M8.4 Blog Chemical Policy Reform

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The background subject I chose was more comprehensive knowledge for safety data for all chemicals. We learned in the first few weeks of this class about the various ingredients in our products and found out that many companies use "proprietary information" to avoid listing various ingredients. This support of industry has gone too far in the sense that regulations are protecting these companies instead of the public. This background paper discussed the importance that having safety information made readily available to all people to ensure comprehensive understanding of the risks involved with the chemicals that we are exposed to. We as human beings have right to know what dangers we might be exposed to and these companies should be transparent to respect this right. This paper was vary informative and called for companies to be required to report all chemicals that they use and the potential health effects.

Comments

  1. Daisy AlbarranOctober 23, 2018 at 11:54 AM

    Hi Kera,
    You make a valid point in more knowledge for safety data. I think a measure to take it a step further would be to indicate what health risks the major components of a product causes to the body. I think it would work more as a "scare" tactic as well as an educational tactic. If people knew the harmful effects from chemical exposure, it could make people choose different products.

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  2. UnknownOctober 24, 2018 at 11:08 AM

    Hi Kera,
    Great summary of the background subject you focused on. Having more comprehensive knowledge for safety data for all chemicals is so important and I still wonder why this wasn’t considered before they began creating and releasing so many toxic chemicals in our environment. I completely agree that the power industries have to avoid regulations is ridiculous and has gone on for far too long. And you are right that we have the right to know about the toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis and the companies need to be more transparent.

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