The EPA's Bold New Idea Has Massive Implications For Public Health (motherjones.com)

An anonymous reader shares a report: For years, the Environmental Protection Agency's regulation of radiation, carcinogens, and other toxic chemicals has been based on the cautious scientific reasoning that considers even slight exposure to toxins potentially risky to public health. From that premise, the EPA has assessed a wide range of pollution, including lung-clogging particulate matter, Superfund cleanup, water treatment, radiation exposure, and risk assessments for carcinogens like benzene.

That time-honored approach may be changing because of easy-to-overlook phrasing within a paragraph buried in the proposed "Strengthening Transparency In Regulatory Science Rule," a regulation that will bar the EPA from considering a wide range of scientific studies in its rule-making. With a few sentences buried in the seven-page Federal Register text, the EPA is opening the door to a new scientific approach that -- in a worst-case scenario -- could further relax regulations because of the assumption that a little pollution is actually beneficial.

Some scientists have considered the implications of this paragraph and described a whole array of potential problems to Mother Jones. Because the paragraph is written in incredibly vague language, most scientists were unable to explain which pollutants or regulations were the prime targets.

Comments

Re: The sentence fragment

[Anonymous Coward]

Define "minute" proceeded by the words irrelevant without defining the amount or quantity. Benzene is a known carcinogen. As far as humans go there is no safe level to consume especially over the long term. My family has personal experience with benzene as it was leaked through a known leaking Colonial Petroleum pipeline that transports petroleum products from Texas to Maine. The leak occurred over years and contaminated my cousins drinking water which they consumed. His wife got gravely ill. Not until a county worker located the leak did Colonial do anything about it even though it was a know source leak going into not only their well but a primary water source for people living downstream. The well water was tests as well as ground water and found to have benzene contamination. The result was a multi-million dollar settlement by Colonial which included Colonial buying the entire farm from my cousins and a gag order which resulted in the public and the rest of family no knowing exactly how bad the leak was and who was at risk. The EPA was not involved in this leak.

“There is no safe level of exposure to benzene. We have not found a level at which there is no effect. That is why it is such a concern,” said Amy D. Kyle, an air toxics researcher.

Re:Who Cares?

[rtb61]

Well technically, the comment is delivered in sarcastic terms but is entirely factual and accurate in content. They are applying any corrupt rule they can, with the reasoning that it will increase profits whilst the rule is in place and as long as they can corruptly keep it in place and fuck everyone and everything. They know it will eventually be struck down because it is entirely deceitful in intent and is meant to obfuscate the legal process making any civil suit for polluting and killing other people extremely difficult to pursue. Americans, you have the government you deserve and you will end up paying an enormous price for it, it's called karma. Your lack of interest in political activism, has led to this and it will get worse, so whilst you indifference caused the rest of the world to suffer, as empire comes to an end, it is you who will suffer the most and for far longer, at the hands of your own corrupt government and corporations, good luck, you will need it.