What is a “toxic substance?
Although the term “toxic substance” is in the title of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), it is not formally defined. TSCA gives the EPA the authority to regulate chemical substances and mixtures whose manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use or disposal may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. Section 3(2) of TSCA defines “chemical substance” to mean any organic or inorganic substance whether it is man-made or naturally occurring. Exemptions are provided for pesticides; tobacco and tobacco products; source, special nuclear, or byproduct material regulated under the Atomic Energy Act (AEA); and food, food additives, drugs, and cosmetics. However, there is no list of toxic substances provided by TSCA.
A toxic substance is a substance that can be poisonous or cause health effects. People are generally concerned about chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin which can be found at some hazardous waste sites. Products that we use daily, such as household cleaners, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, gasoline, alcohol, pesticides, fuel oil and cosmetics, can also be toxic. Any chemical can be toxic or harmful under certain conditions.
