IGNORANCE IS BLISS? BALANCING THE PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO KNOW AND INDUSTRY’S CLAIM TO CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS INFORMATION IN TSCA REFORM
Author: Amanda Follett
“We can no longer operate under the assumption that what we do not know about a chemical substance cannot hurt us.” These words were spoken by Senator James B. Pearson (R-KS) during a March 26, 1976 debate concerning enactment of a bill that became the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601–2602 (TSCA or the “Act”); however, they remain true today. While consumer awareness is rising, many are still astounded to learn about the overwhelming number of potentially dangerous, toxic, and carcinogenic chemicals that we are exposed to everyday.