Household goods are often formulated with synthetic chemicals that can affect our health. Cleaners, construction materials, carpeting, mattresses, upholstered furniture, and craft supplies are among the products that may contain toxic chemicals. Chemicals in everyday products may include flame retardants, water repellents, fragrances, plasticizers, and solvents. Unfortunately, not all these chemicals are required to be tested for human health before making their way into consumer products.

Many of the chemicals found in household products are detectable in our bloodstreams, indicating that we are routinely exposed to these substances and they are getting in our bodies. The number of chemicals is vast and health impacts vary, but some found in everyday products have been linked to a range of potential health problems, including cancer, developmental disorders, reproductive problems, endocrine problems, and more. Children and pregnant people are uniquely vulnerable.

Black women and babies are frequently overexposed to toxic chemicals in everyday products. For example, many of the beauty products marketed specifically to women of color contain high levels of toxic chemicals known to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Women of color who work in the beauty industry, especially as hair care professionals, are also routinely exposed to an outsize amount of toxic chemicals in hair straighteners, relaxers, and dyes.

A landmark lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson awarded billions to a group of women with cancer, saying that the company knew there was asbestos in its baby powder. The majority of women in the lawsuit were Black; the powder was heavily marketed to them.

The first Trump administration made efforts to weaken TSCA, and we expect the second one to also. Moms will continue to support the strongest possible version of TSCA in an effort to advance a broader vision of health protection for everyone. We also support people and organizations asking manufacturers and retailers to step in where our government won’t to make sure the products they make and sell are safe for children and families.