Connecticut Coalition for
Environmental Justice

Safe Chemical Policy for a Healthy Environment

U. S. chemical policy has aggravated the health problems of our nation's most vulnerable communities. The current law governing chemical usage, the Toxic Substances Control Act, does not control or limit exposure to toxins or require testing for health effects before consumer products are placed on the market. As a result, people are being exposed to high numbers of toxic chemicals that cause harmful health effects both when used personally and when those products are burned at local incinerators like the ones located in Hartford and Bridgeport, CT. The consequences have been a rise in autoimmune diseases like lupus, asthma, allergies, and arthritis as well as increases in reproductive health problems; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; psychological problems including depression; and cancer incidence particularly in children. Scientists also are seeing new exposure to legacy chemicals, toxics left in urban areas after industry left cities; these legacy chemicals show up particularly in brownfields, abandoned and polluted industrial sites. Low-income people and people of color have had high exposure to these chemicals besides often living near a disproportionate number of hazardous waste sites responsible for other harmful health problems.

CCEJ is working with SAFER, a coalition of partners in eight states, to effect national chemical policy reform. We and the other non-profits in that coalition want to craft a new national chemical policy that will include an environmental justice point of view. We are working to recruit environmental justice groups within SAFER states but not yet part of that coalition to join the effort. In February 2009, CCEJ is participating in a national conference to engage environmental justice activists in chemical policy as a route to improving environments for communities of color throughout the U.S.