Safer Chemical Policy Reform

"We must shift market and government actions to protect health and the natural systems that support us," (The Louisville charter for safer chemicals). Chemicals production like many other industries are not well regulated in this country. Their safety is tested in the market. As a result, the safety of the workers or those who are using the chemicals is not initially well understood. The chemicals' safety is better understood after people get sick. 

 The Louisville charter for safer chemicals aims to change the negative impact that toxic chemical impose. They have several items for policy change and include an initiative that advocates for the production of safe chemicals. They write in their Require Safer Substitutes and Solutions paper, that...

 "at present when regulations get passed to target a chemical for control, safer substitutes are not the goal nor are there specific guidelines or tools used to achieve Green Chemistry, Clean Production or sustainable product design. In most cases, the replacement is often just as hazardous or simply a reduction of the quantity or concentration of the toxic substance that has been targeted." 

 The requirement of safer substitutes and solutions is a no brainer. It helps improve the safety of those working with the chemicals and the environment and the chemical manufacturers that produce safe chemicals make money. It is a total win-win and therefore, theoretically, be an easy legislative change. In addition to safer chemicals, the substitutes can be systems, materials or process change. 

 The goal of this requirement is to by 2020 eliminate all carcinogens, mutagens, and reproductive toxins.They believe that when these chemicals are replaced by safe substitutes, then the change will be more sustainable and effective. In addition, clean production (production that is more similar to ecological processes) produces less waste and causes less damage to the environment close to the manufacturing site. Honestly, we live in such a wealthy, productive, and scientifically strong country, why don't we already have clean production? It is another win-win. In the long term, it costs less for the manufacturer and is better for the environment and community.

 The government has to have a role in the change of harmful under-regulated chemicals to safer substitutes and solutions. They need to set a timeline for change, set substitutions a chemical policy priority, prioritize harmful chemicals for elimination, eliminated subsides for halogenated chemicals (can't believe this is needed), add subsidies for green chemicals, fund research for safer chemicals, mandate substitutions for harmful chemicals, provide needed tech support for chemical users, and identify safe substitutes. In addition to government involvement, industry should be rewarded for taking the lead on finding and implementing safer substitutes.

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