Finding a Chemical Harmless, For a Fee

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Finding a Chemical Harmless, For a Fee

 

Source: Environmental Science and Technology, February 22, 2006

 

In a April 2003 pitch to DuPont, The Weinberg Group proposed a strategy

to help defuse the growing controversy over the health impacts of

perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a compound used to make Teflon.

 

Weinberg's Vice-President of Product Defense, P.Terrence Gaffney, said,

" DuPont must shape the debate at all levels. " One of his suggested

strategies was to facilitate the " publication of papers and articles

dispelling the alleged nexus between PFOA and teratogenicity as well as

other claimed harm. " (Teratogenicity is used to describe the damaging

effects of an agent on a fetus.)

 

Gaffney also proposed to " develop 'blue ribbon panels' of thought

leaders on issues related to PFOA " and to " coordinate the publishing of

white papers on PFOA, junk science and the limits of medical

monitoring. "

 

DuPont confirmed to reporter Paul D. Thacker that they had hired the

Weinberg Group to help with " scientific third party experts, " probably

on PFOA issues.

 

 

" The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of

private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic State

itself. That, in its essence, is Fascism - ownership of government by an

individual, by a group or by any controlling private power. " -Franklin Delano

Roosevelt

 

" I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the

people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and

sudden usurpations. " -James Madison