ch 4

COMMON POLICY IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

• Rise of Awareness (Post-1998)

  • Before 1998, general public ignorance about phthalates.

  • Greenpeace International's report in November 1998 highlights the risks of diisononyl phthalate (DINP) in toys made from vinyl (e.g., pacifiers, toys).

  • The campaign significantly raised public awareness and debate about the safety of plasticizers.

A TOXIC NIGHTMARE FROM TOYLAND?

• Public Response to Chemical Accusation

  • Greenpeace claimed DINP used in toys could harm children, linked to liver damage observed in lab studies on rats.

  • Rapid media dissemination of the claim resulted in widespread public concern and backlash against chemical manufacturers and toy producers.

• The Scope of Controversy

  • The controversy extended beyond toys to other products using plasticizers, impacting consumer goods, medical equipment, and packaging materials.

  • Media coverage, including ABC’s 20/20, propelled the issue into a broader public awareness campaign.

• Political and Industrial Reactions

  • Twelve consumer and environmental groups urged the CPSC to ban vinyl toys.

  • Debate over safety pitted environmentalists against manufacturers and trade groups who defended DINP.

  • Parents became increasingly anxious about the safety and health implications for their children.

THE POLITICAL FRONT

• Regulatory Actions and Recommendations

  • Following Greenpeace’s announcement, CPSC advised caution regarding vinyl products with DINP.

  • Major toy manufacturers, including Mattel, defended the safety of their products but began to phase out DINP.

• The Industry's Shift

  • In 1999, Mattel announced plans to switch to plant-based materials, anticipating regulatory pressures and consumer demand.

  • In 2003, CPSC voted to maintain DINP in toys, citing lack of demonstrable health risks.

SCIENTIFIC ENIGMA: INDICATING RISKS

• Assessing Risks of Plasticizers

  • Concerns remained over how much phthalate could be absorbed by children through mouth-based exposure.

  • Inconsistencies in animal testing results questioned the reliability of existing liver damage data linked to DINP.

  • Long-term health effects of exposure were uncertain and could take years to manifest.

THE CONTROVERSY CONTINUES

• Persistent Concerns and New Research

  • Ongoing studies raised new concerns about the masculinity of male infants and breast cancer associations with phthalates.

  • California's legislative bans on phthalate-laden products exemplified increased consumer advocacy.

• Federal Legislative Changes

  • In 2008, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Reform Act which banned DINP and reinforced testing protocols for children's products.

  • Ongoing disputes about the safety and analytics of phthalates and their widespread presence in consumer products continued into the 2010s.

RISK ASSESSMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

• Structure of Risk Assessment

  • The EPA's rigor in conducting thousands of risk assessments annually based on scientific research and existing data.

  • Guidelines necessitate federal agencies to evaluate the risks associated with substances and the actions reducing them.

• Involvement of Science and Politics

  • Traditional risk assessment often merges scientific data with political pressures, complicating decision-making processes for public officials.

• Challenges in Data and Analysis

  • Lack of comprehensive and reliable data hampers effective risk management, leading to incomplete conclusions about environmental hazards.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: definitions and implications

• The Meaning of Environmental Justice

  • Recognition of inequities affecting minority groups due to disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards.

  • Requires fair treatment and active involvement of individuals consequently affected by environmental decisions.

• Historical Context and Growth

  • Landmark cases, such as environmental racism claims, helped propel environmental justice into mainstream policy discussions, particularly during the Obama era.

THE MOVEMENT'S IMPACT

• Case Studies and Political Actions

  • Success in mobilizing grassroots movements to confront local environmental injustices, as seen in cases like Flint, Michigan.

  • Growing awareness and documentation of environmental impacts faced by low-income populations and minorities.

CONCLUSION: The Future of Environmental Regulation

• Call for Technological Responsibility

  • Ethical considerations regarding the long-term impacts and sustainability of environmental management decisions.

  • Emphasizes the need for comprehensive regulatory frameworks that prioritize preventive measures.