A Preemptive Strike Against Toxic Chemicals

In the United States, the use of potentially toxic chemicals has always had a leap-before-you-look regulatory approach, with the emphasis on producing innovative new products and solutions. Problem is, time and again substances thought to be harmless prove toxic, or persistent in the environment, and cleaning them becomes a costly -- both in health and dollars -- headache.

That's why it's good to watch California, which is considering two competing proposals that may be more complementary, according to a Los Angeles Times editorial, than they appear. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is pushing a "green chemistry" initiative that has the backing of business and industry in the Golden State. It would look at chemicals used and study their potential risks -- as well as potential alternatives.

Assemblyman Mike Feuer, a Democrat, has proposed a Massachusetts-style inventory of all hazardous chemicals used by California businesses, and require regular reports about their plans to reduce or eliminate their use.

The take-home message from both proposals is this: Business as usual isn't working. We've had too many man-made chemicals that turn out to prey on the health of humans or wildlife to let more into the environment without the closest of scrutiny. After all, we're talking about chemicals developed in labs -- chemicals that the human body and the environment have not evolved to process or defend themselves against.

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