The IRIS program at the EPA, critical for assessing toxic chemical risks and informing regulations, is facing unprecedented threats from new legislation. These proposed bills would prevent the EPA from using IRIS's chemical assessments in regulatory frameworks or health risk evaluations, which could severely undermine environmental protection efforts. Industry lobbyists and certain lawmakers support these measures, linking them to a broader agenda that seeks to weaken established regulatory practices. Experts warn that this could hinder the EPA's ability to safeguard public health and the environment effectively.
"For decades, Republican lawmakers and industry lobbyists have tried to chip away at the small program in the Environmental Protection Agency that measures the threat of toxic chemicals."
"If it becomes law, the 'No IRIS Act,' as it's called, would essentially bar the agency from carrying out its mission, experts told ProPublica."
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