1976 Law Keeps Secret 17,000 Harmful Chemicals

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A law enacted in 1976 is keeping secret 17,000 possibly harmful chemicals from the public’s view, according to the Washington Post.

Per the Toxic Substances Control Act, manufacturers can ask the Environmental Protection Agency to not disclose the potentially hazardous chemical if such notification “could harm their bottom line,” the Post noted.

Thus, the public — medical professionals, state regulators, or emergency responders — have no idea which chemical is harmful to the general population.

Thus, chemical manufacturers are requesting that their new chemicals be kept secret at a rate of 95 percent a year.

At least 10 of these secret chemicals are found in children’s projects, the report said.

The EPA is just now implementing its power to shed light on these chemicals through the creation of its “Chemicals of Concern” list.

Congress is said to reform the outdated 1976 law this year.

EPA head and mother Lisa Jackson noted, “Chemical safety is an issue of utmost importance, especially for children, and this will remain a top priority for me and our agency going forward,” said Jackson, who is a mother.