David Carpenter, MD, Director of the SUNY Albany, Institute for Health and the Environment; Barbara Warren, Executive Director, Citizen's Environmental Coalition, and Donald L. Hassig, Director, Cancer Action NY
On July 10th, 2012, David O. Carpenter, MD, Director of the State University of New York at Albany Institute for Health and the Environment, Barbara Warren, Executive Director of Citizen's Environmental Coalition and Donald L. Hassig, Director of Cancer Action NY conducted a news conference in the Legislative Correspondents Association Press Room of the Legislative Office Building in Albany. The following subjects were covered in great detail: (1) the scientific literature that supported the development of the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) non-carcinogenic effects oral reference dose for dioxin; (2) the implications of the oral reference dose for public health protection; and (3) the controlling influences of corporate entities in the chemicals, agriculture and food sales sectors of the economy, which have caused EPA to fall short of warning the public concerning the dioxin exposure health hazard. (The Media Advisory is provided below for further information.)
_______________________________________________________________________ Media Advisory 7/6/12 For Immediate Release
State University of New York at Albany Institute for Health and the Environment David O. Carpenter, MD, Director 518.525.2660
Cancer Action NY Donald L. Hassig, Director 315.262.2456
Citizen's Environmental Coalition Barbara Warren, Executive Director _______________________________________________________________________
News Conference: The Significance of the US EPA Oral Reference Dose for Dioxin to the Protection of Public Health
Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 1:00 PM
LCA Press Room, Legislative Office Building, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY USA
(Presentations by Dr. Carpenter, Mr. Hassig and Ms. Warren will occur in the order listed above.)
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published "Reanalysis of Key Issues Related to Dioxin Toxicity and Response to NAS Comments" in February of 2012. EPA sets forth a non-carcinogenic effects chronic oral reference dose for dioxin in this document. Those who consume average quantities of animal fats receive dioxin exposures in excess of the oral reference dose.
The purpose of this news conference is to explain the significance of EPA's non-carcinogenic effects oral reference dose to matters of public health protection. Dioxin exposures at current levels of food supply contamination are damaging the health of those who consume average quantities of animal fats. The US EPA is struggling to move forward with actions that address this food supply contamination problem. That struggle is a defining part of EPA's history on dioxins. The struggle to act on scientific knowledge when corporate pressures oppose action is what deprived Americans of a dioxin reassessment for nearly three decades.
"EPA says that the most sensitive non-cancer effects of dioxin are to reduce sperm count and lower thyroid activity. The effects were greatest when exposure occurred during childhood. We need to reduce exposure to dioxin, especially to children."-David O. Carpenter, MD
"The most effective use of currently existing scientific knowledge on the subjects of dioxin exposure and damages to health is the provision of a warning to the general public making know the fact that consumption of animal fats at current levels of food supply contamination imposes a significant quantity of disease risk. The oral reference dose for dioxin can be used to give this warning to Americans. If EPA believes that it must share the work of warning Americans with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), then the Agency should move quickly to enlist the assistance of FDA."-Donald L. Hassig
"The release of this part of the dioxin reassessment by EPA after 27 years is an important first step in countering the pressure and influence of the chemical industry. There are 2 essential additional actions needed now to protect public health: (1) reduce industrial dioxin discharges to zero rapidly; and (2) provide advisories to the public about how to reduce dietary exposures to dioxin."-Barbara Warren
Cancer Action NY submitted the following questions to the US EPA for the purpose of determining EPA's position on the implications of the new oral reference dose to matters of public health protection. EPA provided answers which avoid the fact that animal fat consumption imposes exposures in excess of the oral reference dose. The Agency is attempting to avoid a politically uncomfortable reality that is made ever so clear by the oral reference dose. Current levels of dioxin exposure are significantly damaging public health. EPA is responsible for minimizing harm to the environment and public health. This is the time for EPA to take action on dioxins.
The 0.6 picogram dioxin TEQ/kg bw/day exposure estimate set forth by EPA is for per capita exposure. Dioxin exposures for those who consume average quantities of animal fats are higher than per capita exposure because per capita exposure is an average including those who consume animal fats and those who do not.
1. What does EPA estimate to be the current quantity of dioxin exposure for those who consume average quantities of animal fat?
Estimated average adult dioxin exposures in the U.S. are slightly lower than the dioxin reference dose (RfD). A recent study estimates U.S. average background dioxin exposures to be about 0.6 pg TEQ/kg-day. The RfD is 0.7 pg/kg-day.
2. In the 2003 draft of the agency's dioxin reassessment a per capita exposure value of 1.0 pg dioxin TEQ/kg bw/day was set forth. EPA later recalculated exposure using the same data but assigning no detects a value of zero rather than one half the limit of detection as was done in the calculation which produced the exposure value stated above. The recalculation produced an exposure value of 0.6 pg dioxin TEQ/kg bw/day. In the paper which presented the recalculated exposure value the statement is found that the recalculated value should not be viewed as evidence that dioxin exposure had decreased. Considering the fact that assigning no detects a value of one half the limit of detection is a well established practice for producing estimates of dioxin concentrations, is it fair to state that per capita dioxin exposure is approximately 1.0 pg dioxin TEQ/kg bw/day?
Estimated average adult dioxin exposures in the U.S. are slightly lower than the dioxin reference dose (RfD). A recent study estimates U.S. average background dioxin exposures to be about 0.6 pg TEQ/kg-day. The RfD is 0.7 pg/kg-day.
3. Are a considerable number of Americans receiving dioxin exposures in excess of the chronic oral reference dose?
Most Americans have low-level exposure to dioxins. Most dioxin exposure occurs through the diet with small amounts of exposure coming from breathing air containing trace amounts of dioxins and from inadvertent ingestion of soil containing dioxins. While we all likely have some level of dioxin in our bodies, the levels are low and findings show that low-levels of exposure do not pose a significant health risk.
4. What damages to health occur at exposures in excess of the oral reference dose?
Exceeding the RfD for one day, or a week or more does not necessarily means that an individual has a greater risk of health effects. Constant exposure at higher doses than the RfD are more of a cause for concern. However, it is not possible to determine an exact dose where adverse effects will start to occur. Nor is it possible to determine exactly how many days of exposure above the RfD it would take to cause health effects. The derivation of an RfD generally includes scientific assumptions and factors that account for uncertainty. Therefore, it is designed to be public health protective. It is designed to be protective even of sensitive subgroups.
5. Do current levels of food supply contamination impose significant adverse health effects upon those who consume average quantities of animal fat?
The U.S. food supply is one of the safest and most nutritious in the world. Americans should eat a balanced diet and follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. EPA and its federal partners such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture do not recommend avoiding any particular foods because of dioxin. Each food group provides important nutrients needed for health.
Cancer Action News Network Donald L. Hassig, Producer 315.262.2456
Feel free to rebroadcast. Please credit as above.
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July 10, 2012
LCA Press Room, Legislative Office Building, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY USA
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