Yesterday the professional organization of pediatricians, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), issued a strong policy statement calling for better protection of children and pregnant women from hazardous chemicals.

Citing the unique vulnerabilities of the fetus and children, the group states that the current law governing the use of most chemicals, the Toxic Substance Control Act (TCSA), "fails to protect children and pregnant women." And the pediatricians have written a prescription to Congress on how to fix it.

The AAP makes a long list of recommendations, including a rewrite of the legislation which:

• Requires chemical manufacturers prove their products are safe before they are marketed;
• Establishes the same standard of safety for old and new chemicals;
• Makes chemical testing relevant to the special needs of pregnant women and children, by including data on reproductive and developmental toxicity, including endocrine disruption, as it relates to reproduction, neurotoxicity, and puberty;
• Allows for bans of chemicals based on reasonable levels of concern rather than demonstrated harm after release; and
• Gives EPA the authority demand additional data about a chemical and to limit or stop the marketing of a chemical when there is a high degree of suspicion that the chemical might be harmful to children, pregnant women, or other populations.

 

The AAP also made calls for expanded biomonitoring, increase federal funding for research to prevent, identify and evaluate the effects of chemicals on childrens' health, and the promotion of green chemistry efforts to develop safer replacements.

Many of these recommendations are incorporated in the recently introduced TSCA reform bill introduced by Senator Lautenberg. As pointed out in the pediatrician's statement, TSCA was first introduced in 1976 but has never been revised and reform is long overdue.

Since then, a number of chemicals which should have been regulated by TSCA have been linked to harmful effects in children. These include bisphenol A, phthalates, flame retardants, TCE and other solvents.

The AAP's statement is timely and their important voices join others in the scientific and medical community who have become increasingly vocal about the need for TSCA reform. This includes the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Public Health Association and the 2010 President's Cancer Panel.

Pediatricians are concerned about the future health of our children and have just written a prescription to Congress. Congress should heed their advice and get to the business of reforming this outdated law.

This article originally appeared on the NRDC's Switchboard blog and is reprinted with permission.

Image CC licensed by Flickr limaoscarjuliet.