Industry-connected scientist who pimped BPA and phthalates resigns from European Commision panel

Tuesday, October 22, 2013 by: L.J. Devon, Staff Writer
Tags: endocrine disrupters, corrupt scientists, Wolfgang Dekant

(NaturalNews) Hundreds of independent scientists, who have NO financial ties to chemical industries, are cheering the recent resignation of EU Commission panel member Wolfgang Dekant.

Why?

Because Dekant is a blatant sellout for the chemical industry, an all-out advocate for endocrine disrupters like bisphenol A, pesticides and phthalates. Earlier in 2013, Dekant teamed up with seventeen other sellout scientists to sign an editorial that mocked new EU evidence of endocrine disrupters in consumer products. Published in fourteen journals, Dekant's scathing editorial deemed the new EU endocrine disrupter regulations as "scientifically unfounded, defying common sense and well established science risk assessment principles."

Dekant's scornful editorial was met with instant outrage from hundreds of scientists who have no financial ties to chemical industries. 41 scientists published a rebuttal which asserted the truth on endocrine disrupters and the importance of removing them from consumer products. Joined by over 100 other scientists, the rebuttal called Dekant's editorial "a profound disservice to public health." The clear-headed scientists pointed out that Dekant indeed has financial ties to chemical industries.

Dekant's ties to chemical industries goes deep

Dekant, who received money from the American Chemistry Council, including the Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group, was a direct advocate for endocrine-disrupting bisphenol A. This means that Dekant doesn't care about the amounts of BPA in consumer products and how it destroys hormone levels in people all around the world. This means that Dekant cares more about himself and the BPA industry he helped prop up.

As a member of the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks, Dekant possessed a unique responsibility to hold chemical industries accountable for the negative health consequences their products pose.

Instead, Dekant became the industry's inside man, pushing health-ravaging chemicals like BPA into more consumer products. In 2008, the BPA industry paid him for a review he backed, which touted, "exposure to bisphenol A does not result in a health risk to the general population."

At that same time, Dekant was serving on the EU Food Safety Authority's scientific panel. His role with the EU panel was to set the standard for the EU's acceptable daily intake for BPA.

But, of course, he praised the BPA levels, claiming they were "safe."

Dekant backs the pesticide, fragrance and flame retardant industries

Dekant's ties to the chemical industry do not end there. He's authored reviews backed by European groups that represent phthalates in plastic water bottles. Scientific evidence continues to emerge, purporting the devastating endocrine-disrupting effects of BPA and phthalates, but Dekant continued to endorse the chemicals, accepting money from the various special interests he catered to.

In 2012, he ventured on to author a kind review for the global association for the brominated flame retardant industry.

He also praises the pesticide industry. In 2010, he coauthored an article with an employee from pesticide manufacturer BASF, praising their pesticide degradation products.

He also teamed up with employees from Merck to write a industry-friendly review on Merck's 3-(4-methylbenzylidene)camphor UV filter.

He was a part of a scientific advisory panel for the chemical fragrance industry. He researched new fragrance formulations for companies like L'Oreal and Unilever.

Dekant admits he's an industry insider

The chemicals he endorsed, including BPA, fragrances, phthalates, TBBPA, 3-(4-methylbenzylidene)camphor and some pesticides, are all proven endocrine disrupters that destroy human hormone balance.

The new EU endocrine disrupter regulations, listed here in draft form, were going to limit these harmful chemicals in consumer products.

In the wake of this awareness, Dekant has resigned. His ties to special chemical company interests and his role of accountability with the EU were conflicting. He finally chose to serve one master - the chemical companies.

While working for EU health safety committees, here's how Dekant arrogantly spoke about his insider role. Getting money from a mix of sources - including industry - is "the normal way" to do research. He says, "You can't do research anymore if you don't go for money from all sources."

Accountability and a grand awakening to endocrine disrupters must become top priority

Arrogant sellouts like Dekant, who have networked their way to positions of power, are corrupting accountability and honesty altogether. While accepting cash and writing positive reviews about endocrine-disrupting products, sellouts like Dekant have betrayed the people he could be serving. Thanks to him, endocrine disruption is now a worldwide problem. Many men are feminizing, lacking testosterone. Gender identity disorders and thyroid problems are on the rise. Women are having hysterectomies more than ever, as their feminine parts lack the right hormonal balance to function properly.

Cutting back on endocrine-disrupting chemicals in consumer products should be a top priority for people and companies around the world. To cater to the companies that manufacture and promote these chemicals, like Dekant has, is to betray health and mankind.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org

http://science.naturalnews.com