Our nation's toxic chemical policy: Time for a little sanity
As seen in the Danbury NewsTimes
I grew up in Danbury, CT – Hat City, USA – famous for its thriving hat making industry. Prior to the 1943, mercury nitrate was used in the hat factories, and as a result many workers suffered from mercury poisoning. I always thought it was bizarre that people ‘back then’ would allow such a dangerous, probably untested, substance to be used. I thought the workers were crazy to expose themselves to it. I didn’t understand why people would even buy these hats, knowing that dangerous chemicals were used in their production. What a good thing, I thought, that humankind has come so far. Or so I thought.
As a pregnant mom-to-be, I was anxious to provide the safest possible environment for my child. I thought this would be an fairly straightforward task – recommendations from trusted friends, internet research, label checking – the basics. But there was nothing straightforward or basic about it. BPA in bottles. Phthalates in teethers. Parabens in lotions. Hormones in meat. Lead in supposedly safe toys. Questionable plastics in, well, just about everything. And no clear labels on which to base decisions. It seemed impossible that these potentially lethal items were being sold to the unknowing public and no one was doing anything about it. I was truly shocked. I still am.
It isn’t just our children we need to protect. Everyone knows someone afflicted with one of the many, many conditions that can be linked to environmental health – from cancer and autoimmune disease to allergies and asthma. In addition to the terror of pediatric cancer and the threat of early puberty, I am spurred on by my family’s propensity to autoimmune diseases, ranging from diabetes and allergies to rheumatic conditions. I’m convinced that controllable factors in our environment greatly increase our risk of these diseases. I don’t want my children – any children – to experience any of these pains firsthand.
It’s like the story of Danbury’s poor ‘Mad Hatters’ all over again, but on a grand scale. Wouldn’t it be great if in years to come we could refer back to this insane period of uncontrolled toxin exposure as a sinister story and cautionary tale? That’s my goal.
Katharine Curtin
Boyds, Maryland
To get involved with toxic chemical reform in Maryland, please visit our coalition member, the Maryland PIRG.
To get involved with toxic chemical reform in Connecticut, please visit our coalition member, the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut.
