Many of the chemicals for daily use and routine activities like washing clothes, cleaning dishes and moping the floor have never been tested for safety. Since the inception of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) became law in 1976, the number of chemicals in commercial products has risen from 60,000 to over 80,000, yet the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required testing in only around 200 and restricted the use of just five of these chemicals.

Under the TSCA, chemicals are deemed safe unless proven otherwise. This is part of the problem in the BP fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster. Despite orders from federal regulators to use something less toxic in combating the oil spill BP continues using the chemical dispersant Corexit 9500. The EPA has raised concerns about the agent’s short-term use in regard to aquatic life and long-term effect and use is virtually unknown. However, BP is continuing to use this chemical agent by thousands of gallons and maybe million gallons if truth be known, not understanding the ramifications of the after effects of the dispersant. Nalco, the Illinois-based company that makes the chemical dispersant was not available for comment all week.

One week after the oil spill was announced there were several TV specials explaining several natural ways that could be used to disperse and absorb the oil; hair, hay, straw, and skimmers, these methods were all rejected by BP along with any but what they approved. What will this dispersant bring in the future to the Gulf Coast…more chemical toxins.

The Safe Chemicals Act, introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. in early 2010, would give the EPA a greater authority to regulate both new and existing chemicals. This would allow the agency to take swift action on chemicals that may demonstrate high risk or be a possible health hazard. The manufacturers would be required to prove that the chemicals in their products are safe for long and short-term use and not be a threat to human and other life forms. However, this does little to avert the looming Gulf disaster, which is growing worse by the day.

As a doctor I am concerned with the chemical toxics that many are going to be exposed to during the cleanup and afterward. We only thought we had a toxic environment around Mobile Bay due to the many chemical factories that located around the bay due to the great commercial egress and ingress of the area by sea, land and air. Now, when we were just beginning to clean up the bay areas that were of concern; pelicans, eagles, manatees and other wildlife making the Gulf home are threatened more than ever. Human toxicity will surely increase even if the spill is stopped this week. I only hope this teaches us not to let big chemical; oil, gas, pharmaceutical, and others dictate policy because of their financial status. All of this could have been averted by more emphasis on safety and less on financial. Health care is a hudge problem in our society already; let’s not add more fuel to the fire.

Any questions or comments about this article should be addressed to the author at the following: bamashogun@aol.com or www.alternative-concepts.com or www.baldwincountynow.com