We have previously discussed how consumer safety advocates are currently pushing for new legislation to bolster the public health protections established by the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA).

The movement's supporters allege that the TSCA provides inadequate safeguards to prevent hazardous chemicals from working their way into the supply chain. Of the tens of thousands of chemicals currently being used in American products, only a few hundred have ever been tested, according to Discover Magazine.

Furthermore, only five compounds have ever been restricted or banned. TSCA's critics say an update to the law is necessary in order to facilitate broader testing and ensure public safety.

While the gridlocked nature of the U.S. political system – and, Congress in particular – makes this an uphill battle for these groups, there is a chance that new technologies may soon disrupt the status quo and put a fresh impetus behind the drive to strengthen chemical regulations in the United States.

Specifically, a project launched in 2011 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could uncover new evidence regarding the scope of potential health risks associated with chemicals that are commonly used in the manufacture of various consumer products.

The project – Tox21 – makes use of a six-ton robot to perform basic toxicity testing at a faster rate and lower cost than was previously possible when humans had to do all the handling. This may lead to a breakthrough in our understanding of how chemicals interact with living things and each other.

In turn, this could lead to new labeling requirements being imposed on companies that produce, distribute or work with certain chemical substances. As we recently reviewed, the U.S. government is currently phasing-in an updated version of its Hazard Communication System – HSC 2012. With the possibility of further, data-driven regulatory action in the near future, chemical companies should prepare to make any changes to their labeling processes that may necessary.