Rebecca Clarin writes a very informative article in today's Salon regarding what has happened to EPA toxicity studies under the Bush Administration.
Basically, the IRIS database is an extensive database that has public health data regarding toxic chemicals. One would think that it behooves a society with unexplained toxicity concerns to conduct as many studies as possible where there are suspicions of contamination.
Sadly, under the Bush administration, getting IRIS studies approved became much more complicated. This was achieved via an alliance between conservatives John Graham at the OMB and George Gray at the Office of Research and Development. Changes in the process included lowering the value of a human life by $1m (to $7m) and quantifying toxicity as a range instead of a single number, plus more emphasis on cost benefit analysis. If that's not bad enough they added more layers of approvals outside of the EPA, including the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy.
So the math here is:
Cost Benefit Analysis for IRIS Studies at the EPA
IRIS Study Benefits = Vaguer toxicity assessment number with low range x Lesser value of human life = Lower benefit number for toxicity study
IRIS Study Costs = The same cost number for toxicity study
Initial Assessment = More often, Costs>Benefits = Fewer IRIS studies are worth the cost
Final Assessment = Fewer IRIS studies worth the cost +DOD endorsement + DOE endorsement = Way Fewer IRIS Studies
The article cites the egregious contamination situation that exists near Kelly Air Force base, San Antonio, where tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, was used extensively as an airplane degreaser and then dumped in shallow waste pits, causing contamination of a 4 square mile area known as "the plume". Residents of the plume have severely elevated levels of cancer, not to mention liver, heart, lung, kidney disease, recurrent sinus infections and low birth weights. The EPA hasn't completed a study in 10 years, and currently officially proclaims the air and groundwater safe. However, the 25% of sick households with cancer and other illnesses in this area says otherwise.
The Obama administration can reinstate the old IRIS process with "a flick of a pen,", according to the author. Hopefully, said pen flick is forthcoming.
