7gen Bloc

Every day that the Bush administration stays in office we are less safe, and not just from growing worldwide terrorist networks. The administration is once again undermining the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to determine the health dangers of toxic chemicals by letting non-scientists have a large and often secret role in the vetting process.

An Associated Press story noted that, "The administration's decision to give the Defense Department and other agencies an early role in the process adds to years of delay in acting on harmful chemicals and jeopardizes the program's credibility." Cancer risk assessments for nearly a dozen major chemicals are now years overdue, the Government Accountability Office said.

The AP story quoted California Senator Barbara Boxer, "By law, the EPA must protect our families from dangerous chemicals. Instead, they're protecting the chemical companies."

The process for assessing new, potentially toxic chemicals can now take more than five years to complete. As a result, IRIS, which contains data on more than 500 toxic chemicals that may pose a threat to human health, is increasingly at risk of having incomplete or inaccurate information. Let the EPA know you are concerned. Call them at 202-566-1676 or send an email to: Hotline.IRIS@epa.gov

Click here to read the full Associated Press story.

photo: Cory Doctorow