Explain why emerging efforts are focused on reducing health risks from exposure to chemicals rather than completely eliminating those risks.

Working with all chemicals carries some level of health risk, and modern society is dependent upon thousands of chemicals to maintain our standard of living. Therefore it is not reasonable to eliminate all chemical related health risks because that would require we stop using chemicals like cleaning supplies, gasoline, and fertilizers. The more practical approach is to minimize and manage the health risks associated with chemical exposure.

These interactions affect quality of life, years of healthy life lived, and health disparities. The Healthy People 2020 Environmental Health objectives focus on 6 themes, more fully the effects of exposure to environmental hazards on people's health. has its greatest impact on people whose health status is already at risk.