The Center believes that the piecemeal approach of addressing toxics chemical by chemical is not working. We are taking an active role in advocating for a comprehensive approach to toxics. Drawing from the REACH legislation in the European Union and a report from the University of California, we will promote policy that uses the Precautionary Principle to assess alternatives to dangerous chemicals, and places the burden of proof for safety on the chemical manufacturer.

Using a precautionary approach as a policy framework is an effective way to support prevention of toxic pollution and to prevent harm to the environment, human health, wildlife, and ecological systems. The precautionary principle is an approach to decision-making which requires consideration of the full range of direct and indirect costs of actions to public health and the environment. It includes taking anticipatory action to prevent harm when a threat of harm is known. It also includes evaluation based on the best available science. The duty to prevent harm is shared by government, business, community groups, and the general pubic.

Program update

The Oregon Center for Environmental Health has been able to promote implementation of several major efforts that are moving the agenda for comprehensive chemical policy reform forward in a significant way: OCEH advocated our position in the legislature and in meetings with the Governor’s office and is pleased that two interim work groups have been formed to address toxics reduction issues.

The Governor’s Office has included Toxics Reduction as one of four top natural resource issues for the upcoming 2009 legislative session. The Environmental Quality Commission is following Toxics Reduction issues closely, and has expressed interest in the Call for Safer Chemicals as well as what can be done under current regulatory authority to reduce exposures to toxic chemicals.

The Governor’s Toxics Reduction Work Group is embarking on a collaborative effort to address toxics issues that affect environmental quality, public health and our natural resources at the state agency level. The Workgroup on Pesticide Use In and Around Schools is developing information and policy options for more precautionary and preventive approaches to potentially harmful chemicals initially focusing on schools as one of the most important settings for children’s exposure.

The Center has also had an opportunity recently to speak directly to the Environmental Quality Commission as they engage in strategic planning for the direction DEQ will take over the next three years. OCEH testimony emphasized the need to move beyond end of the pipe controls and clean up of contaminated sites to development of new policies that require proof that chemicals do not harm public health or the environment and if they do, to limit their use and promote safer alternatives.

OCEH is also convening a Roundtable Planning Group to bring together professionals in the areas of hazardous waste, pollution prevention, toxics reduction and safer chemicals. The Roundtable mission is to serve, protect and advocate for Oregonians and the environment that sustains us through achieving toxics reduction and safer chemicals policy reform. The Roundtable is finishing up an endorsement package for Call for Safer Chemicals.

We are developing policy packages to make Oregon and Oregonians healthier by reducing toxics, and will launch a Toxics Reduction and Safer Chemicals Campaign in the coming weeks. Email us at chemicals@oregon-health.org to get involved!

We are also setting up two communication tools related to our Roundtable work. Please send an email to chemicals@oregon-health.org if you would like to be added to the Chemicals Policy email list serve for announcements and updates about OCEH and partner related activities and events. We will also be setting up shared online workspace areas for Roundtable participants, and will post reference documents and online resources. We will let you know via the Chemicals Policy list serve when the sites are open for users, and please keep this in mind if you run across new materials that are especially helpful.