Better Living Through Steve Lopez’s Chemistry

Re “Chemical Stew? What’s a Body to Do?” column, April 13: Bravo to Steve Lopez for writing about his taking part in the very important “biomonitoring study” to determine what levels of man-made chemicals are floating around in his body.

And thanks to Sen. Debra Ortiz (D-Sacramento) for pushing the voluntary testing bill.

If for nothing else, it brings out and demonstrates the reckless resistance of chemical manufacturers.

Hopefully, these tests will get the U.S. up to speed with the rest of the world in demanding more conclusive safety testing of chemicals before they are allowed to be dispersed into the environment.

Patrick C. Murphy

San Gabriel

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Lopez’s column on chemistry and health raises an interesting issue facing legislators in Sacramento: How should public health officials use biomonitoring, a useful tool that measures minute levels of various substances found in the human body?

We support biomonitoring as one part of a public health exposure program that measures natural and man-made substances that could be harmful.

But we are concerned about legislative efforts -- in particular Senate Bill 600 by Sen. Ortiz -- that use biomonitoring results to scare Californians about essential chemical products we all rely on every day.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention remind us not to overreact, saying, “just because people have an environmental chemical in their blood doesn’t mean the chemical causes disease.”

The benefits of chemistry have helped us all live longer and healthier lives. These advances should not be underestimated or undermined by scaring Californians about everyday household products that clean our drinking water, protect our health and keep us from harm.

We should take a balanced approach that uses standards for testing set by the CDC; that relies on independent scientific groups (such as the National Academy of Sciences) to help understand how to use biomonitoring information; and that focuses on real health threats, not unproven health claims.

Tim Shestek

Director, State and

Local Public Affairs

American Chemistry

Council, Sacramento