To the Editor:
As a mother and physician in this community, I am concerned about toxic chemicals in our environment and their link to chronic disease. I would very much like to thank our state senators for all the hard work they do representing supporting strong public health laws in Maine, such as the Kid Safe Products Act and the phase out of BPA.
It is so important to have common sense, science-based policies to protect children’s health here in Maine, but that’s not enough. Our federal law governing toxic chemicals – the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) is sorely out of date and is failing to protect our health.
That’s why I am also asking our Senators Snowe and Collins to follow the example of our state legislature by co-sponsoring the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011.
The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 would reform TSCA by taking immediate action to eliminate the most dangerous chemicals in our products, and would require chemical manufacturers to basic safety information on their products.
As a mother and health care provider, I feel that a real reform of our federal chemical safety laws is long overdue. Maine has had rising rates of diabetes, asthma, and learning disabilities among children, health problems that are linked to toxic chemical exposure. Only with stronger preventative measures can we control our soaring healthcare and education costs, and reduce the number of devastating illnesses in our country.
In addition, we know that carcinogens and other dangerous chemicals can pass from a pregnant woman into the developing fetus. We need a system that protects mothers and children from the harmful effects of toxic chemicals.
When so many every-day consumer products contain toxic chemicals, those substances inevitably leach into our environment and jeopardize our natural resources. Maine’s farms and fisheries depend on Congress to clean up the chemical industry and protect our communities.
I strongly urge Senators Snowe and Collins to stand up for real reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act in the 112th Congress, by co-sponsoring the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011.
Now more than ever it’s important that Maine people need control over the chemicals in our homes and in our environment. Our kids’ health depends on common sense protections and consumers deserve real health information about the chemicals in their products.
Joann Kaplan, MD, Newcastle
