Biochemist Richard Denison takes on the problem of untested chemicals in consumer products. For nearly a decade, EDF senior scientist Richard Denison, Ph.D., has worked to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This outdated federal law utterly fails to protect Americans from toxic chemicals. In fact, TCSA doesn’t regulate even the most dangerous chemicals — such as asbestos, formaldehyde and lead — despite their undeniable linkage to a whole raft of chronic diseases. To shine a spotlight on this bad law’s shortcomings, Denison has written science and policy reports, testified before Congressional committees and teamed up with citizen advocacy groups to create health-based, reform-minded coalitions like “Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families.” This year his efforts and those of his colleagues bore fruit with the introduction of a bill in Congress aimed at overhauling TSCA for the first time in 35 years. www.edf.org