The House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by John Dingell of Michigan (pictured left), will investigate the US EPA for possible conflicts of interest. The Committee sent a letter to the US EPA which states, the chair of an EPA external peer review panel, Dr. Deborah Rice, had been dismissed from her position after the American Chemistry Council complained Rice was not impartial because she had previously expressed concerns about the health effects of the chemical under review.
Meanwhile, the letter notes, at least nine EPA panels assessing the human health effects of toxic chemicals have included individuals alleged to have financial interests in the chemical industry.
Mr. Dingell said, “The EPA seems to have a backwards way of composing these panels. EPA is disallowing scientists who have valid public health concerns about products, while encouraging participation by so-called experts who are paid by the chemical industry.”
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