Disclaimer: This post is a part of a sponsored awareness program and campaign by Seventh Generation to raise awareness and demand change to the Toxic Substances Control Act by April 30, 2014. All the research for this post was provided by Seventh Generation but all the views below are my own.
As a mom, advocate and someone who cares deeply about our planet, I have joined an exciting new campaign sponsored by Seventh Generation, a leading producer and distributor of environmentally-safe household products, to raise awareness about the hundreds of toxic chemicals in our products that are hurting our families and our world.
Toxic chemicals are a great concern of mine. I take pride in the fact that I read product labels carefully and always try to buy environmentally friendly and safe products to use in my home. This applies to every product I by: Food, household products and toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner and soap. I honestly thought I was doing a good job by keeping nasty, toxic chemicals out of my body, my families bodies and the environment.
Yet like most consumers, I was wrong. I was unaware that of the 85,000 synthetic chemicals introduced into the American market since the Toxic Substances Control Act was passed in 1976, only a mere 10% of them have required testing by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Therefore, that means thousands of synthetic chemicals are currently being used in our products that we have no idea whether or not they are safe to our bodies and our planet.
Take a look under your sink and read the labels of your cleaning supplies? Do you know what is in them? Do you know what impact it is having on your health or the planet? If not, then keep reading.
What does this mean?*
More than 80,000 chemicals available in the United States have never been fully tested for their toxic effects on our health and environment. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was passed in 1976, and unlike other major environmental laws, has never been updated. As it currently stands, TSCA is a broken law. As a result, tens of thousands of potentially harmful chemicals continue to be used in the marketplace since the 1970’s without proper testing and without disclosure by the companies that produce them.
TSCA makes it nearly impossible for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take regulatory action against dangerous chemicals, even those that are known to cause cancer or other serious health effects. When TSCA became law in 1976, the goal was to ensure the safety of chemicals from manufacture to use and disposal. But weaknesses in the law have left the EPA largely unable to act on known health dangers or require testing on specific chemicals that may be unsafe. Other laws, such as those setting air, water, and workplace safety standards, do not adequately regulate exposure to most chemicals, nor do they address the hazards a chemical may pose over its lifecycle.
(*Source of above content on background of TSCA: Seventh Generation. For further research visit this link The National Resources Defense Counsel).
Scientists have linked exposure to toxic chemicals to many health risks such as Cancer, Alzheimer’s, learning disabilities, asthma, birth defects and various reproductive problems.
It is outrageous and something must be done to fight toxins in our products.
That is where Seventh Generation and the American people collectively as a group come along. Seventh Generation is working to push reform to the Toxic Substances Control Act which would have all of these chemical studied, evaluated and tested. Yet we need help to get the ball rolling now.
How can we fight this and create change?
For all American citizens, we can demand that Congress reevaluates the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for the first time since 1976.
We need 100,000 signatures to stand up for safer chemicals by April 30, 2014. Here is how you can help fight toxins and push Congress to act:
- Visit fighttoxins.com
- Sign your name.
- Encourage all your friends and family here in the US to do the same. All we need is 100,000 signatures to get Congress to act and change necessary laws.
- Follow #FightToxins on all social media to spread the word.
Then smile knowing that just by adding your name to the petition, you are using your right and voice to fight harmful toxins in our products Think of the difference you can make!
You too can become a Toxin Freedom Fighter like me and help protect those of who we love most.
And of course of lovely planet.