Household goods are often formulated with synthetic chemicals that can affect our health. Household cleaners, construction materials, carpeting, mattresses, upholstered furniture, and craft supplies are among the products that may contain toxic chemicals. Chemicals in household products may include flame retardants, water repellents, fragrances, plasticizers, and solvents. Unfortunately, not all of 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 women 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 Trump administration made efforts to weaken TSCA. We have since seen signs that the Biden EPA is getting chemical safety back on track. Challenges remain and work lies ahead to repair the damage done by the former administration and to stave off future threats in an effort to advance a broader vision of health protection for everyone.

Moms will continue to support the strongest possible version of TSCA. 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.