Toxic Chemicals - High Risk Issue
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faces long-standing challenges assessing and controlling the risks associated with toxic chemicals.
Tens of thousands of chemicals are currently in EPA's chemical inventory and an average of 1,500 new chemicals are introduced into commerce each year. EPA conducts chemical toxicity assessments under its Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program and is authorized under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to obtain information on the risks of chemicals and control those it determines pose an unreasonable risk. Obtaining adequate scientific information on chemical toxicity and exposure levels and completing timely, credible chemical toxicity assessment have been long-standing challenges for EPA. Such assessments are the cornerstone of scientifically sound environmental decisions, policies, and regulations under a variety of environmental statutes, such as the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Air Act. Because EPA had not developed sufficient chemical assessment information under these programs to limit exposure to many chemicals that may pose substantial health risks, we added this issue to the High Risk List in 2009.
GAO-14-763: Published: Sep 29, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 2014.
GAO-13-369: Published: May 10, 2013. Publicly Released: Jun 10, 2013.
GAO-13-249: Published: Mar 22, 2013. Publicly Released: Apr 29, 2013.
GAO-12-42: Published: Dec 9, 2011. Publicly Released: Jan 9, 2012.
GAO-08-440: Published: Mar 7, 2008. Publicly Released: Apr 29, 2008.
GAO-07-825: Published: Aug 17, 2007. Publicly Released: Sep 25, 2007.
More Reports
GAO-16-722T: Published: Jun 14, 2016. Publicly Released: Jun 14, 2016.
GAO-16-111R: Published: Oct 9, 2015. Publicly Released: Oct 9, 2015.
GAO-13-254: Published: Aug 12, 2013. Publicly Released: Sep 11, 2013.
GAO-13-696T: Published: Jun 13, 2013. Publicly Released: Jun 13, 2013.
GAO-12-732: Published: Sep 5, 2012. Publicly Released: Oct 9, 2012.
GAO-12-148T: Published: Oct 6, 2011. Publicly Released: Oct 6, 2011.
GAO-11-824T: Published: Jul 14, 2011. Publicly Released: Jul 14, 2011.
GAO-11-422T: Published: Mar 2, 2011. Publicly Released: Mar 2, 2011.
GAO-10-205: Published: Jan 28, 2010. Publicly Released: Mar 17, 2010.
GAO-10-292T: Published: Dec 2, 2009. Publicly Released: Dec 2, 2009.