Chemicals Policy in the Great Lakes: Alexis Blizman

Chemicals Policy in the Great Lakes

Woodward Ballroom C

Friday, October 1410:30-11:30 a.m.

www.mnceh.org734-761-3186 ext. 119

Michigan Networkfor Children’s

Environmental Health

http://www.mnceh.org/


The Michigan Network– Our Mission



The Michigan NetworkMembers

• American Academy of Pediatrics (Michigan Chapter) • Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) • Association for Children's Mental Health• Autism Society of Michigan • Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination• Clean Water Fund • Clinton County Family Resource Center • Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice • East Michigan Environmental Action Council • Ecology Center • Environment Michigan• Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan • Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of Michigan • LocalMotionGreen• Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners • Michigan Coalition for Children and Families • Michigan Environmental Council • Michigan League of Conservation Voters Education Fund• Michigan Nurses Association• Michigan Psychological Association • Science and Environmental Health Network• Sierra Club Michigan Chapter• Voices for Earth Justice



The Nature of the Problem

1. Children are uniquely vulnerable2. Approximately 40,000 synthetic

chemicals in use– we are all exposed to complex mixtures without safety testing

3. We know some common chemicals are potent neurotoxicants, others are linked to cancer and reproductive harm

4. We all a complex mix of industrial chemicals in our bodies



We all have industrial chemicals in our bodies



US chemical law: old and outdated

• Over 35 years ago, Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

– Regulates all industrial chemicals in commerce except food, drugs, cosmetics and pesticides

– Never been reauthorized– Did not work well from the beginning (asbestos)

• Under TSCA, the EPA has– required testing on fewer than 200 chemicals and – restricted only 5 chemicals in commerce.

• Most chemicals in the US inventory were “grandfathered” when the law was written and have not been adequately tested



Few Chemicals Have Been Adequately Tested



The Great Lakes:Why it matters

• There are 37 Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes. These are places where chemical contamination has seriously endangered the quality of life for people and wildlife.



The Costs of PBTs in the Great Lakes

• Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals (PBTs) are uniquely dangerous because they pose a triple threat

– They persist for long periods and can be transported long distances– They accumulate in living things and can increase in concentration as they move up the food

chain– They are highly toxic, often at low levels of exposure

• Unfortunately, PBT chemicals continue to pose an economic threat to the region’s $7 billion fisheries industry and $16 billion tourism industry, while also endangering public health. The legacy of contamination from PBTs already released to the Great Lakes will likely cost hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up

• All of the Great Lakes and their connecting channels are currently under fish consumption advisories for one or more toxic chemicals—including mercury, PCBs, dioxins, and chlordane. There have been at least 1,500 advisories against eating fish in the Great Lakes



New report:



Safe Chemicals Act of 2011

• On April 14, 2011, Sen. Frank Lautenberg(D-NJ) introduced the Safe Chemicals Act (S. 847). The Safe Chemicals Act would:

– Require the EPA to take immediate action on Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic chemicals (PBTs)

– Improve the safety of chemicals used in consumer products

– Increase public information on chemical safety

– Protect our most vulnerable populations

– Reform EPA’s science practices to ensure the best available science is being used

– Support innovation in the marketplace and provide incentives for the development of safer chemical alternatives.



What do we want?



States Step In

• Because of Congress’ legacy of inaction on this issue, states are stepping in to try to fill in the gaps

• Many states have passed laws or introduced legislation to both educate the public and regulate the use of some of the most toxic chemicals. Some states have introduced laws to create broad chemicals management systems

• MNCEH works together with other states in a coalition called SAFER. We work collaboratively to share state strategies and push for comprehensive reform at the federal level.



Michigan Responds: Prior Legislation

• Lead: In the wake of numerous recalls of children’s toys, Michigan banned lead in many children’s products in 2007

• Penta/Octa: Because of the presence of PBDEs in the Great Lakes and their known health effects on people and wildlife, the Michigan Legislature banned manufacturing, processing and distribution of materials containing more than 0.1% penta-BDE or octa-BDE in 2004



Current State Priorities

• Children’s Products

• Green Chemistry

• Cadmium

• Deca-BDE

• Lindane



Children’s Products

• The Safe Children’s Products legislation would give Michiganders a right-to-know whether children’s products contain harmful chemicals.

• Legislation would require the state by to create a comprehensive list of chemicals of concern known to cause cancer, reproductive or developmental harm, neurotoxicity, hormone disruption, or other toxicity, or which are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic.

• The legislation would authorize Michigan to participate in an interstate clearinghouse to share information and promote safer alternatives.



Michigan Green Chemistry



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Contact us

MNCEH

Alexis Blizman

Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health

734-369-9281

[email protected]

www.mnceh.org


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Chemicals Policy in the Great Lakes: Alexis Blizman

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Transcript of Chemicals Policy in the Great Lakes: Alexis Blizman