Senate democrats push for chemical-law reform

WASHINGTON — Three Democratic U.S. senators are seeking Republican support for a measure that would overhaul the Toxic Substances Control Act, which regulates toxic chemicals, Bloomberg reported.

The measure, which is opposed by many in the chemical industry, would require safety testing of all industrial chemicals and force chemical makers to show that new compounds are safe.

Under current law, the Environmental Protection Agency can only call for safety testing after evidence is presented showing that a chemical is dangerous.

According to the American Chemistry Council, the bill imposes an unworkable safety standard and mandates the disclosure of confidential business information.