Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 TSCA Meagan

Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA) Meagan Vance, Derek Evans, and Erik Bolton

What Is It? �United States Law that regulates chemicals Environmental Protection ◦ Protects humans from harmful materials Identifies and Regulates Agency (EPA) maintains ◦ Keeps environment clean has authority to potentially harmful chemicals before commercial use require testing requirements, reporting, and record-keeping

Exemptions �When the regulated chemicals are imported, produced or used in small quantities �For the purpose of scientific experimentation or research under the supervision of a qualified individual

Flaws �People assume that all chemicals that are used in products are regulated by TSCA BUT THEY’RE NOT �Of the 60 k chemicals in existence prior to 1976, only 200 are frequently monitored for safety.

Continued �Today, there are 80 k chemicals on the market of which 20% of these chemicals are being used without permission. �TSCA does not directly indicate to consumers and businesses if the product is safe or not.

Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 Requires EPA to evaluate and ban the most dangerous chemicals. Updated methods for testing safety in chemicals. Requires safety information for every chemical to remain on the market Gives EPA better ways to identify and deal with chemicals that may threaten the environment or our health.

Bibliography �http: //www. epa. gov/oecaerth/civil/tsca/ts caenfstatreq. html �http: //www. epa. gov/lawsregs/laws/tsca. h tml �http: //www. saferchemicals. org/resources/ tsca. html �http: //www. americanchemistry. com/polic y/chemical-safety/tsca