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April 27, 2008
Toxic chemical bisphenol-A hits the front page
Recently, we reported that U.S. regulatory committees are looking harder at a toxic chemical -- bis-phenol A -- long used in baby bottles and other hard plastic bottles. Since then, Nalgene (makers of sports bottles) has joined Wal-Mart and Toys-R-Us in announcing it would phase out or eliminate the chemical (AP story via Salt Lake Tribune). Canada and several states are also considering PIRG-backed bans.
Now comes a front page Washington Post story by Lyndsey Layton Studies on Chemical In Plastics Questioned: Despite more than 100 published studies by government scientists and university laboratories that have raised health concerns about a chemical compound that is central to the multibillion-dollar plastics industry, the Food and Drug Administration has deemed it safe largely because of two studies, both funded by an industry trade group. We at U.S. PIRG are "shocked, shocked" but not at all surprised that the chemical industry would adopt the tobacco industry's "model" to "fight the science" to "postpone regulation and victim compensation," as former Clinton Administration official David Michaels says in the story. Here's more on bis-phenol-A from our sister organization Environment California. Layton's Washington Post story goes on to explain Chairman John Dingell of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's investigation (committee documents):
As part of his investigation, Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, wants to examine the role played by the Weinberg Group, a Washington firm that employs scientists, lawyers and public relations specialists to defend products from legal and regulatory action. The firm has worked on Agent Orange, tobacco and Teflon, among other products linked to health hazards, and congressional investigators say it was hired by Sunoco, a BPA manufacturer. .
Posted by Ed Mierzwinski at April 27, 2008 04:47 PM
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