Fwd: An interesting story from NRDC.org

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An interesting story from NRDC.org

Thu, 27 Feb 2003 01:41:01 -0500

 

Frank thought you would be interested in this story from NRDC, the Natural

Resources Defense Council. It is an excerpt from The Bush Record, an online

feature that tracks the Bush administration's dealings on environmental issues.

Click on the link below for more actions by the administration on this

topic.Bush stacks panel on lead poisoning with industry experts

 

October 08, 2002: Democratic members of Congress decried the Bush administration

for revamping a government health panel to favor industry. According to the

lawmakers, the administration rejected renowned scientists with expertise on the

health effects of childhood lead poisoning for service on a Centers for Disease

Control federal advisory committee. In their place, the administration appointed

scientists with deep ties to the lead industry.

 

The CDC Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention is responsible

for, among other things, assessing the state of the science, and telling the

government what levels of lead are " toxic. " Largely due to this panel's work,

the definition of the " toxic level " of lead in the bloodstream was lowered from

60 micrograms per deciliter in the late-1970s to no higher than 10 in 1991. CDC

science on lead exposure sets the health standard for the rest of the world.

 

The Bush administration's meddling in this process is unprecedented -- and

alarming. Until now, top CDC staff would nominate appropriate scientists for

panels and the Health and Human Services secretary would approve them. Now, for

the first time, this process has been politicized. This administration is

rejecting CDC recommendations out of hand, and replacing them with pro-industry

representatives with questionable expertise. These people -- given their ties to

the lead industry -- cannot possibly provide an independent review of the

science.

 

" We can't trust the industry's hired guns to protect our health and the health

of our children, " said NRDC senior scientist Jennifer Sass. " NRDC suspects that

this is but one example of an attempt to undermine independent science in

government. "

 

This latest action by the administration comes at a time when HHS Secretary

Tommy Thompson is already under fire for taking a pro-industry approach to

transforming the 258 scientific panels that advise the government on various

health-related issues.

 

The Bush Record: Pesticides & Other Toxic Chemicals

http://www.nrdc.org/bushRecord/health_pesticides.asp

 

Natural Resources Defense Council

http://www.nrdc.org

 

 

 

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