M8.5 Ideal Chemical Policy

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After watching all of the provided videos and reading material blog about what you think is essential for an ideal chemical policy and then elaborate on one of the elements from a public health protection perspective.

 An ideal chemical policy requires many different elements. Essential parts of the policy would include placing strict regulations on chemical use, enforcing transparency regarding chemicals in products, testing chemicals before allowing them to be used on or in products, and banning them if they cause harmful effects to the environment, humans, or animals. In addition to these points, it would be necessary to implement in the policy the involvement of the community and workers in the reform and changes made to chemical policy. 
As we have become so dependent on chemical use in our practices today, it would be unrealistic to implement a policy that would cut out chemical use altogether. That is a goal that we should work towards eventually, as we develop new technologies to replace pesticides and other chemicals. This being said, it would be more feasible to phase out the use of chemicals rather than ban them abruptly. The reduction and regulation of chemical use is necessary to improve our health, the environment and quality of life for animals and other living creatures.

When it comes to public health, transparency regarding ingredients in products is extremely important. Individuals should know and understand what they put in their bodies, on their bodies, use on their crops, and so on and so forth. Thus, the involvement of communities and those working with chemicals should be aware of what they are using or working with. Those in the community should also be allowed to know what they are purchasing for themselves or their families and be able to participate in creating change. 

Comments

  1. Ashley SubramaniMarch 19, 2018 at 1:35 PM

    Hey Loren,

    Transparency is absolutely necessary. We as the consumer and the one's being exposed have the right to know what we are exactly being exposed to. At this point, we are blindly accepting being exposed to toxic chemicals. Testing also should be done extensively before use is allowed, not the other way around where the damage has already been done to a person's health.

    -Ashley

    ReplyDelete

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