(CNN) -- The American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday called for an overhaul of the 35-year-old federal law governing toxic chemicals in the environment, saying it fails to safeguard children and pregnant women. "It is widely recognized to have been ineffective in protecting children, pregnant women and the general population from hazardous chemicals in the marketplace," the academy said in a policy statement that will be published in the May issue of the journal Pediatrics. The American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association and the American Nurses Association have previously called for changes in the Toxic Substance Control Act.
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1976 act on toxic chemicals too weak, doctors group says
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EPA has tested only 200 of the 80,000 chemicals
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N.J. senator has introduced tougher measure
Chemical manufacturers reported annual production volume of 27 trillion pounds, according to the most recent @placeholder data available.