Fact Check: The 2016 update to the Toxic Substances Control Act required testing and regulation of thousands of chemicals used in everyday products.

Fact Check: "The 2016 update to the Toxic Substances Control Act required testing and regulation of thousands of chemicals used in everyday products."

What We Know

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was originally enacted in 1976 and was significantly amended in 2016 through the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. This amendment aimed to enhance the regulation of chemicals in commerce, requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate the risks of chemicals and to consider the potential exposure of vulnerable populations (source-1).

The amended TSCA mandates that the EPA conduct risk evaluations for chemicals already in commerce and determine if they pose an "unreasonable risk" to human health and the environment. It also requires the agency to regulate any existing chemical deemed to pose such a risk (source-1). However, the law does not automatically require testing for all chemicals but rather establishes a framework for evaluating them based on specific criteria.

The EPA has been tasked with prioritizing chemicals for evaluation, but as of now, the number of chemicals that have undergone this process is limited. For example, the EPA has completed risk evaluations for only ten chemicals since the amendments were enacted (source-1).

Analysis

While the claim that the 2016 update to TSCA requires testing and regulation of thousands of chemicals is partially accurate, it lacks context. The amended TSCA does not mandate immediate testing for all existing chemicals; instead, it requires the EPA to evaluate and prioritize chemicals based on risk. This means that while thousands of chemicals are potentially subject to evaluation, the actual number that has been tested or regulated is significantly lower.

The EPA's implementation of the amended TSCA has faced criticism for not fully incorporating best scientific practices, which has led to underestimations of health risks associated with chemical exposures (source-1). Furthermore, the burden of data collection for existing chemicals remains largely on the EPA rather than manufacturers, which complicates the regulatory process (source-1).

The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high, as they include peer-reviewed articles and official EPA documentation. However, it is essential to note that some sources may have inherent biases based on their affiliations, such as industry perspectives versus public health advocacy (source-3).

Conclusion

The claim is Partially True. The 2016 update to the TSCA indeed established a framework for the testing and regulation of chemicals, requiring the EPA to evaluate risks and prioritize chemicals for assessment. However, it does not guarantee that all thousands of chemicals will be tested or regulated immediately. The actual implementation has been slower and more limited than the claim suggests, with only a small fraction of chemicals undergoing thorough evaluation thus far.

Sources

1. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Implementation
2. Updates to New Chemicals Regulations under the Toxic ...
3. Toxic Substances Control Act and the Regulation ...
4. Summary of the Toxic Substances Control Act | US EPA
5. Regulation of Chemicals under Section 6(a) of the Toxic ...
6. Updates to New Chemicals Regulations Under the Toxic ...
7. Senate Approves Update of Toxic-Chemical Regulations
8. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)