Allen Silverstone, PhD, Professor at State University of New York Upstate Medical University and Member US EPA Science Advisory Board Dioxin Review Panel
Dr. Allen Silverstone has served as a member of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board Dioxin Review Panel throughout the course of the Agency's much prolonged effort to create a policy document on the subject of dioxin exposure and health effects. Over twenty years have passed by as the EPA has labored to produce "Exposure and Human Health Reassessment of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin and Related Compounds". This document would provide a scientific basis for regulatory efforts to address the contamination of the global environment with chlorinated dioxins and dioxin-like compounds, including furans and co-planar PCBs. Failure to produce this document has resulted in a stalling of nearly all US governmental action on the entire spectrum of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Dr. Silverstone makes clear the role of corporate consultants who hold positions on the Dioxin Review Panel in prolonging endlessly the drafting of the dioxin reassessment. These scientists argue that iron clad proof of adverse health effects at low levels of exposure must exist before EPA can finalize this report. Scientists with no monetary interest in the matter of dioxin exposure and damages to health take an opposing position, calling for finalization of the reassessment and action on dioxins based upon the existence of evidence that serious harm is taking place at currently existing levels of environmental contamination.
Dr. Silverstone takes the position that the reassessment should be finalized without further delay so as to move forward with utilization of scientific knowledge to reduce the quantity of harm that will result from dioxin contamination. He advocates for major clean-ups at known contaminated sites and extensive investigatory efforts to discover as yet unidentified dioxin contaminated sites.
Corporations have no right to representation on the Dioxin Review Panel. The Dioxin Review Panel should be composed only of people who have a genuine interest in reviewing the scientific literature so as to develop a state of knowledge guide for governmental action on dioxins. Corporate consultants are paid to represent businesses that would lose money if fully health protective actions were taken on dioxin exposure minimization. Monetary considerations have no part in deciding what can be found in the scientific literature concerning dioxin exposure health effects. Allowing corporate fears of losing money to interfere with the use of scientific knowledge to protect public health is an outrage. All corporate consultants should be removed from the Dioxin Review Panel.
Donald L. Hassig, Producer Cancer Action NYs Cancer Action News Network
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