Trump takes 500 actions to weaken cancer protections, new report says
Natural Resources Defense Council shows how federal rules changes will spike up public’s exposure to carcinogens Amid a surge in early onset cancer , the Trump administration has taken more than 500 actions to systematically dismantle protections against carcinogens once in place across the federal government, an October report alleges . The Natural Resources Defense Council report, and comments…
The Trump administration has taken over 500 actions to weaken cancer protections across the federal government, according to a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council. This comes as early onset cancer rates are rising by about 30% per decade. The changes span various federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Some of the alterations include delaying new protections around asbestos, siding with Bayer in its fight against glyphosate, and weakening scientific processes that determine risk levels from carcinogen exposure. For instance, the EPA has shifted from a "no safe level of exposure" principle to a "threshold" approach, which means certain exposures to carcinogens are now considered safe. This change has already resulted in weaker protections against formaldehyde, a toxicant found in consumer goods.
Additionally, the administration has targeted research funding, cut cancer research staff, and eliminated protective regulatory rules. The Integrated Risk Information System, a small EPA office that determines chemical toxicity, has also had its findings undermined. The report estimates that the changes could lead to over 2 million cancer diagnoses in the US this year, with younger individuals experiencing a higher increase in certain cancers.
The report calls for more protections and stricter regulations, but critics argue that these changes are part of a "pro-cancer" agenda orchestrated by the Trump administration.
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