title: The need for better public health decisions on chemicals released into our environment.
abstract: Protecting the health of the public-particularly the most vulnerable groups, such as children-requires rethinking current approaches to reducing environmental risks. We review the evolving understanding of the relationship between exposure to chemicals in the environment and disease, as well as the current state of managing those chemicals. We present recommendations to improve current approaches, including changing the burden of proof so that chemicals are not presumed safe in the absence of scientific data. We also propose modernizing approaches to assessing health risks.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. woodrufft@obgyn.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Tracey J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Woodruff
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeise
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D033161:Government Regulation; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000633:toxicity*; D006256:Hazardous Waste / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006256:Hazardous Waste