An award-winning toxicologist was removed from a U.S. EPA panel reviewing the potential health dangers of deca, a flame retardant widely used in electronics, after the American Chemistry Council claimed she was biased. Deborah Rice had testified for the Maine legislature in support of a state ban on deca; EPA officials cited “the perception of a potential conflict of interest” for her removal. Oddly enough, 17 panelists on seven separate EPA panels last year had significant ties to the chemical industry, according to the Environmental Working Group. Hm, double standard much?
