Toward a new U.S. chemicals policy: Rebuilding the foundation to advance new science, green chemistry, and environmental health

Environmental Health Perspectives

Volumn 117, Issue 8, 2009, Pages 1202-1209

  Wilson, Michael P ^a   Schwarzman, Megan R ^a  

^a Berkeley   (United States)

Author keywords

Chemicals policy; Data gap; Environmental health; Green chemistry; Innovation; REACH; Safety gap; Sustainability; Technology gap; TSCA

Indexed keywords

TOXIC SUBSTANCE;

CHEMICAL INDUSTRY; DANGEROUS GOODS; ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH; ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GOVERNMENT; HEALTH HAZARD; INFORMATION PROCESSING; INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH; INVESTMENT; LEGAL ASPECT; POLICY; PRIORITY JOURNAL; PUBLIC HEALTH; RESPONSIBILITY; REVIEW; SAFETY; SCIENCE; TECHNOLOGY; UNITED STATES;

CHEMICAL INDUSTRY; ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH; ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION; HUMANS; POLICY MAKING; UNITED STATES;

EID: 69249084942     PISSN: 00916765     EISSN: 15529924     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0800404     Document Type: Review

References (98)

1. Aftalion F. 2001. A History of the International Chemical Industry. Philadelphia:Chemical Heritage Press.
2. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 2003. 2003 CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances. Atlanta, GA:Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Available: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ cercla/ [accessed 30 January 2009].
3. American Chemistry Council. 2003. Guide to the Business of Chemistry. Arlington, VA:American Chemistry Council.
4. Anastas P, Warner J. 1998. Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice. New York:Oxford University Press.
5. Arora A, Landau R, Rosenberg N. 1998. Chemicals and LongTerm Economic Growth: Insights from the Chemical Industry. New York:John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
6. Ashford N. 2000. An innovation-based strategy for a sustainable environment. In: Innovation-Oriented Environmental Regulation: Theoretical Approach and Empirical Analysis (Hemmelskamp J, Rennings K, Leone F, eds). New York:Springer-Verlag.
7. Barr D, Bishop A, Needham L. 2007. Concentrations of xenobiotic chemicals in the maternal-fetal unit. Reprod Toxicol 23(3):260-266.
8. Bay K, Asklund C, Skakkebaek N, Andersson A. 2006. Testicular dysgenesis syndrome: possible role of endocrine disrupters. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 20:77-90.
9. Black H. 2008. Chemical reaction: the U.S. response to REACH. Environ Health Perspect 116:A127. Available: http://www.ehponline.org/members/ 2008/116-3/spheres.html [accessed 30 January 2009].
10. Block F, Keller M. 2008. Where Do Innovations Come From? Transformations in the U.S. National Innovation System, 1970-2006. Washington, DC:Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Available: http://www.itif.org/index.php?id=158 [accessed 30 January 2009].
11. Brown VJ. 2003. REACHing for chemical safety. Environ Health Perspect 111:A766-A769. Available: http://www.ehponline.org/members/2003/111-14/ spheres.html [accessed 30 January 2009].
12. Buckland D. 2008. Within REACH: Under REACH, new environmentally-friendly substances will become commercially more attractive. Industry Week, 21 July. Available: http://www.industryweek.com/PrintArticle.aspx?ArticleID=16841 [accessed 30 January 2009].
13. Cal EPA. 2004. Intra-Agency Environmental Justice Strategy. Sacramento:California Environmental Protection Agency. Available: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/EnvJustice/Documents/2004/Strategy/Final.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
14. CDC. 2005. National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals: Third Report. Atlanta, GA:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available: http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/report.htm [accessed 30 January 2009].
15. Chemical Strategies Partnership. 2004. Chemical Management Services Industry Report 2004: Creating Value Through Service. San Francisco:Chemical Strategies Partnership. Available: http://www.chemicalstrategies.org/resources_industry. htm [accessed 30 January 2009].
16. Clean Air Act of 1963. 1963. Public Law 88-206.
17. Clean Water Act of 1966. 1966. Public Law 89-753.
18. Cone M. 2006. U.S. rules allow sale of products others ban. Chemical-laden good outlawed in Europe and Japan are permitted in the American market. Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA) 6 October: A1.
