Toxic Chemicals, Clean Water & the Law Protecting You ft. Sarah Vogel
There's a federal law that's supposed to protect you from toxic chemicals in your baby bottles, your carpet, your drinking water, and your kid's toys. Most people have never heard of it — and right now, some lawmakers are trying to quietly weaken it. In this episode, Corey sits down with Sarah Vogel, Senior Vice President for Healthy Communities at the Environmental Defense Fund, to break down the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): how it went from a "dog that never barked" to a bipartisan reform ten years ago, why Black and brown communities carry the heaviest burden of chemical exposure, and what's actually at stake if these protections get rolled back. Sarah also shares real, practical steps you can take at home — no chemistry degree required.
This episode is brought to you by Goodfeed.
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In this episode:
- What TSCA is, why it was passed in 1976, and why it barely worked for 40 years
- The 2016 bipartisan reform that finally gave the EPA real authority to review chemicals
- Why cost can't be part of the "is this safe" conversation — but can factor into "how do we manage the risk"
- Why Black and brown communities are disproportionately exposed to industrial pollution and toxic waste, and how redlining is directly tied to that
- What's being proposed right now that could quietly gut these protections again
- Why "regulation kills innovation" doesn't hold up — and what strong rules actually do for public health and industry
- Simple, low-cost things you can do today: testing for lead, skipping fragranced products, avoiding plastic in the microwave, washing your hands after cleaning
Resources mentioned:
- Learn more about TSCA: edf.org/tsca
- Check your exposure risk by zip code: chemicalactionmap.edf.org
Connect with Sarah Vogel and the Environmental Defense Fund at edf.org.
This episode is brought to you by Goodfeed — goodfeed.co.
