AMA advocates for improved U.S. chemical policy

Posted on Sep 10, 2009 | Comments (0)

By Sarah E. Brown

During their June 2008 Annual Meeting, the American Medical Association House of Delegates resolved to advocate for improved chemical policy and environmental health practices in the United States.

The AMA, founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of physicians and medical students in the United States.

The AMA publishes the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), which has the largest circulation of any weekly medical journal in the world.

The AMA Committee tasked with making a recommendation to the larger body resolved that the AMA should call upon the United States government to “implement a national modern, comprehensive chemicals policy that is in line with current scientific knowledge on human and environmental health, and that requires a full evaluation of the health impacts of both newly developed and industrial chemicals now in use.”

This recommendation supported the restructuring of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to help federal and state agencies to efficiently assess “the human and environmental health hazards of industrial chemicals and reduce the use of those of greatest concern.”  They also advocated for improved management of chemicals throughout their life-cycle and minimized human and environmental health by 2020.

Peter Orris, MD and Erica Frank, President of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) introduced and supported these resolutions and guided them through the committee. Orris and Frank worked extensively with other medical advocates to develop these resolutions, which they hope will lead to safer U.S. chemical policies and regulatory reform of industrial chemicals to protect and improve human health.

In a June 20, 2008 e-mailed statement, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Food and Health Program Director and environmental health advocate Dr. David Wallinga said "I am quite happy to report to you that this recommendation of the AMA reference committee "D" passed the House of Delegates yesterday and is now policy of the AMA."

To help meet the goals of these resolutions, the AMA also supported efforts to encourage the training of medical students, physicians and other health professionals about the human health effects of toxic chemical exposures.

Click here to download a PDF of the American Medical Association 2008 Committee Resolutions.