Beyond Waste home > Why Beyond Waste? > Myth 1. If a product is on the shelf — it is safe

Myth 1: If a product is on the shelf — it is safe

When we purchase a product, most of us assume that it has been tested and declared safe for the intended purpose. What we may not know, however, is that:

• Many chemicals in products have not been tested or approved by any regulatory authority for their impacts on human health.
• We are exposed to chemicals through product use, disposal, and incineration.
• Children and infants are at greater risk of harm from exposure because of their low body weight, high metabolism rates, and the tendency to put things in their mouths.

The use of chemicals is proliferating and there is no systematic assessment of their impact on human health or the environment.

When we purchase a product, most of us assume that it has been tested and declared safe for the intended purpose.

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