Toxicology can be Toxic

This is a recent story that has caused me some consternation. The story was reported at SFGate.com and deals with a gov't (EPA) toxicologist who was dismissed.

www.sfisonline.com.../c/a/2008/02/29/MNK3VB80B.DTL&hw=retardants&sn=007&sc=820

[Under pressure from the chemical industry, the Environmental Protection Agency has dismissed an outspoken scientist who chaired a federal panel responsible for helping the agency determine the dangers of a flame retardant widely used in electronic equipment.
Toxicologist Deborah Rice was appointed chair of an EPA scientific panel reviewing the chemical a year ago. Federal records show that she was removed from the panel in August after the American Chemistry Council, the lobbying group for chemical manufacturers, complained to a top-ranking EPA official that she was biased.

After EPA officials dismissed Rice from the five-member panel, they removed her comments from the panel's report on deca and removed all mention of her. Three months later, at the request of the chemical industry group, the EPA added a note to the panel report that Rice was removed "due to a perception of a potential conflict of interest" and that none of her comments was considered in their review of the chemical/]

It’s vexing to know that the corporation’s product being reviewed has the power to influence the findings so. Also a la Winston Smith they have power to delete passed history and create a product that has been proven in a scientific study to be dangerous. Isn’t there a name for a government that works with big business to make policy? Who in charge of watching these clowns?


[edit on 6-3-2008 by polanksi]

[edit on 6-3-2008 by polanksi]

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That is scary. One can only imagine what we are eating and using that is poisioning our bodies.

There is usually an oversight committee that is in place to see that agencies do their job correctly. That is a laugh. Who oversees the oversight committee?

Would be interesting to hear what Ms. Rice has to say.

Dizzie

The gov't seems to be more interested in corporations making money than our safety. Where was the USDA and FDA when that tainted meat was sent out? How did the EPA do at ground zero?
GMO"s & Cloned animals and corporations unwilling to lable such products.

I'm quessing that MS. Rice is under a gag order. I think it's worse than we can imagine.

Originally posted by polanksi
This is a recent story that has caused me some consternation. The story was reported at SFGate.com and deals with a gov't (EPA) toxicologist who was dismissed.

www.sfisonline.com.../c/a/2008/02/29/MNK3VB80B.DTL&hw=retardants&sn=007&sc=820

quote] Under pressure from the chemical industry, the Environmental Protection Agency has dismissed an outspoken scientist who chaired a federal panel responsible for helping the agency determine the dangers of a flame retardant widely used in electronic equipment.
Toxicologist Deborah Rice was appointed chair of an EPA scientific panel reviewing the chemical a year ago. Federal records show that she was removed from the panel in August after the American Chemistry Council, the lobbying group for chemical manufacturers, complained to a top-ranking EPA official that she was biased.

After EPA officials dismissed Rice from the five-member panel, they removed her comments from the panel's report on deca and removed all mention of her. Three months later, at the request of the chemical industry group, the EPA added a note to the panel report that Rice was removed "due to a perception of a potential conflict of interest" and that none of her comments was considered in their review of the chemical/]

It’s vexing to know that the corporation’s product being reviewed has the power to influence the findings so. Also a la Winston Smith they have power to delete passed history and create a product that has been proven in a scientific study to be dangerous. Isn’t there a name for a government that works with big business to make policy? Who in charge of watching these clowns?


[edit on 6-3-2008 by polanksi]

[edit on 6-3-2008 by polanksi]

[edit on 6-3-2008 by polanksi]

[edit on 6-3-2008 by polanksi]