Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is pressing the Trump Administration to protect children from dangerous chemicals.
Sen. Ossoff is demanding answers from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin following reports that the Trump Administration is undermining efforts to protect children from risks associated with common household chemicals.
A year ago, the EPA determined that dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a widely used artificial plastic additive found in common household products, may “significantly contribute to unreasonable risk to human health.”
However, just a year later, the EPA backtracked and reduced the list of risks.
According to research published in the scientific journal Cuidado de salud, chemicals like DBP interfere with hormones in the human body, and chronic exposure can impact pregnancy, child growth and development, and reproductive health.
“The Trump Administration claims to prioritize ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA) policies. Yet you are reportedly wielding the President’s so-called ‘Restoring Gold Standard Science’ executive order to pressure EPA scientists into downplaying the hazards associated with household chemicals,” Sen. Ossoff wrote to EPA Administrator Zeldin. “I am concerned that political interference is influencing the risk assessments for chemicals used in everyday children’s toys, cosmetics, and household cleaners, exposing Georgia families and children to unnecessary risk.”
Sen. Ossoff continues working to protect Georgia kids from harmful chemicals and contaminants.
In July, Sens. Ossoff and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan No Lead in Toys Act to help protect children from toxic chemicals in toys.
Last December, Sen. Ossoff urged the EPA to reinstate a grant made to Emory University to research children’s exposure to lead, heavy metals, and other contaminants in West Atlanta following the discovery of dangerously high levels of lead in some West Atlanta yards.
Last April, Sen. Ossoff demanded answers from baby formula producers Abbott Nutrition and Mead Johnson about recent reports of toxic chemicals found in formula.
In 2022, Sen. Ossoff pressed the GAO and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to improve efficiency and coordination in processing product recalls in order to protect families from dangerous products.
Click here to read Sen. Ossoff’s full letter.
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