Head of US EPA outlines priorities for 2010

Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lisa Jackson, has specified the assurance of chemical safety as one of the highest priorities for the agency in 2010. In a memo to all her staff, she said she wants to see “significant and long overdue progress” in ensuring chemicals in products, the environment and humans are safe. She noted that EPA’s focus is shifting to address high-concern chemicals and filling data gaps on widely produced chemicals in commerce. Using EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System, the agency plans to “continue strong progress toward rigorous, peer-reviewed health assessments on dioxins, arsenic, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene (TCE) and other substances of concern,” she stated.

• Ms Jackson’s memo