Toxic
protection

It might seem ironic that an industry lobby group with everything to gain by continued sales of their product should be making accusations of bias against an award-winning researcher with nothing to gain from its ban, but that doesn’t change things any for Deborah Rice. Handed the reins over a panel reviewing the dangers of a commonly used flame retardant, the peer-recognized Rice was relieved of her duties after the American Chemistry Council filed a complaint with the dented wind-up toy that was once the Environmental Protection Agency.

Last February, while sitting as chair of the EPA panel, Rice testified before a Maine legislature about the neurological dangers and environmental toxicity of deca, a brominated compound used in the plastic housing of electronics and other household items. The industry lobbyists at the ACC argued that Rice’s unfavourable views on deca made her “biased.” Calling her a “fervid advocate of banning” deca, the ACC complained to the EPA that Rice had “no place in an independent, objective peer review.” Within a month of receiving that complaint, Rice was removed from the panel and her opinions expunged from the deca report.

The EPA will submit its safety standard proposals at the end of the month.

by SCOTT SAXON