U.S. Government Keeps Chemicals Secret

An article in the Washington Post (1.4.2010) reported that of 84,000 chemicals in commercial use in the United States, nearly 20% are kept secret.  Why the big secret?  The Environmental Protection Agency, the government agency designed to protect us, the citizens, worked with industry to help them protect trade secrets.

Why does industry need protection?  Industry claimed it needed protection in order to protect trade secrets and their market share. I guess their market share is more important than the health of the U.S. citizens.  “Even acknowledging what chemical is used or what is made at what facility could convey important information to competitors…,” said the president of the American Chemical Society. 

Of the secret chemicals, 151 are made of quantities of more than 1 million tons a year and 10 are used specifically in children’s products according to the EPA.  Only a small number of EPA employees know the identities of the chemicals and they are legally barred from revealing that information. 

Folks, I can’t make this stuff up.  Truth is truly stranger than fiction. 

What can you do?  You can make sure your detoxification pathways are optimally functioning by eating a good diet (free of refined food), drinking adequate amounts of water (generally two liters per day for adults) and ensuring you have adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals on board.  One vitamin that is particularly important is vitamin C.  Vitamin C aids in many detoxification pathways and can help neutralize toxins in the body.  I would suggest taking 3-5,000mg/day of vitamin C (assuming you don’t get diarrhea).  When you are ill, you may need to increase your dose.