19. Cone M. 2008a. A Greener Future: Part 1. Products derived from natural, nontoxic ingredients - once seen as fringe - are now mainstream. Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA) 14 September. Available: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/ la-me-greenchem14-2008sep14,0,5897268,full.story [accessed 30 January 2009].
20. Cone M. 2008b. A Greener Future: Part 2. Most industries remain dependent on hazardous substances. Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA) 19 September. Available: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/ la-me-greenchem192008sep19,0,4450885,full.story [accessed 30 January 2009].
21. Cone M. 2008c. Potential environmental risks aren't part of chemical engineers' training. Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA) 19 September. Available: http://articles.latimes.com/2008/sep/19/local/ me-greenchemside19 [accessed 30 January 2009].
22. Council for Chemical Research. 1996. Technology Vision 2020: The U.S. Chemical Industry. Washington, DC:American Chemical Society, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Chemical Manufacturers Association, Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association. Available: http://www.chemicalvision2020.org/whatis.html [accessed 30 January 2009].
23. Denison R. 2007. High Hopes, Low Marks: A Final Report Card on the HPV Challenge. Washington, DC:Environmental Defense Fund. Available: http://www.edf.org/documents/6653_HighHopesLowMarks.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
24. Denison R. 2008. Environmental Defense Fund's Comments on ChAMP: EPA's Recent Commitments and Possible New Initiatives for Existing Chemicals. Docket EPA-HQ-OPPT- 2008-0319. Available: http://www.edf.org/documents/ 7871_Comments_ChAMP_May08.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
25. Denison R. 2009. Ten Essential Elements in TSCA Reform. Available: http://www.edf.org/documents/9070_Denison_10_%20Elements_TSCA_Reform.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
26. Denison R, Florini K. 2004. Facing the Challenge: A Status Report on the U.S. HPV Challenge Program. Washington, DC:Environmental Defense. Available: http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/ 3816_HPVorphansExec.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
27. Department of Toxic Substances Control. 2007. Failed Land Disposal Units: A Twenty Year Retrospective. Sacramento, CA:California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Toxic Substances Control.
28. Dernbach J. 1997. The unfocused regulation of toxic and hazardous pollutants. Harvard Law Review 21(1):1-57.
29. DeVito S, Garrett R. 1998. Designing Safer Chemicals: Green Chemistry for Pollution Prevention. Washington, DC:American Chemical Society.
30. Doucet J, Tague B, Arnold DL, Cooke GM, Hayward S, Goodyear C. 2009. Persistent organic pollutant residues in human fetal liver and placenta from greater Montreal, Quebec: a longitudinal study from 1998 through 2006. Environ Health Perspect 117:605-610.
31. Echikson W. 2006. Europe fines chemical firms $489.8 million for bleach cartel. Wall Street Journal (New York, NY). 4 May: A2.
32. Energy & Enviro Finland. 2008. Russia harmonizes its chemical regulation with EU REACH. Energy and Enviro Finland, 17 July. Available: http://www.energy-enviro.fi/index.php?PAGE=1832&NODE_ID= 1832&LANG=1 [accessed 30 January 2009].
33. Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986. 1986. Toxics Release Inventory [section 313]. Public Law 99-499.
34. European Commission. 2008. What is REACH? Available: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_intro. htm [accessed 30 January 2009].
35. European Commission, Environment Directorate General. 2003. Assessment of the Impact of the New Chemicals Policy on Occupational Health - Final Report. Norfolk, UK:Risk and Policy Analysts Limited. Available: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/background/docs/ finrep_occ_health.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
36. Geiser K. 2001. Materials Matter. Cambridge, MA:MIT Press.
37. Goldman L. 2002. Preventing pollution? U.S. toxic chemicals and pesticides policies and sustainable development. Environ Law Rev 32:11018-11041.
38. Grandjean P, Bellinger D, Bergman A, Cordier S, Davey-Smith G, Eskenazi B, et al. 2007. The Faroes Statement: human health effects of developmental exposure to chemicals in our environment. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 102:73-75. Available: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/ doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1742-7843.2007.00114.x [accessed 30 January 2009].
