ACC Commends National Academies of Science Review of Dioxin Assessment

ARLINGTON, VA (July 11, 2006) – The American Chemistry Council (ACC) today commended the National Academies of Science’s (NAS) National Research Council panel for its thorough review of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) draft dioxin reassessment. The NAS, one of the nation’s preeminent scientific bodies, concluded that the EPA report may overstate the risk of cancer from dioxin, and understate the uncertainty associated with both cancer and non-cancer health risks. NAS asked EPA to more clearly explain how it selects the data upon which the reassessment is based and the methods used to analyze those data.

“This authoritative report should serve as a guidepost for EPA and help the agency harmonize its draft dioxin risk analysis with the findings of other respected groups, including the World Health Organization and European Food Safety Association,” said Greg Merrill, senior director of the Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council.

Dramatic and continuing dioxin declines in U.S. industrial emissions, sediments, foods and human tissue have been documented over the past several decades. According to EPA’s own estimates, dioxin emissions to the environment have been reduced by 92 percent since 1987. Clearly, EPA, industry and environmentalists alike can celebrate this impressive victory—achieved through the winning combination of government regulations, voluntary industry efforts and citizen campaigns.

While the volume of dioxin science continues to grow, our member companies support efforts to further reduce dioxin emissions and, at the same time, provide chemical building blocks that help produce essential products that make our lives safer, healthier and more convenient.

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