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TAble 14.3 American versus european Approaches to TAble 14.4 The “dirty dozen” Persistent organic
chemical regulation Pollutants (PoPs) Targeted by the Stock-
holm convention
TSCA (UNITED STATES) REACH (EUROPEAN UNION)
TOXICANT DESCRIPTION
• Government bears burden • Industry bears burden of
of proof to show harm proof to show safety Aldrin Insecticide to kill termites and crop pests
• Little data on new chemi- • More data on new chemi- Chlordane Insecticide to kill termites and crop pests
cals are required from cals are required from DDT Insecticide to protect against insect-spread
industry industry disease; still applied in some countries to control
• Chemicals in use before • Chemicals in use before 1981 malaria
1976 are not regulated bear scrutiny like that directed Dieldrin Insecticide to kill termites, textile pests, crop
toward newer chemicals pests, and disease vectors
• Prioritizing problems is • Problems are prioritized Dioxins By-product of incomplete combustion and chemical
hampered by lack of data using data on risk manufacturing; released in metal recycling, pulp and
• Industry is allowed to • Database will allow public paper bleaching, auto exhaust, tobacco smoke,
keep trade secrets from access to chemical infor- and wood and coal smoke
the public mation Endrin Pesticide to kill rodents and crop insects
Adapted from Schwarzman, M.R., and M.P. Wilson, 2009. New Furans By-product of processes that release dioxins; also
science for chemicals policy. Science 326: 1065–1066. present in commercial mixtures of PCBs
Heptachlor Broad-spectrum insecticide
Hexachlo- Fungicide for crops; released by chemical
The REACH policy also aims to help industry by giving robenzene manufacture and processes that release dioxins
it a single streamlined regulatory system and by exempting it and furans
from having to file paperwork on substances under 1 metric ton. Mirex Household insecticide; fire retardant in plastics,
By requiring stricter review of major chemicals already in use, rubber, and electronics
exempting chemicals made only in small amounts, and providing PCBs Industrial chemical used in heat-exchange fluids,
financial incentives for innovating new chemicals, the EU hopes electrical transformers and capacitors, paints,
to help European industries research and develop safer new sealants, and plastics
chemicals and products while safeguarding human health and the
environment. REACH differs markedly from TSCA (TAble 14.3), Toxaphene Insecticide to kill crop insects and livestock
parasites
illustrating how the approach that Europe is pursuing is different
from the approach being pursued in the United States. Data from United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 2001.
In an impacts assessment in 2003, EU commissioners
estimated that REACH will cost the chemical industry and toxic chemicals that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate
chemical users 2.8–5.2 billion euros (U.S. $3.8–7.0 billion) and biomagnify up the food chain, and often can travel long
over 11 years but that the health benefits to the public would distances. The PCBs and other contaminants found in polar
be roughly 50 billion euros (U.S. $67 billion) over 30 years. bears are a prime example. Because contaminants often cross
Changes in the program since then have made the predicted international boundaries, an international treaty seemed the
cost-to-benefit ratio even better. best way to deal fairly with such transboundary pollution. The
The world’s nations have also sought to address chemical Stockholm Convention aims first to end the use and release of
pollution with international treaties. The Stockholm Conven- 12 POPs shown to be most dangerous, a group nicknamed the
tion on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) came into force “dirty dozen” (TAble 14.4). It sets guidelines for phasing out
in 2004 and has been ratified by over 150 nations. POPs are these chemicals and encourages transition to safer alternatives.

Conclusion

International agreements such as REACH and the Stock- Whether the burden of proof is laid at the door of indus-
holm Convention represent a sign that governments may try or of government, we will never attain complete scien-
act to protect the world’s people, wildlife, and ecosystems tific knowledge of any risk. Rather, we must make choices
from toxic substances and other environmental hazards. At based on the information available. Synthetic chemicals have
the same time, solutions often come more easily when they brought us innumerable modern conveniences, a larger food
do not arise from government regulation alone. Consumer supply, and medical advances that save and extend human
choice exercised through the market can often be an effective lives. Human society would be very different without them.
way to influence industry’s decision making, but this requires Yet a safer and happier future, one that safeguards the well-
consumers have full information from scientific research being of both people and the environment, depends on know-
regarding the risks involved. Once scientific results are in, ing the risks that some hazards pose and on having means in
a society’s philosophical approach to risk management will place to phase out harmful substances and replace them with
402 determine what policy decisions are made. safer ones.

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