An article published in the Washington Post and distributed through some of my solid waste contacts was of interest and I thought it worth sharing. Europe recently rolled out new restrictions on makers of chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems that are forcing U.S. industries to find new ways to produce everyday products.

These new laws require companies to demonstrate that a chemical is safe before it enters the marketplace. This is the opposite of policies in the United States, where regulators must prove that a chemical is harmful before it can be restricted or removed. The European Union’s tough stance on chemical regulation is the latest area in which Europeans are reshaping business practices with demands that American companies either comply or lose access to a market of 27 countries and 500 million people. The European Union has adopted a regulatory philosophy that emphasizes the consumer when it comes to health and the environment.

Under the E.U. laws, manufacturers must study and report the risks posed by specific chemicals. Through the Internet, data will be available to consumers, regulators and potential litigants around the world. The hope is that companies will be more responsible for their products. The laws also call for the E.U. to create a list of “substances of very high concern”, those suspected of causing cancer or other health problems. In the United States, laws in place for three decades have made banning or restricting chemicals extremely difficult.

The United States chemical policy, the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 grandfathered in about 62,000 chemicals in use. After the law’s passage chemicals did not have to be tested for safety. Instead, companies were asked to report toxicity information to the government, which would decide if more tests were needed. In the past 30 years the Environmental Protection Agency has required additional studies for about 200 chemicals, a fraction of the 80,000 in the U.S. market. They have banned only five chemicals since 1976. They have even been unable to ban asbestos and rely on industry to voluntarily cease production in their products.

People questioned about whether drain cleaners have been tested for safety think, “of course, the government would never allow a product on the market without knowing it’s safe.” When people find out that is not the case, they can hardly believe it.

Another very common chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) used to make Teflon used in food packaging, carpet, clothing and electrical equipment has not been banned and is a suspected carcinogen accumulating in the environment.

We have recently seen the industry financial impacts of irresponsible chemical uses of lead in children’s toys, bisphenol A used in plastics and food product contamination and millions of dollars spent to correct the problems to protect the public.

As consumers of food, clothing, toys, sporting equipment, automobiles, (the list is endless) it’s unfortunate that there is apparently really no one guarding the chicken coup, so to speak. This information emphasizes the need for each one of us to be responsible to read labels, stay informed about potentially harmful products and to use products for the purpose intended. Examples of this warning are reusing single use plastic containers, putting plastic anything in a microwave, use of poisons and pesticides in or around our home and reducing the amount of energy in our daily lives (air pollution).

We must emphasize the importance of reading a label. If you are unfamiliar with a chemical name, go on the internet or contact the library for help in learning about safe uses. Not all chemicals are bad, especially when used for their intended purpose. When mixing chemicals, the label may instruct you to put 1 1/2 Tbsp of product in a gallon of water and provide a measuring cap for ounces. Many people are left to guess how much to mix when they cannot convert Tbsp to ounces. Overkill does not give better results, it threatens our environment.

Randy Tuchtenhagen is the Freeborn County solid waste officer.