Monday, March 21, 2005

Teflon and ACSH: truth-proof

Headline of a Medical World News story: "Teflon-Production Chemical Does Not Pose Health Risk to General Population, Science Panel Finds." Unfortunately the "science" panel involved are the hacks from the American Council on Science and Health and they bear as much relation to a real science panel as particle board does to wood. Cheap sawdust for principles held together with a noxious cement (money).

EPA's Science Advisory Board, a real science panel, recently reviewed the same subject. Their report has not been issued yet, but judging from comments made at the public hearing by panel members, it is unlikely to ratify the ACSH's judgment that the chemical at issue, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), is absolutely harmless.

ACSH, a notorious industry whorehouse, regularly puts out "don't worry, be happy" stories for their corporate johns. They are the subject of an earlier post here that the real health hazard in New York City is bicyclists. Enough said.

For more (and more reliable) info on PFOA, visit the Environmental Working Group site.