M8:4 Chemical Policy Reform

I chose Background Paper #4

“Act on Early Warnings”

There are two conditions that establish the threshold for protective action in the presence of scientific uncertainty, one, credible evidence that a synthetic chemical can cause biological changes that are known to result in unintended harmful outcomes to human health or the environment, and two, the presence of a chemical where it does not belong and where it can cause damage to biological systems.

It is important to create and strengthen human health and wildlife monitoring programs to detect and predict harm. It is important to take steps to prevent, eliminate, and mitigate exposure when credible evidence of harm is found. When action is taken, it must be based on precautionary definitions of “harm” and “credible evidence” and must include public participation. On the state and federal level, they should require safer substitutes, phase out persistent, bioaccumulative, or highly toxic chemicals, give the public and the workers the full right to know, require comprehensive safety data, and take immediate actions o protect communities and workers.