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Published online 2 April 2008 | Nature 452, 513 (2008) | doi:10.1038/452513a
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EPA feels heat over flame retardant
Dismissal of toxicologist raises concerns over delayed safety report.
A much-anticipated report on the health hazards of a ubiquitous flame retardant has been delayed amid controversy over the removal of a respected toxicologist from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advisory panel reviewing the report.
The report, which was due last week, is expected to mount pressure on the chemical industry to ban decabrominated diphenyl ether (deca-BDE), which is used as a flame retardant in furniture, carpets, and televisions and other electronic goods.
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I remember not too long ago when I used to believe much of what many working for the U.S. Federal government said. There seemed to be, apart from perhaps top political appointees, at least a foundation of objective reality. Perhaps I was in the past naive, but now anything said by any official, from the EPA to the military to the FDA and on and on, must certainly be viewed with extreme skepticism. I hope our future presidents will prioritize a return to a Federal government that values career professionals over ideologues.