Why Has the E.P.A. Shifted on Toxic Chemicals? An Industry Insider Helps Call the Shots!

A scientist who worked for the chemical industry now shapes policy on hazardous chemicals. Within the E.P.A., there is fear that public health is at risk; an example, they reversed course on banning the pesticide chlorpyrifos, ignoring the recommendations of agency scientists,   in order to ease the government’s burden on business by reining in “the regulatory state.” “What you really want to do as a government is to set priorities. If you don’t have a realistic way of distinguishing significant risks from insignificant ones, you are just going to get bogged down and waste significant resources, and that can impede public health and safety.” Read about the efforts to  keep the "White House out of the E.P.A. science program."