Trump EPA is manipulating safety data around a highly toxic flame retardant, advocates allege

A widely-used chemical, TBBPA, may pose a threat to public health, particularly for children, according to independent research. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is under scrutiny for allegedly manipulating safety data regarding this highly toxic flame retardant, which is commonly found in consumer goods across the US economy.

The EPA is contemplating restrictions on TBBPA, but critics contend that the administration is collaborating with the industry to downplay the risks associated with this chemical. While international cancer organizations and European agencies have labeled TBBPA as a carcinogen or possibly carcinogenic, the EPA's recent risk assessment concluded that it is not carcinogenic at the levels of exposure suggested by public health groups.

The EPA's assessment also appears to rely heavily on industry science, which tends to underestimate the chemical's toxicity and human exposure levels. This assertion is problematic because TBBPA is widely used, with at least 552 million pounds produced in 2016 and found in approximately 70% of electronics worldwide. The chemical is linked to various health issues like hormone disruption, brain damage, immune system toxicity, and developmental harm in children, including effects on the reproductive and nervous systems.

The EPA's draft risk assessment claims that there is no "unreasonable risk" to consumers or children. However, environmental groups argue that the agency is ignoring many exposure pathways and relying too heavily on industry science. For instance, the EPA's assessment does not account for TBBPA's presence in recycled plastics, contaminated food, and occupational settings.

The EPA also heavily relies on research from the Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (Tera), a group that receives funding from the industry and has a history of challenging regulations related to toxic chemicals.