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Scientist Removed From EPA Panel Due To Industry Opposition

Posted by Soulskill on from the let-the-market-decide dept.

Beeftopia writes "The relationship between regulator and regulated is once again called into question as industry pressure leads to a scientist's removal from an EPA regulatory panel. From the article: 'In 2007, when Deborah Rice was appointed chair of an Environmental Protection Agency panel assessing the safety levels of flame retardants, she arrived as a respected Maine toxicologist with no ties to industry. Yet the EPA removed Rice from the panel after an intense push by the American Chemistry Council (ACC), an industry lobbying group that accused her of bias. Her supposed conflict of interest? She had publicly raised questions about the safety of a flame retardant under EPA review.'"

6 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. Well, YEAH! by fyngyrz · · Score: 5, Funny

    You can't have a SCIENTIST on a panel about pollution! It interfere's with Gawd's Will!

    --
    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    1. Re:Well, YEAH! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      That makes no sense. How can you say it interferes with God's will if he made the world itself? That would be counterproductive. Obviously, there real reson is money... and money is very important. Some times, it's more important than the environment

  2. note by fyngyrz · · Score: 5, Funny

    * That's Neil Gawd, CEO of Toxic Shit Enterprises, of course.

    --
    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
  3. Re:Good by Desler · · Score: 3, Funny

    What next? They're going to appoint someone telling us that cigarette smoke causes cancer? What a loon!

  4. All horribly biased! by GameboyRMH · · Score: 5, Funny

    Every single one of those scientists is not only biased, but has a substantial conflict of interest. All of them are carbon-based lifeforms that will react negatively to a wide range of chemicals such as mercury, arsenic and practically every petrochemical in existence. The EPA should clear the entire regulatory panel and re-staff it with robots who will only take their charge from a power source that will not be disclosed to them. Ideally their finishes should also be solvent-resistant and UV-stable and their cooling system capacity should be generous.

    --
    "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
  5. Re:Summary is Misleading by Sentrion · · Score: 4, Funny

    Actually, those chemicals are only harmful to delicate Californians. Here in Texas we have oil running through our veins, along with lead, mercury, arsenic, and many other colorful elements, so we've adapted to be tough enough to take on most of the cancer causing pollutants industry can throw at us. Sure, natural selection is still working through its slow process so we expect many bizarre birth defects and mutations, but we're convinced we will be much fitter after all is said and done.