Olga Naidenko, PhD is a toxicologist employed by Environmental Working Group (EWG). She has been taking part in the public meetings of the US EPA Science Advisory Board Dioxin Review Panel. The EPA is currently reviewing the scientific literature of dioxin exposure and human health effects pursuant to publishing a dioxin reassessment. The Dioxin Review Panel meetings are part of the review process.
EWG recently conducted an analysis of disease risk imposed by the quantity of dioxin exposure that is received by the fetus and nursing infant. This analysis supports the conclusion that current levels of background dioxin exposure are causing an unacceptable quantity of disease burden among new born and infant Americans. The EWG analysis was presented at the October 2010 meeting of the Dioxin Review Panel. EWG advocates for a timely finalization of the dioxin reassessment and regulatory action to motivate clean-up of dioxin contaminated sites.
EPA has been unable to finalize its dioxin reassessment since starting the process in April 1991. Intense pressure from the polluters including corporations and the military has derailed the creation of a final dioxin reassessment over and over through the decades.
Central to the finalization of the dioxin reassessment document is the matter of the quantification of dioxin exposure cancer risk. EPA is endeavoring to produce a quantitative assessment of dioxin exposure cancer risk which would be used to set environmental clean-up standards. Cancer outcome has long been used in setting such standards. Also involved in the quantitative assessment is the question of whether or not dioxin exposure imposes cancer risk at background levels of exposure. How much cancer is caused by the dioxin exposure that occurs via consumption of all animal fat foods?
The chemical corporations and the food industry argue that dioxin exposure at current levels of food supply contamination imposes an insignificant amount of cancer risk. This is not what the scientific literature sets forth on the subject of dioxin exposure cancer risk. Current levels of exposure impose more than a 1 in 1000 quantity of risk.
Cancer Action NY takes the position that EPA is not sincere in its commitment to finalize the dioxin reassessment. This lack of good intention to protect public health results from the controlling influences of the chemical and food corporations upon the federal government. EPA is a player in the national environmental game. EPA is on the federal government team. The federal government team is an ally of the corporate team.
The only hope for EPA finalization of the dioxin reassessment and action on clean-up is public pressure. Everyone who cares about the health of humans and the animals that eat animal fat and are thus impacted by dioxin exposure must speak out about this issue and keep speaking out until government joins forces with the environmental organizations.
Honor to Olga Naidenko and EWG for setting a wonderful example for all Americans. This group is utilizing scientific knowledge to protect the environment and public health. You can too.
Cancer Action NYs Cancer Action Network Donald L. Hassig, Producer
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