Ideal Chemical Policy

After reviewing multiple materials, I really appreciate the simple, yet strong structure and recommendations listed in THE LOUISVILLE CHARTER FOR SAFER CHEMICALS. It covers an array of barriers that may come up in the development and implementation of a strong chemical policy. It also addresses multiple factors, placing a majority of the responsibility on the government and manufacturers. These include:

1. Substitutions and solutions for safer chemicals (green chemistry) 

2. Steps for phasing out toxic substances in already established manufacturing structures

3. Ethical issues such as public rights and workers rights

4. Acting based on current knowledge of harmful toxins

5. Public transparency of toxins and their harms 

6. The demand for timely action to prevent further harm 

All of the listed factors address necessary aspects of a safe chemical policy. I believe it requires more than consumer knowledge and choice to work towards safer environments, with much of the responsibility falling upon the larger entities that ultimately have all of the control of what goes to market. 

Of these factors, I want to point out the importance of the ethical dilemma of public and worker's rights. I believe that people of color and low-income communities are the most affected by harmful toxins. Exposure mostly occurs via the geographic location of their residence, their income, which forces these communities to purchase the cheaper and more harmful options, and their job environment (industrial exposure).

I would consider this group to be a vulnerable population with limited ability to seek appropriate protection from the government. For this reason, I believe this is one of the most important aspects of a chemical policy. It protects not only the community at large, but also those who are most affected by the presence of these chemicals in our environment.