In a controversial move, Lynn Dekleva has recently taken a senior position at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), stirring up a whirlwind of scrutiny due to her background advocating for the chemicals industry. Her role involves overseeing the approval of new chemicals, including controversial substances like formaldehyde, commonly used in household products but known to pose serious health risks, including cancer and respiratory problems.
In 2021, the EPA initiated a campaign aiming to regulate formaldehyde more stringently, igniting fierce opposition from the chemicals industry. This backlash, led by Dekleva during her tenure at the American Chemistry Council—a significant lobbying force that invests millions to influence government policy—has led to calls for rolling back critical safety evaluations.
Dekleva's past includes over three decades at DuPont, a major chemical manufacturer, before her appointment at the EPA during the Trump administration. Now, she is at the forefront of efforts to change the agency's assessment of chemical risks. Recently, the American Chemistry Council has expressed a strong desire to abandon the current assessment of formaldehyde and restart the risk evaluation process from scratch. Their goal is to expedite the EPA's safety reviews and simplify the approval process for new chemicals.
The current landscape at the EPA is one of increasing tension, with another former lobbyist from the Council, Nancy Beck, working alongside Dekleva in regulating existing chemicals. Chris Jahn, president of the American Chemistry Council, has publicly declared that they intend to combat "unnecessary regulation" of chemicals, advocating for a regulatory environment that favors industry interests.
As the EPA navigates these regulatory challenges with industry leaders in influential positions, concerns continue to mount regarding the potential impacts on public health and safety. The implications of Dekleva's leadership could define the future approach toward chemical regulation in the United States.
In 2021, the EPA initiated a campaign aiming to regulate formaldehyde more stringently, igniting fierce opposition from the chemicals industry. This backlash, led by Dekleva during her tenure at the American Chemistry Council—a significant lobbying force that invests millions to influence government policy—has led to calls for rolling back critical safety evaluations.
Dekleva's past includes over three decades at DuPont, a major chemical manufacturer, before her appointment at the EPA during the Trump administration. Now, she is at the forefront of efforts to change the agency's assessment of chemical risks. Recently, the American Chemistry Council has expressed a strong desire to abandon the current assessment of formaldehyde and restart the risk evaluation process from scratch. Their goal is to expedite the EPA's safety reviews and simplify the approval process for new chemicals.
The current landscape at the EPA is one of increasing tension, with another former lobbyist from the Council, Nancy Beck, working alongside Dekleva in regulating existing chemicals. Chris Jahn, president of the American Chemistry Council, has publicly declared that they intend to combat "unnecessary regulation" of chemicals, advocating for a regulatory environment that favors industry interests.
As the EPA navigates these regulatory challenges with industry leaders in influential positions, concerns continue to mount regarding the potential impacts on public health and safety. The implications of Dekleva's leadership could define the future approach toward chemical regulation in the United States.
