie. Bad plastic. |