Several Washington-D.C. based health organizations believe that the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which has not been updated since 1976, is not strong enough to keep the most vulnerable members of society, infants and children, safe from the risks posed by such harmful chemicals as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and asbestos.  The way the TSCA handles asbestos in particular, has caused an important debate.

Asbestos is a highly toxic mineral fiber that is known to cause such fatal diseases as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the lungs, abdomen, and cardiac cavity.  Children can be exposed to asbestos at school or even in their own home, as many pre-1980’s buildings were constructed with asbestos-containing materials.

Sarah Janssen, senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council, has described the TSCA as “so weak” that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot fully rid industry of all dangerous chemicals.  Asbestos is the perfect example, according to Janssen.  Although the TSCA says there is “no safe level of exposure” and that contact with asbestos “should be avoided,” the only action the law actually requires is informing the public about the dangers of asbestos and ensuring that companies that use the chemical comply with regulatory standards.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children’s developing brains and bodies are far more vulnerable than adults’ to asbestos, and many children are even susceptible while in the womb, making pregnant women also at higher risk when exposed.  Children exposed to asbestos are not only at risk of developing malignant mesothelioma as adults, but also more likely to suffer from severe respiratory illnesses, the effects of which can be seen very early on.

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