Environmental Health Scientist Briefs Congress on Chemicals and Children’s Health
As Congress considers legislation to fast-track the approval of new chemicals used in consumer products, environmental health scientist Ami Zota was in Washington, D.C., to help lawmakers understand how the policy changes could harm human health.
On February 25, Zota, a professor of environmental health sciences, joined other senior scientists to brief Congressional staffers, journalists, and advocates on what decades of science have found about chemical threats to children’s health and why regulatory protections are needed. The public briefing and one-on-one briefings that followed were organized by Project TENDR (Targeting Environmental Neuro-Developmental Risks), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and sponsored by the Congressional Food Safety Caucus.
The public briefing was well-attended, and the conversations were substantive; however, one-on-one meetings with legislative staffers revealed a significant gap between the science and current policy priorities—particularly around changes proposed by the House and Senate to the Toxic Substances Control Act, Zota observed. These changes would weaken the Environmental Protection Agency’s already limited ability to conduct safety reviews of new chemicals before they are introduced to consumers.
“This policy proposal centers the needs of the chemical industry by speeding their ability to put new chemicals on the market—at the expense of safeguarding public health,” says Zota. “It’s crucial that we assess the potential risks of new chemicals before they enter the market. Once chemicals are in products, it is much harder to get them off the market, which is why a robust Toxic Substances and Control Act is so needed.”
Chemical Risks
The scientists presented research on neurotoxic chemicals, including bisphenols, flame retardants, metals, pesticides, and phthalates. Research shows that even minute exposures to these substances change children’s brain structure and connectivity, increasing the risk for neurodevelopmental conditions and lasting problems with learning, attention, and behavior, as well as reproductive health. More than 90 percent of U.S. kids ages 2 to 4 carry multiple neurotoxic chemicals in their bodies.
Zota spoke about her own research on phthalates, a class of chemicals found in everything from children’s toys and vinyl flooring to household cleaners and air fresheners. Fast food and ultra-processed foods are another major source of exposure, both in the general population and especially in Black communities.
A History of Outreach
It wasn’t Zota’s first time briefing policymakers or testifying for legislators. In 2016, she was invited to speak at a Congressional Briefing on Federal Cosmetic Safety Reform. In 2024, she testified before the Washington State Senate prior to the passage of the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act. Her research also served as the basis for Washington State’s more recent total ban on formaldehyde-releasing chemicals in cosmetics—the first state in the country to do so.
While previous efforts focused on strengthening regulations, last week’s briefings marked Zota’s first time defending existing, if imperfect, regulations. In its current form, the Toxic Substances Control Act does not require chemical companies to provide funding or data to identify health impacts; the burden is on the government and the public to prove harm. Since 2016, the EPA has approved nearly 4,000 new chemicals, yet fewer than 20 of them have undergone risk evaluation and/or risk management. Of the over 40,000 chemicals in use today, less than 1 percent have been comprehensively tested for adverse effects on health.
“I always value the opportunity to talk about my science and the science of colleagues with people outside the academy. It’s the most important part of my job,” Zota said. “I left with the realization that in this deeply partisan, anti-science, and anti-regulatory moment, the people in power are not going to be swayed by scientific evidence. At the same time, many of the people we spoke to were very interested in the growing movement of food as medicine. I think there is a possibility of getting phthalates and other toxic chemicals out of food if public health professionals work in broad, diverse coalitions that include other influential voices, such as the MAHA moms. The challenges that lie ahead are not insurmountable but will require new tools and strategies and a lot of persistence.”
