The Nation

Thursday

Senators Craft Agreement to Revamp the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act

May 23, 2013 |

Bipartisan proposal would give regulators more power to force harmful chemicals off the market. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said they reached a groundbreaking agreement to overhaul the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act. The bill, supported by some health advocates and the chemical industry’s chief trade group, would rework a law that by all accounts has failed to protect Americans from harmful chemicals added to products including furniture, toys, baby items and electronics. If it passes, it would be the first time that a major U.S. environmental law was updated since the 1990. Under current law, the government has required testing for just 200 of the 84,000 chemicals registered in the U.S. The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune

Teen birthrate falls to a new record low in 2011, with biggest decline among Hispanics. U.S. figures show a rate of 31.3 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 19. That’s just over half the 1991 rate of 61.8 births per 1,000 teens, an all-time high. The teen birthrate has fallen most years since then, but the new report shows particularly steep drops, with a 25 percent decline in the overall teen birthrate since 2007. From 2007-11, teen birthrates fell at least 15 percent for all but two states, North Dakota and West Virginia. In that period the three largest population groups all experienced declines in their teen birthrates, with Hispanic teens falling the most, 34 percent, followed by drops of 24 percent for blacks and 20 percent for whites. USA Today

New anti-tobacco campaign urges smokers  to turn to their doctors for aid in quitting. The campaign, “Talk With Your Doctor,” also encourages physicians to ask patients whether they smoke and to offer help in giving up cigarettes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with five national physicians organizations, unveiled the initiative. Though 70 percent of smokers see doctors regularly, most try to quit smoking without professional help, said the CDC’s director, Dr. Thomas Frieden. He said a doctor’s advice and assistance more than doubles the odds that a smoker will quit, but “it is still too often not part of the routine doctor visit.” Los Angeles Times, MedPage Today

U.S. retailers remain sharply opposed to joining a global plan to improve safety at Bangladesh’s garment factories. The companies say they are concerned about legal liability. The issue has been debated since nearly three dozen European retailers embraced the plan last week, while almost all major U.S. companies shunned it, after the Rana Plaza factory building collapse on April 24 killed 1,127 workers. The plan was forged by retailers, union leaders and government officials overseas. A Columbia University corporate law professor said U.S. companies face higher risks of litigation than overseas competitors, but a recent Supreme Court decision could greatly reduce the ability of foreign plaintiffs to pursue such cases. The New York Times

California acts to prevent mercury-laden thermostats from harming the environment. The state issued regulations requiring thermostat makers to significantly increase the safe disposal of devices containing mercury. Selling thermostats with mercury has been banned in the state since 2006, but it is estimated that 5 million to 10 million are still in California homes and businesses. A regulator said nearly a ton of mercury from thermostats goes into California landfills every year. From there, it can seep into the water supply. Mercury exposure is linked to human neurological and cognitive damage. The Natural Resources Defense Council said California would be the first state with a “truly accountable” industry program. San Francisco Chronicle

Stuart Silverstein

Wednesday

New York City Will Speed Plans to Rid Schools of Light Fixtures Containing Toxic PCBs

May 22, 2013 |

In a deal with plaintiffs, New York agrees to remove hundreds of schools' tainted light fixtures by 2016. The Bloomberg administration, facing alarming though scattered leakages of smoke and tar from the classroom fixtures, said it will cut in half the time needed to replace them. The deal to complete the cleanup by the end of 2016, rather than by 2021, ...

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