Consumer products are loaded with industrial chemicals—from cosmetics to mattresses, from firearms to food. These compounds are found in 96 percent of all manufactured goods. But a growing body of evidence finds that many chemicals on the market today are linked to serious health problems.
The law that governs the regulation of chemicals in commerce is called the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). TSCA was written in 1976, and while the science for evaluating chemicals has evolved, the law has not. Both the chemical industry and environmentalists want a revision of TSCA, but Congress has been slow to act. A law that satisfies both public safety and industry concerns has been a tough nut to crack.
