Summary
If it was the intention of the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine to give life to the idea that the federal chemical review program needs an overhaul, it succeeded recently by releasing the results of chemical tests on 13 Maine citizens. As research, testing such a small number of people might not mean much (except to the subjects of the tests themselves), but the event does highlight what the Government Accountability Office last year described as a costly, time-consuming and often ineffective way to ensure chemical safety.
The alliance, made up of nine health care, environmental and citizen-action groups, pointed out that 46 different chemicals of the 71 hazardous or potentially hazardous chemicals it tested for could be found in the Maine environment. Those chemicals were absorbed by people in contact with everyday products and materials. The people in the study included a farmer, legislators, writers, a nurse, instructors and a student, among others - they generally weren't in professions that would expose them to an unusual number of chemicals. Yet they were found to be walking around with traces of phthalates, which the alliance says can be found in flame retardants in televisions and furniture; Teflon chemicals, found in nonstick pans; and bisphenol A, found in reusable water bottles and baby bottles.See the full content of this document
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It is important to note that none of those tested face the kind of toxic chemical assault endure...
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