39. Green Chemistry Initiative. 2008. Green Chemistry Option for the State of California. Report from the Green Chemistry Science Advisory Panel to Department of Toxic Substances Control Director Maureen Gorsen. Sacramento, CA:California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Toxic Substances Control. Available: http://www.dtsc. ca.gov/ PollutionPrevention/GreenChemistryInitiative/upload/SAP_Report.pdf [accessed 3 January 2009].
40. Guth J. 2008. Law for the ecological age. Vermont J Environ Law 9(3):431-512.
41. Guth J, Denison R, Sass J. 2007. Require comprehensive safety data for all chemicals. New Solut 17(3):233-258.
42. Henzelmann T, Mehner S, Zwelt T. 2007. Innovative environmental growth markets from a company perspective. Research project on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency (UFOPLAN 206 14-132/04). Available: http://www.rolandberger.com/expertise/industries/ environmental_technology/2007-11-01rbsc-pub-Innovative_ environmental_growthr̄kets.html [accessed 30 January 2009].
43. Herbert R, Landrigan PJ. 2000. Work-related death: a continuing epidemic. Am J Public Health 90(4):541-545.
44. Hertz-Picciotto I, Delwiche L. 2009. The rise in autism and the role of age at diagnosis. Epidemiology 20(1). Available: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/cceh/Epipaper1208.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
45. Iles A. 2006. Shifting to green chemistry: the need for innovations in sustainability marketing. Business Strategy and the Environment, 21 July. Available: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/112728523/ abstract [accessed 30 January 2009].
46. LaDou J. 1997. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2nd ed. Stamford, CT:Appleton and Lange.
47. LaMonica M. 2007. Green chemistry's 'race to innovation.' CNET News, 12 November. Available: http://news.cnet.com/Greenchemistrys- race-to-innovation/2100-13838_3-6217663.html [accessed 30 January 2009].
48. Lancaster M. 2002. Green Chemistry: An Introductory Text. Cambridge, UK:Royal Society of Chemistry.
49. Leigh J, Markowitz S, Fahs M, Shin C, Landrigan P. 1997. Occupational injury and illness in the United States: Estimates of costs, morbidity and mortality. Arch Intern Med 157:1557-1568.
50. Lempert R, Norling P, Pernin C, Resetar S, Mahnovski S. 2003. Next Generation Environmental Technologies: Benefits and Barriers. Arlington, VA:RAND Corporation.
51. Loewenberg S. 2006. U.S. chemical companies leave their mark on EU law. Lancet 367(9510):556-557.
52. Main K, Mortensen G, Kaleva M, Boisen K, Damgaard I, Chellakooty M, et al. 2006. Human breast milk contamination with phthlates and alterations in endogenous reproductive hormones in infants three months of age. Environ Health Perspect 114:270-276.
53. Matus K, Anastas P, Clark W, Itameri-Kinter K. 2007. Overcoming the Challenges to the Implementation of Green Chemistry. Harvard Center for International Development Working Paper No. 155. Available: http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidwp/155.htm [accessed 30 January 2009].
54. Michaels D. 2008. Doubt Is Their Product: How Industry's Assault on Science Threatens Your Health. New York: Oxford University Press.
55. NRC (National Research Council). 1984. Toxicology Testing: Strategies to Determine Needs and Priorities. Washington, DC:National Academies Press. Available: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309034337 [accessed 30 January 2009].
56. NRC (National Research Council). 1992. Critical Technologies: The Role of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Washington, DC:National Academies Press.
57. NRC (National Research Council). 2005. Sustainability in the Chemical Industry: Grand Challenges and Research Needs - A Workshop Report. Washington, DC:National Academies Press.
58. NRC (National Research Council). 2007. Exploring Opportunities in Green Chemistry and Engineering Education: A Workshop Summary to the Chemical Sciences Roundtable. Washington, DC:National Academies Press.
59. Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. 1970. Public Law 91-596.
60. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 2004. Hazard Communication in the 21st Century Workplace. Washington, DC:U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Available: http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/finalmsdsreport.html [accessed 30 January 2009].
61. OECD. 2001. Environmental Outlook for the Chemicals Industry. Paris:Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Available: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/7/45/2375538.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
62. Office of Technology Assessment. 1995. Screening and Testing of Chemicals in Commerce: Background Paper. Washington, DC:Congressional Office of Technology Assessment. Available: http://www.princeton.edu/ ~ota/disk1/1995/9553/9553.PDF [accessed 30 January 2009].
