In 1976, somebody had a good idea: let’s protect people from toxic compounds. Then, the law designed to do that got pummeled by the asbestos industry. We’ve not had the courage, since, to revisit the issue.

Toxicologists used to say, the dose makes the poison. Now that 5 to 15 percent of children have neurodevelopmental disorders — including autism — they are learning that the timing makes the poison, too.

The EPA is building a roster of about 200 chemicals that pose the greatest risk to our health.

They aren’t getting very far with it.

Why do so many advances we make become the very things that seem to do us in? Why aren’t we smart enough to avoid that?