Toxic chemical pollution is a global crisis, and regulation of these chemicals is not sufficient to protect human health and the environment. More than 350,000 industrial chemicals and mixtures are in use worldwide, many of which are linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive harm, and ecological damage. Despite growing scientific evidence of harm, regulatory frameworks remain fragmented and insufficient. Corporations that manufacture these chemical products frequently use deceptive tactics to manipulate and undermine independent science and stymie regulations.
Together with Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), CIEL published a new issue brief: The Pollution Playbook: How Industry Blocks Regulation of Toxic Chemicals, documenting how industry actors manipulate science, lobby policymakers, and undermine democratic decision-making to maintain profits at the expense of human and environmental health. The issue brief shares four case studies: PFAS (‘Forever Chemicals’) — Suppressing Evidence of Toxicity, Bisophenol A (BPA) — Attacking Independent Science, Benzene — Front Groups and Policy Influence, Pesticides — Combined Disinformation Strategies.
The brief concludes with recommendations for policymakers to protect regulatory spaces from conflicts of interest to ensure that they truly protect human health and the environment from toxic chemicals.
Read The Pollution Playbook: How Industry Blocks Regulation of Toxic Chemicals
Posted February 3, 2026