63. Ostrowski S, Wilbur S, Chou C, Pohl H, Stevens Y, Allred P, et al. 1999. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's 1997 priority list of hazardous substances. Latent effects - carcinogenesis, neurotoxicology, and developmental deficits in humans and animals. Toxicol Ind Health 15:602-644.
64. Pastor M, Morello-Frosch R, Sadd J. 2005. The air is always cleaner on the other side: race, space and ambient air toxics exposures in California. J Urban Aff 27(2):127-148.
65. Pickvance S, Karnon J, Peters J, El-Arifi K. 2005. The Impact of REACH on Occupational Health, with a Focus on Skin and Respiratory diseases. Sheffield, UK:University of Sheffield. Available: http://hesa.etui-rehs.org/uk/newsevents/files/reach-sheffield- complet.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
66. REACH. 2007. Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals. Official Journal of the European Union. Available: http://www.reach-compliance.eu/english/legislation/docs/launchers/ launch-2006-1907-EC.html [accessed 30 January 2009].
67. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976. 1976. Public Law 94-580.
68. Robinson J. 1991. Toil and Toxics: Workplace Struggles and Political Strategies for Occupational Health. Berkeley, CA:University of California Press.
69. Roe D, Pease W, Florini K, Silbergeld E. 1997. Toxic Ignorance: The Continuing Absence of Basic Health Testing for Top-Selling Chemicals in the United States. Washington, DC:Environmental Defense Fund. Available: http://www.environmentaldefense.org/pdf.cfm?ContentID= 243&FileName=toxicignorance.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
70. Sattler B, Lippy B, Jordan T. 1997. Hazard Communication: A Review of the Science Underpinning the Art of Communication for Health and Safety. Available: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hazardcommunications/hc2inf2.html [accessed 30 January 2009].
71. Schapiro M. 2007. Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's at Stake for American Power. White River, VT:Chelsea Green Publishing.
72. Sharpe R, Irvine D. 2004. How strong is the evidence of a link between environmental chemicals and adverse effects on human reproductive health? BMJ 328:447-451.
73. Skakkebaek N. 2002. Endocrine disrupters and testicular dysgenesis syndrome. Hormone Res 57(suppl 2):43.
74. Spitz P. 2003. The Chemical Industry at the Millennium. Philadelphia:Chemical Heritage Press.
75. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. 2003. National Cancer Institute, Surveillance Research Program, Cancer Statistics Branch. Available: http://seer.cancer.gov/ [accessed 30 January 2009].
76. Swan S, Elkin E, Fenster L. 2000. The question of declining sperm density revisited: an analysis of 101 studies published 1934-1996. Environ Health Perspect 108:961-966.
77. Swan S, Main K, Liu F, Stewart S, Kruse R, Calafat A, et al. 2005. Decrease in anogenital distance among male infants with prenatal phthalate exposure. Environ Health Perspect 113:1056-1061.
78. TSCA. 1976. Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. Public Law 94-469.
79. United Nations. 2004. World Population to 2300. New York:United Nations. Available: http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/longrange2/ WorldPop2300final.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
80. U.S. Department of Commerce. 2008. The Latest on REACH. Washington, DC:U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Mission to the European Union. Available http://www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion/ reach.html [accessed 30 January 2009].
81. U.S. EPA. 1998. Chemical Hazard Data Availability Study: What Do We Really Know about the Safety of High Production Volume Chemicals? Washington, DC:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. Available: http://www.epa.gov/hpv/pubs/general/ hazchem.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
82. U.S. EPA. 2003. Overview: Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics Programs. Draft Version 2.0. Washington, DC:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Available: http://www.chemicalspolicy.org/downloads/ TSCA10112-24-03.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
83. U.S. EPA. 2004. Cleaning up the Nation's Waste Sites: Markets and Technology Trends. Washington, DC:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Available: http://www.clu-in.org/download/market/2004market.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
