Congress Should Protect Workers -- and Families -- from a Nerve-damaging Toxic: Hexane

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 hexane, used primarily for industrial purposes but also found in common household products -- including stain removers, spray adhesives and craft paints. Hexane is easily inhaled and can cause long-lasting, even permanent, nerve damage. NRDC urges Congress to update TSCA to protect people and the environment from toxic chemicals.