Chemical Watchdog Bends to Industry, Puts Millions at Risk

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently made a controversial decision to downgrade the risks associated with formaldehyde, a chemical known to cause cancer. This move comes despite strong evidence linking formaldehyde to serious health issues like cancer, miscarriages, and asthma. The EPA identified 58 situations where formaldehyde poses an unreasonable risk, but then decided to reduce the threat level in key areas, such as wood product manufacturing. This decision has raised eyebrows, as it mirrors past instances where corporate lobbying has influenced regulatory outcomes. Formaldehyde is everywhere. It's in car interiors, building materials, textiles, and even household products. Studies have shown that outdoor formaldehyde levels exceed the EPA's cancer-risk thresholds by a staggering 10 times. When considering myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer linked to formaldehyde, the risk jumps to 77 times the EPA's acceptable limit. Despite these alarming figures, the EPA is considering abandoning the linear risk model, which could allow corporations to argue that low-level exposure to carcinogens is safe.The EPA's actions are part of a larger pattern of regulatory capture, where the interests of corporations take precedence over public health. The agency has sidelined its own Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), a program designed to assess chemical toxicity. Out of the 55 scientists who worked on IRIS assessments, only eight remain after recent reorganizations. Additionally, the EPA is pushing to prevent states from enacting stricter regulations, which would lock in corporate-friendly standards nationwide. This shift in stance on formaldehyde sets a dangerous precedent for other carcinogens. The EPA is currently evaluating chemicals like 1, 2-dichloroethane and 1, 3-butadiene, used in plastics manufacturing. If the same threshold approach is applied, corporations could effectively legalize unsafe exposure levels, putting millions more at risk. The public comment period on the EPA's formaldehyde assessment is closing soon. Advocates are concerned that this could mark the beginning of a broader deregulatory push, prioritizing corporate profits over public health. Meanwhile, Project 2025, a blueprint for a potential second Trump administration, calls for dismantling IRIS and relaxing radiation exposure limits, further benefiting industry interests. The EPA was established to protect human health, not to shield corporations from accountability. However, its actions in the formaldehyde saga suggest otherwise. This situation highlights the need for stronger political will to prioritize public health over corporate profits. The question remains: how many more lives will be put at risk before meaningful change occurs?