Exposed by Mark Schaprio

Mark Schapiro’s book, Exposed, The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What’s at Stake for American Power focuses on the misuse of chemicals today. He explains the different approach in regulating chemicals in the U. S. and the European Union, and how the two assess risk differently for their societies. The Europeans assess inherent toxicity based on evidence, and if a chemical is determined to potentially cause harm, it is prevented from being used. Americans require conclusive scientific evidence of toxic exposure before acting. The European approach is precautionary, while the U. S. approach is to wait until after a problem has already been documented. The result is that many chemicals banned in Europe are used in the U. S. Public concern is increasing over the potentially toxic effects of chemicals in hundreds of creams, lotions, shampoos, lip sticks, nail polishes, etc. Schapiro notes that the average American adult is exposed to over one hundred chemicals from personal-care products daily. (page 22). He writes:
Every morning across America, tens of millions of women apply from twelve to twenty ‘personal-care’ products to themselves, according to the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA). From tubes and bottles and delicate brushes come the tools of beauty, hygiene, and self-preservation know as cosmetics. American women might assume that somebody has been watching to ensure that potential toxins in those ingredients are kept away from intimate contact with the body’s largest organ, the skin. They would be wrong. (page 25)
Society assumes the government is a protector but its job is oversight, having minimal authority to regulate the chemicals in cosmetics.
Schapiro writes:
While the U. S. regulators are impelled to seek a scientifically improbable smoking gun – evidence that comes when disaster actually strikes [with toxic chemicals] – their European counterparts act on the principle of preventing harm before it happens, even in the face of scientific uncertainty. (page 52)
The Europeans do not wait until there is 100% certainty that a chemical is toxic. By the time there is definitive proof it could be too late. This is an example of applying ethics to a risk scenario rather than waiting for the sword of Damocles to fall. Ironically, there are a few examples where a drug, specifically thalidomide, was sold in Europe but banned in the U. S.
Plastic softeners called ‘phthalates’ are used everywhere in toys, bottles, raincoats, perfumes, shower curtains, medical tubing, car dashboards, and even rubber ducks. When plastics age the phthalates vaporize and come in direct contact with the skin. The new smell in cars is an example. The most commonly used phthalate has the chemical name di(2ethylhexyl) phthalate, DEHP, and the formula, C24H38O4.
It has been banned by The European Union because of the potential to cause sexual malformations in young boys. The Merck Index of chemicals notes: “This substance may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen.” (#1262 page 1256).Schapiro also indicates there is evidence that there is some association between phthalates exposure and male genital development. (page 45). Currently, there is increasing pressure to get phthalates banned in the U. S. due to probable toxicity.
Obviously there are thousands of chemicals which are truly beneficial having seen no detrimental effects. These chemicals have helped society in countless ways and chemists are responsible for the discovery or synthesis and application of them. Unfortunately, there are many that have been cited that do cause problems to society and the environment. With the advent of new technology and testing it may be possible to better screen out those chemicals that have the potential to do harm and substitute others or more natural ways to address a need. The balance between the need for certain chemical applications and the good of society are not mutually exclusive.