Every year billions of pounds of industrial chemicals are sold for which the public lacks basic data on health effects. Peter Jennings announced the Scorecard's debut on World News Tonight. Now the Scorecard puts the most important information right at everyone's fingertips. The Chemical Scorecard was designed in consultation with grassroots groups who will put the information to use. When a user types in his or her zip code, neighborhood maps appear on the screen, with schools and industrial facilities marked.
Users see what chemicals are released and can find out which are the most toxic.
For many facilities, users can even fax an inquiry directly to the plant manager with a click of the mouse, and thousands have done so. The Scorecard also provides an online discussion forum and links to information on pollution prevention for both expert and layperson. Because the Scorecard puts a spotlight on toxic emissions, it encourages companies to expedite emissions reductions. In the years since the government started requiring companies to disclose their releases of certain toxic chemicals, those releases have dropped by 40 percent-even though the law says nothing about reducing releases, just reporting them. More of This Year's Results Our landmark Toxic Ignorance study forced chemical makers worldwide to address data gaps on the health effects of their chemicals.