Toxic Chemicals
Faith and Toxics
The Bible calls upon us to care for our bodies as if they were temples to the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 6:19-20) and to care for the most vulnerable (Matthew 18:1-14). Yet we are exposed to toxic chemicals in everyday products like disinfectants, foam baby products, cookware, and building materials. These environmental hazards represent one of the greatest threats to the health of God’s people and Creation.
In 1976, Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (ToSCA) to ensure the safety of industrial chemicals in commerce. Yet the law as writtern fails to protect us.
Today, more than 84,000 synthetic chemicals are registered for use. Only 200 chemicals have been fully tested for safety by the EPA and five classes of chemicals have been restricted in 35 years (U.S. Government Accountability Office). Due to more sophisticated testing and increased knowledge, we now know that not all of these chemicals are safe. Read our faith principles for a just and moral vision of chemical policy reform.
About Our Work
We focus on providing education and advocacy opportunities for people of faith on environmental health issues such as safe cosmetics and toxic chemicals. We work in states across the country to provide worship and education materials and opportunities to weigh in with policymakers.
Learn More
- Toxic audit for congregations from GreenFaith
- Ideas for less toxic living
- See a study of industrial chemicals in infant cord blood by the Environmental Working Group.
- Read Is It In Us a study of chemicals in people across the country.
- Find a list of existing or proposed state legislation to address toxic chemicals.
- Safer Chemicals Healthy Families
- Links to other Environmental Health organizations and resources
Other Environmental Health Issues
- Air Quality
- Children’s and Women’s Health
- Cosmetics
- Environmental Justice and Health
- Flame Retardants
- Food and Health
- Lead
- Mercury
- Pesticides
- Plastics
For More Information Contact:
Chloe Schwabe
Environmental Health Initiative
National Council of Churches
110 Maryland Ave., NE, Suite 108
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 481-6932
info@nccecojustice.org