<p>Dr. Deborah C. Rice was scheduled to chair an EPA external peer review panel assessing the health effects of a flame retardant called deca (decabromobiphenyl). Then, the American Chemistry Council wrote to the EPA saying Rice wasn’t impartial because she has expressed concerns about the chemical in the past. So she was kicked off the panel.<br />

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Rice did express concerns about deca — as a scientist testifying before the Maine State Legislature on the dangers of the toxic substance. She testified as an employee of the Maine Dept. of Health and Human Services. As a toxicologist, her &quot;concerns&quot; came in the form of scientific data about the health effects associated with deca.<br />

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Public interest groups and a union representing EPA scientists are getting <a id="kdba" title="pretty upset" href="http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4454614&amp;page=1">pretty upset</a> over the matter.<br />

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Now Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI) and Bart T. Stupak (D-MI) are investigating Rice’s dismissal. In a letter to EPA, they say dismissing scientists from review boards at industry’s request calls into question the agency’s scientific integrity.</p>

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<blockquote> The ACC&hellip;seems to argue that scientific expertise with regard to a particular chemical and its health effects is a basis for disqualification from a peer review board. This does not seem sensible on its face.<br />

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At the same time, the congressmen say, EPA officials with financial ties to the chemical industry have served on at least nine panels assessing toxic chemicals. Their <a id="v5iw" title="letter" href="http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-ltr.031308.EPA.BPA.pdf">letter</a> includes a list of those panels and the officials in question.</p>