Environment & Climate
Public health groups accuse EPA of manipulating safety data for toxic flame retardant
Environmental advocates and former agency scientists allege a draft risk assessment relies on industry-backed studies to downplay hazards from TBBPA.
The short version
- Environmental groups and former EPA scientists allege the agency slanted a draft risk assessment to conclude the flame retardant TBBPA poses no unreasonable risk.
- Advocates state the draft relies heavily on industry-funded research, overlooks multiple exposure pathways, and falsely claims the chemical is no longer widely used in textiles.
- TBBPA is widely present in consumer electronics, plastics, and household dust, and international cancer agencies classify it as a probable carcinogen.
- The EPA did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations or the draft assessment.
Key facts
- Public health advocates and former EPA scientists allege the agency manipulated safety data in its draft risk assessment for TBBPA to conclude it poses no unreasonable risk to consumers.[The Guardian]
- TBBPA is widely used in electronics, appliances, textiles, and plastics, and is classified as a probable carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.[The Guardian]
- Critics point out that the draft assessment relied on research and statements from the American Chemistry Council and Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (Tera) to determine exposure levels.[The Guardian]
- Earthjustice highlighted that the EPA draft claims TBBPA is unlikely to be used in fabrics, despite state records and separate EPA findings showing its use in textiles and children's items.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The EPA did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations of scientific bias and data manipulation.[The Guardian]