Our progress fighting toxic chemicals

EDF has long advocated for an overhaul of the 35-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

TSCA's outdated standards have allowed the majority of the 80,000 chemicals available for use in the U.S. to stay on the market even though they have never been tested for their health effects. They also allow chemicals known to be dangerous to continue to be used.

Change appears on the horizon: In May 2012, the Chicago Tribune exposed the dirty little secrets of the flame retardant industry, which uses chemicals known as PBDEs in common things like furniture and electronics. This raised much-needed awareness.

In April 2013, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Safe Chemicals Act of 2013, a sorely needed update to TSCA.

Then, in a surprise move in May 2013, Senators Lautenberg and David Vitter introduced the Chemical Safety Improvement Act with strong bipartisan support. EDF views this bill as a hard-fought compromise that, on balance, would give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) critical tools it needs to address the risks chemicals pose to health and to significantly strengthen health protections for American families.

 Follow our blog for updates on the bill.