MT mom and Jessica Alba team up with Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Coalition

Posted: Nov 30, 2011 5:52 PM by Angela Douglas - Q2 News
Updated: Nov 30, 2011 6:17 PM

BILLINGS - More than 80,000 chemicals are used in the U.S. and only about 200 of those have been tested by the Environmental Protection Agency.

"There's so many chemicals now that are being put into products that are not being tested," says Lewistown resident and concerned mother of two, Smith Works. "So we don't know if they're harmful or if they're not."

Most parents try to keep harmful chemicals out of their homes and away from their children, but that task is nearly impossible.

"Shocked to find that there are so many toxic chemicals in everyday products," admits Hollywood actress and mother of two, Jessica Alba.

Alba and thousands of other mothers, including Works, have joined the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Coalition in hopes of convincing congress to pass the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011.

"It does two basic things," states SCHF Campaign Director, Andy Igrejas. "It requires the chemicals, before they get on the market, new chemicals to be proved safe before they get on the market and it also has the EPA go through the chemicals that are already on the market and used in all these products and prioritize them and restrict the ones that are shown or already known to be linked to health problems are only being used safely."

But according to the American Chemistry Council, the bill includes an unachievable safety standard and lacks an effective prioritization process.

"We are discussing a bill that remains very similar to the bill introduced in 2010, which we consider unworkable," states President and CEO Cal Dooley.

However, ACC supports efforts to reform the 35-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act.

"We believe we can develop legislation that will give consumers confidence, learns from the success and missteps of reforms undertaken by other countries, and fosters innovation and job creation," Dooley concludes.

But un til the government can come up with a better way to assess the potential dangers of chemicals, the screening relies on the consumer.

"I try to limit how many household cleaning products I use in the house," explains Works. "When I'm shopping, I look and see if it says BPA Free on the bottles and toys."

The bill is still in the Environment and Public Works Committee and will likely face markups in the next couple weeks.

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) supports the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011.

"I support this effort and believe it's time we do more to make sure our families have the tools they need to stay safe," Sen. Baucus states. "There is a broad consensus that the current law is outdated. And this bill is an appropriate starting point for that effort."

Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) also supports the bill.