Newswise — Reston, Va.; March 6, 2014 — As the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee and Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee review bill language designed to overhaul the 38-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), members of the Society of Toxicology (SOT) are meeting and working with lawmakers to ensure that the scientific sections of the legislation have merit. Of key concern to toxicologists is that any resulting legislation is consistent with the best possible science while remaining flexible enough to accommodate future scientific advances.
“SOT is not advocating for funding or specific positions to be taken in a new chemical bill,” says Daland R. Juberg, PhD, chair of the SOT TSCA Subcommittee. “Instead, we are trying to use our collective knowledge on toxicology, chemical exposures, and risk assessment to inform legislation that can create a safer, healthier world.”
In its meetings and work with lawmakers on TSCA reform, the SOT has three guiding principles for legislators to consider:
- Avoid prescription of specific methods or techniques for generating toxicological information used in the safety and risk assessment process.
- Protect the authority of the US Environmental Protection Agency to judge when and how to apply new techniques and methods for generating information for safety and risk assessment.
- Apply concepts and language used in the safety and risk assessment process consistently throughout the proposed legislation.
Crafting a bill that provides guidance for chemical regulation while also allowing flexibility as technology and science advance is a delicate endeavor, which is why SOT has pledged to continue to meet and work with individuals on Capitol Hill to answer questions and provide feedback on the toxicological sciences.
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About SOTFounded in 1961, the Society of Toxicology (SOT) is a professional and scholarly organization of more than 7,700 scientists from academic institutions, government, and industry representing the great variety of individuals who practice toxicology in the US and abroad. SOT is committed to creating a safer and healthier world by advancing the science of toxicology. The Society promotes the acquisition and utilization of knowledge in toxicology, aids in the protection of public health, and has a strong commitment to education in toxicology and to the recruitment of students and new members into the profession. For more information about SOT and toxicology, visit the Society online at www.toxicology.org, follow us on Twitter @SOToxicology, and like us on Facebook.