Chemicals in Sweden guilty until proven innocent

From: Damien Raphael Sullivan (phoenix@ugcs.caltech.edu)
Date: Tue Dec 12 2000 - 20:46:52 MST


>From _Science_: 1 Dec 2000:

Sweden has new rules; persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals will be
presumed dangerous until proven otherwise, and banned from use. This rules
will be applied to chemicals in use, not just old ones. There's a good chance
the EU will move in the same direction. persistent: Half-life of more than 8
weeks in aqueous environments; bioaccumulative: being 2000 times more likely
to accumulate in fish tissue than seawater. Companies bear the costs of
testing.

Seems pretty reasonable to me, actually. But then I spent the day learning
about milk-based paint and low-impact household cleansers (hydrogen peroxide,
baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice, salt (abrasive)).

-xx- Damien X-)



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