The Safety of Chemical Products

Abstract

Exposures to everyday products such as household cleaners and personal care products potentially pose more actual exposure to chemicals than do Superfund sites. Product liability suits instill incentives for manufacturers to create safer products, but for those specific cases, the damage has already been done. A much-needed supplement to such indirect incentives is a product safety rating system. The system would need to be simple and clear. It would provide consumers with valuable information beyond today’s typical price–performance paradigm, and it would provide manufacturers a marketing tool with the creation of safer products as a benefit to all.