By Katie Knapp Schubert
Omaha, NE – The Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance is putting its support behind efforts to update federal law concerning toxic chemicals.
The Alliance and advocacy group Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families want Congress to update the 1974 Toxic Substances Control Act. The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 would require all substances used in household products, building materials, and in the workplace to contain non-toxic chemicals.
Nickie Greco of the Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance says such an act would help further bring down elevated blood lead levels. "Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance is also going to another venue of a healthy home. So we're going out and not only doing risk assessments for lead but also for healthy homes, which would also entail asthma triggers and testing for radon and carbon monoxide."
The Safe Chemicals Act could be voted on this fall in the U.S. Senate. It's currently in the Environment and Public Works committee.