Industry-Backed Legislation Would Bar the Use of Science Behind Hundreds of Environmental Protections

4 comments

1. Hey r/environment,

   We thought folks here may be particularly interested in this story. Here’s a quick excerpt:

   >For decades, Republican lawmakers and industry lobbyists have tried to chip away at the small program in the Environmental Protection Agency that measures the threat of toxic chemicals.

   >Most people don’t know IRIS, as the program is called, but it is the scientific engine of the agency that protects human health and the environment. Its scientists assess the toxicity of chemicals, estimating the amount of each that triggers cancer and other health effects. And these values serve as the independent, nonpartisan basis for the rules, regulations and permits that limit our exposure to toxic chemicals.

   >Now IRIS faces the gravest threat to its existence since it was created under President Ronald Reagan four decades ago.

   It’s also worth noting that IRIS data powered our [map of cancer-causing industrial pollution in the U.S.](https://projects.propublica.org/toxmap/) and our [formaldehyde cancer risk tool](https://projects.propublica.org/formaldehyde-cancer-risk-map/).

   You can read the full story here: [https://www.propublica.org/article/legislation-targets-epa-science-toxic-chemicals](https://www.propublica.org/article/legislation-targets-epa-science-toxic-chemicals)

   Thanks for your time.

2. The use of science??………omfg

3. Remember folks capitalism does not require you to have morals or ethics. It is all about shareholder value and always will be. And if you can make a couple of extra bucks by polluting the water and giving some kids downstream birth defects? Yeah that might be bad, but think of the shareholders too.

4. Party politics aside, it blows my mind that people in any party would be okay with allowing toxic chemicals to destroy their lives so that rich people can get richer. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but here we are.

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