Environmental Champion Deborah Raphael Appointed Director of Department of Toxic Substances Control
Good news for the health of Californians: Deborah Raphael has been appointed director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control!
You may be thinking: ok, but how does this effect me? Raphael is a strong advocate for public and environmental health—meaning she’ll work to ensure tougher regulations and promote legitimate legislation that protects environmental health. Raphael is co-chair of the Green Ribbon Science Panel, leading important efforts to promote the Green Chemistry Initiative —a California program to protect the public and the environment from harmful chemicals.
Raphael has been the program director for toxics reduction, green business, and green building at the San Francisco Department of the Environment (SFE) since 1999. During her time at SFE, several CEH staff worked with her on a wide variety of environmental health projects, including the city’s green purchasing initiative, ultimately resulting in the SFApproved website (http://www.sfapproved.org/).
We welcome her to the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and look forward to her continued leadership on the Green Chemistry Initiative.