Environmental Issues: Health
Health Main Page
All Documents in Health Tagged toxic chemicals
- The 5 Stupidest Chemicals That Shouldn’t be in Your House
Fact Sheet - As you begin the annual spring cleaning purge, make sure that you aren't leaving behind a house filled with toxic chemicals that can harm you, your family, and your pets.
- Flame Retardants
Overview - Toxic flame retardant chemicals present the worst of two possible worlds: they are ineffective in preventing furniture fires and are linked to serious health effects. California is in the process of revising TB 117 to be more effective and provide better fire safety without the need for toxic chemicals. However, we need a federal standard to ensure this level of protection across the country.
- Protecting People from Unsafe Chemicals
Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act
Overview - More than 80,000 chemicals now in use have never been fully assessed for toxic impacts on human health and the environment. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), enacted in 1976, has failed to regulate the chemical industry and does not protect the public from exposure to unsafe chemicals. Congress must enact strong legislation to reform TSCA.
- Congress Must Protect Children from a Developmental Toxic: Bisphenol A (BPA)
Fact Sheet - When the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was enacted in 1976, it was intended to ensure that chemicals are safe throughout their lifecycle, from manufacture to use and disposal. But weaknesses in the law have left the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unable to act on known health dangers. Other laws, such as those setting air, water, and workplace safety standards, do not adequately regulate exposure to most chemicals, nor do they address the hazards a chemical may pose over its entire lifecycle. New legislation is needed to rapidly reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, such as Bisphenol A (BPA). Produced at more than 2 billion pounds per year, BPA has found its way into many consumer products and into many people's bodies. Get document in pdf.
- Now is the Time to Reform the Toxic Substances Control Act
Legislative Analysis - For decades, Americans have assumed that laws are in place to require testing of chemicals for safety and to keep unsafe chemicals out of the products we use every day. Unfortunately, the failure of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to regulate the chemical industry and protect the public from exposure to unsafe chemicals, proves this assumption wrong. Congress must enact strong legislation to reform TSCA and ensure the safety of chemicals in the home, the workplace, and the marketplace. Get document in pdf.
- TSCA and Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals: Examining Domestic and International Actions
Testimony - Testimony of NRDC Health Program Director Linda Greer before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection. March 4, 2010. Get document in pdf.
For additional policy documents, see the NRDC Document Bank.
For older publications available only in print, click here.
Sign up for NRDC's online newsletter
NRDC Gets Top Ratings from the Charity Watchdogs

- Charity Navigator awards NRDC its 4-star top rating.
- Worth magazine named NRDC one of America's 100 best charities.
- NRDC meets the highest standards of the Wise Giving Alliance of the Better Business Bureau.
Switchboard Blogs
- Marine Plastic Pollution Producer Responsibility Bill Passes California Assembly Natural Resources Committee
- posted by Leila Monroe, 4/30/13
- EPA Hearing: Citizens Urge Agency to Finalize Cleaner Gasoline and Tailpipe Standards
- posted by Luke Tonachel, 4/25/13
- NRDC's 5-Step Program for the Apparel Industry's Chemical Makeover
- posted by Linda Greer, 4/23/13
Related Stories
- Simple Steps
- A healthier you. A healthier home. A healthier Earth -- one step at a time.
- Is Organic Food Worth It?
- The short answer is yes -- get the lowdown from This Green Life.
- Pet Products May Harm Both Pets and Humans
- Poisons in many pet pesticide products are not safe for pets or humans.



