Key Issues > Toxic Chemicals - High Risk Issue
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Toxic Chemicals - High Risk Issue

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faces long-standing challenges assessing and controlling the risks associated with toxic chemicals.

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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.

Looking for our recommendations? Click on any report to find each associated recommendation and its current implementation status.
Chemical Assessments: Agencies Coordinate Activities, but Additional Action Could Enhance Efforts
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-14-763

GAO-14-763: Published: Sep 29, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 2014.
Chemical Assessments: An Agencywide Strategy May Help EPA Address Unmet Needs for Integrated Risk Information System Assessments
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-13-369

GAO-13-369: Published: May 10, 2013. Publicly Released: Jun 10, 2013.
Toxic Substances: EPA Has Increased Efforts to Assess and Control Chemicals but Could Strengthen Its Approach
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-13-249

GAO-13-249: Published: Mar 22, 2013. Publicly Released: Apr 29, 2013.
Chemical Assessments: Challenges Remain with EPA's Integrated Risk Information System Program
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-12-42

GAO-12-42: Published: Dec 9, 2011. Publicly Released: Jan 9, 2012.
Chemical Assessments: Low Productivity and New Interagency Review Process Limit the Usefulness and Credibility of EPA's Integrated Risk Information System
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-08-440

GAO-08-440: Published: Mar 7, 2008. Publicly Released: Apr 29, 2008.
Chemical Regulation: Comparison of U.S. and Recently Enacted European Union Approaches to Protect against the Risks of Toxic Chemicals
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-07-825

GAO-07-825: Published: Aug 17, 2007. Publicly Released: Sep 25, 2007.

More Reports

Environmental Protection: Status of GAO Recommendations to EPA
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-16-722T

GAO-16-722T: Published: Jun 14, 2016. Publicly Released: Jun 14, 2016.
Chemicals Management: Observations on Human Health Risk Assessment and Management by Selected Foreign Programs
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-16-111R

GAO-16-111R: Published: Oct 9, 2015. Publicly Released: Oct 9, 2015.
Environmental Health: EPA Has Made Substantial Progress but Could Improve Processes for Considering Children's Health
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-13-254

GAO-13-254: Published: Aug 12, 2013. Publicly Released: Sep 11, 2013.
Chemical Regulation: Observations on the Toxic Substances Control Act and EPA Implementation
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-13-696T

GAO-13-696T: Published: Jun 13, 2013. Publicly Released: Jun 13, 2013.
Oil and Gas: Information on Shale Resources, Development, and Environmental and Public Health Risks
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-12-732

GAO-12-732: Published: Sep 5, 2012. Publicly Released: Oct 9, 2012.
EPA Health Risk Assessments: Oversight and Sustained Management Key to Overcoming Challenges
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-12-148T

GAO-12-148T: Published: Oct 6, 2011. Publicly Released: Oct 6, 2011.
EPA Health Risk Assessments: Sustained Management and Oversight Key to Overcoming Challenges
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-11-824T

GAO-11-824T: Published: Jul 14, 2011. Publicly Released: Jul 14, 2011.
Environmental Protection Agency: Major Management Challenges
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-11-422T

GAO-11-422T: Published: Mar 2, 2011. Publicly Released: Mar 2, 2011.
Environmental Health: High-level Strategy and Leadership Needed to Continue Progress toward Protecting Children from Environmental Threats
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-10-205

GAO-10-205: Published: Jan 28, 2010. Publicly Released: Mar 17, 2010.
Chemical Regulation: Observations on Improving the Toxic Substances Control Act
http://gao.gov/products/GAO-10-292T

GAO-10-292T: Published: Dec 2, 2009. Publicly Released: Dec 2, 2009.
More...

Videos

High Risk: Transforming EPA's Process for Assessing and Controlling Toxic Chemicals
  • portrait of Alfredo Gomez
    • Alfredo Gomez
    • Director, Natural Resources and Environment
    • gomezj@gao.gov
    • 202-512-3841