84. U.S. EPA. 2005. How Can EPA More Efficiently Identify Potential Risks and Facilitate Risk Reduction Decision for Non-HPV Existing Chemicals? Washington, DC:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Pollution Prevention and Toxics Advisory Committee, Broader Issues Work Group. Available: http://epa.gov/oppt/npptac/pubs/ finaldraftnonhpvpaper051006.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
85. U.S. EPA. 2007. New Report Projects. Number, Cost and Nature of Contaminated Site Cleanups in the U.S. over the Next 30 Years. Washington, DC:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Superfund Program. Available: http://epa.gov/superfund/accomp/news/30years.htm [accessed 30 January 2009].
86. U.S. EPA. 2008a. Chemical Assessment and Management Program (ChAMP). EPA Chemical Efforts Under ChAMP. Washington, DC:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Available: http://www.epa.gov/champ/ [accessed 30 January 2009].
87. U.S. EPA. 2008b. High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program. Washington, DC:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. Available: http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk/index.htm [accessed 30 January 2009].
88. U.S. EPA. 2009. Inventory Update Reporting: Non-confidential 2006 IUR Records by Chemical, including Manufacturing, Processing and Use Information. Washington, DC:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. Available: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ iursearch/ [accessed 30 January 2009].
89. U.S. GAO (U.S. Government Accountability Office). 1991. OSHA Action Needed to Improve Compliance with Hazard Communication Standard. GAO/ HRD-92-8. Washington, DC:U.S. General Accounting Office. Available: http://archive.gao.gov/t2pbat7/145328.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
90. U.S. GAO. 1994. Toxic Substances Control Act: Legislative Changes Could Make the Act More Effective (GAO/RCED-94-103). Washington, DC:U.S. Government Accountability Office. Available: http://archive.gao.gov/ t2pbat2/152799.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
91. U.S. GAO. 2005a. Chemical Regulation: Options Exist to Improve EPA's Ability to Assess Health Risks and Manage Its Chemicals Review Program (GAO 05-458). Washington, DC:U.S. Government Accountability Office. Available: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05458.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
92. U.S. GAO. 2005b. Hazardous Waste Programs: Information on Appropriations and Expenditures for Superfund, Brownfields, and Related Programs. GAO-05-746R. Washington, DC:U.S. Government Accountability Office. Available: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05746r.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
93. U.S. GAO. 2007. Chemical Regulation: Comparison of U.S. and Recently Enacted European Union Approaches to Protect against the Risks of Toxic Chemicals (GAO-07-825). Washington, DC:U.S. Government Accountability Office. Available: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07825.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
94. U.S. GAO. 2009. High Risk Series: An Update. GAO-09-271. Washington, DC:U.S. Government Accountability Office. Available: http://www.gao.gov/ products/GAO-09-271 [accessed 22 January 2009].
95. U.S. House of Representatives. 2004. The Chemical Industry, the Bush Administration, and European Efforts to Regulate Chemicals. U.S. Congressional Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 1 April. Available: http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=427 [accessed 30 January 2009].
96. Wilson M. 2006. Testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Oversight Hearing on the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Chemicals Management Program. Washington, DC, 2 August. Available: http://epw.senate.gov/hearing_statements.cfm?id= 260748 [accessed 30 January 2009].
97. Wilson M, Chia D, Ehlers B. 2006. Green Chemistry in California: A Framework for Leadership in Chemicals Policy and Innovation. Special Report to the California Senate Environmental Quality Committee and the Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. Berkeley, CA:California Policy Research Center, UC Office of the President. Available: http://coeh.berkeley.edu/docs/news/ 06_wilson_policy.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].
98. Wilson M, Schwarzman M, Malloy T, Fanning E, Sinsheimer P. 2008. Green Chemistry: Cornerstone to a Sustainable California. Special Report to the Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency. Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA:University of California, Centers for Occupational and Environmental Health. Available: http://coeh.berkeley.edu/docs/news/ green_chem_brief.pdf [accessed 30 January 2009].