August 26, 2024Coming Clean opposes misuse of New Approach Methods in determining chemical safety
New fact sheet encourages EPA to rely on proven science
Download the factsheet in English and Spanish.
Environmental health and farmworker advocacy organizations are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to adhere to proven science when assessing the safety of chemicals regulated under its statutory authority, and warn against the misuse of New Approach Methods (NAMs) to designate pesticides and other harmful chemicals as safe. A new fact sheet explains that NAMs - which are mostly unproven and include biochemical, molecular, and cell-based assays and computational models widely promoted by the chemical industry as an alternative to rodent tests - “frequently understate or incorrectly evaluate hazard and risk with potentially harmful consequences for workers, families, wildlife and ecosystems.”
Last year, 38 environmental health and justice organizations co-signed a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan expressing their “deep concern regarding EPA’s efforts to prematurely reduce or eliminate whole rodent testing of chemicals.” They also encouraged EPA to take scientifically sound steps to reduce the need for rodent testing, consistent with the Louisville Charter for Safer Chemicals, which is endorsed by over 125 organizations. These steps include regulating chemicals as classes, promoting the need to eliminate unnecessary chemicals especially chemicals known or suspected to cause harm, and supporting the use and development of safer alternatives.
“If the EPA misuses weak and unreliable toxicity test methods to approve chemicals or fails to regulate them without adequate testing, those suffering the greatest harm will be vulnerable populations, including pregnant people,farmworkers, fenceline and frontline communities and other environmental justice populations—often underserved and communities of color—who breathe, drink, and ingest toxic chemical pollution every day,” states the fact sheet, which was co-developed by the Natural Resources Defense Council, Coming Clean, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Earthjustice, Farmworker Association of Florida, Toxic Free Future, and the Environmental Defense Fund.
"We are alarmed that EPA is relying on these new, unproven tests to justify reducing protection from pesticide exposure. Farmworkers and their children will bear the brunt of this reckless decision." stated Anne Katten of California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, who coordinates Coming Clean’s collaborative team on Farmworker Health and Justice.
Download the factsheet in English and Spanish.