Action Alert: Maine Nurses are Taking Action: Sign-On Letter for Chemical Policy Reform

You can take action on this alert by reading the information below and following the directions at the bottom.

Maine nurses are taking a stand for safer chemicals and healthier communities. Please read the sign-on letter, sign it yourself and use the "tell a friend" function to send it to others.

The Environmental Health Strategy Center and many partner organizations are campaigning to fix our broken national chemical safety system based on Maine's Kid-Safe Products Law. Nurses are a critical voice supporting national reform, and Maine's members of Congress need to hear from Maine nurses. By clicking on the Act Now button at the end of this message, your name and town will be added to this public statement which will be publicized and presented to Maine's U.S. Senators and Representatives. We'll keep you updated about sign-ons to this statement and let you know when it will be presented.


Maine Nurses’ Statement Supporting Reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act

Chemicals in common household products, and those found in many health-care settings, contain toxic ingredients that have been linked to cancers, reproductive disorders, diabetes and other conditions. As nurses, we see firsthand the impact of toxic chemicals in consumer products: on the health of our patients who are exposed to these unnecessary, dangerous chemicals; and on the cost of health care when we fail to stop these preventable health impacts.

The federal law that should protect people from dangerous chemicals in everyday products – the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) – is badly broken. A reformed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) would serve as the backbone of a sound and comprehensive chemicals policy that protects public health and the environment, improves our health and reduces health care costs, and promotes innovation and sustainable economic development.

As Maine nurses, we support reform of TSCA that would:

• Take immediate action on the most dangerous chemicals

Current laws aren't protecting us from chemicals that are building up in our bodies and threatening our health. These persistent, bioaccumulative toxic chemicals should be phased out of commerce. Our exposure to other toxic chemicals that we know can cause serious health problems should be reduced. Green chemistry research should be expanded, and safer chemicals favored over those with known health hazards.

• Hold industry responsible for the safety of their chemicals and products

Due to serious limitations of the current law, very little is known about the vast majority of the tens of thousands of chemicals produced and used in the US. Over the past three decades, the EPA has required testing on just 200 existing chemicals and restricted only five. Companies that make and use chemicals should be required to provide full information on the impact of all their chemicals on health and the environment. The public, workers, and businesses should have access to information about the safety of chemicals.

• Use the best science to protect all people and vulnerable groups

Chemicals should meet a standard of safety for all people, including children, pregnant women, and workers. The extra burden of toxic chemical exposure on people of color, low-income, and indigenous communities must be reduced and more studies must be done to detect which chemicals are present in our bodies.

• Preserve and promote action by the states
The ability of the states – our laboratories of democracy and policy - to enact tougher chemical policies should be maintained and state/federal cooperation on chemical safety encouraged.

As nurses, we take an oath to first do no harm. We need a federal policy which places the same expectations on industry and manufacturers.

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Kristine Jenkins

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This Action Alert Campaign is Closed.