Who’s Protecting Us from Harmful Chemicals? (And Why It’s Not Enough)
When you buy a product - whether it’s shampoo, makeup, or a cleaning spray - you probably assume that it’s been tested for safety. I mean, products wouldn’t be sold in stores if they weren’t safe? After all – there regulations in place to protect us – right?
The short answer…. Our government should be, but in the U.S., our current system doesn’t offer nearly enough protection from harmful chemical exposures. And unfortunately, most people don’t realize how many gaps still exist.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for regulating most of the chemicals we encounter in commerce through a law called the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
TSCA was first passed in 1976 and it came with a huge loophole: any chemical already in use at the time (over 60,000 of them) was automatically allowed to stay on the market without any safety testing. These chemicals were effectively “grandfathered in,” without adequate or any safety testing.
In 2016, Congress finally passed an update to TSCA. While this was a step in the right direction, it still didn’t go far enough. New chemicals STILL don’t have to be proven safe before they’re allowed into the marketplace, they just can’t be proven unsafe. That’s a big difference.
In 2022, the U.S. passed the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MOCRA) which was a big deal, because it was the first major update to cosmetic safety laws in over 80 years (since 1938 to be exact).
MOCRA *finally* gave the FDA the authority to recall unsafe cosmetic products, which sounds like progress and it is. But here’s the catch: companies still aren’t required to prove their products are safe before putting them on shelves. They’re just expected to keep safety records…. somewhere.
That means your shampoo, lipstick, or lotion may contain ingredients that haven’t been adequately tested for long-term health effects - especially when used daily or in combination with other products.
The Science Is Clear, But the Regulations Aren’t
The field of public health has been sounding the alarm for years: environmental exposures are a major contributor to many chronic diseases. From hormone-disrupting chemicals in plastics to heavy metals in makeup to air pollution from nearby industries, the evidence is growing.
Yet, the policy response hasn’t caught up with the science.
Chemical regulations are complicated, but the bottom line is that we need stronger rules for everything from polluting industries to food packaging so that consumers (that’s all of us!) aren’t left to navigate all this on our own. Trying to figure out confusing labels, look up ingredients, and try to avoid harmful exposures can be stressful. The burden shouldn’t fall on individuals to figure out which chemicals might impact their health.
What Needs to Change
Chemical regulation is complex, but the need for change is simple. If we want to protect public health, we need:
Stronger, science-based regulations that prioritize human health
Pre-market safety testing for all consumer products - especially those used on the body or in the home
Transparency and accountability from manufacturers
Better enforcement of laws that are already on the books
Protection for vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, frontline communities exposed to industrial pollution
At the end of the day, we shouldn’t have to be chemical safety experts just to buy a bottle of lotion or pack a school lunch. We deserve a system that protects us before harm is done - not one that waits for people to get sick.
Until our laws catch up, awareness is our best defense. But real change requires more than label-reading - it requires pushing for better policies that put public health first. And that’s exactly why I do what I do!
Want to dive deeper into this topic and learn how to reduce everyday exposures in your own home? I cover this in my 5-Weeks to a Healthier Home course - because navigating all of this shouldn’t be something you have to do alone.
*Note: the course is getting an update this fall so you can save $100 if you enroll now! But hurry because this savings won’t last long. 😊
