IARC criticised over industry role in styrene group

The non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) wrote to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in February 2002 “to express our concern regarding the current meeting of the IARC Monographs Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Vol. 82: Some traditional herbal medicines, some mycotoxins, naphthalene and styrene, in Lyon on February 12-19, 2002.” The letter from NRDC’s Jennifer Sass and Linda Greer added: “Our concerns stem from the evident conflict of interest surrounding the toxicologists who will provide opinion on styrene. The three toxicologists, James A. Bond, Gary P. Carlson, and George Cruzan each have financial relationships with groups representing the interests of the styrene manufacturers.” The letter concluded: “NRDC requests that IARC, in the interests of preserving the credibility and scientific integrity of the premiere international body of cancer assessment, remove from its Working Group any members with a financial conflict of interest. We appeal to the IARC as scientists, as persons of integrity, and as protectors of public health.”

Reform Needed at the International Agency for Research on Cancer: Letter to Paul Kleihues, Director, IARC, from Jennifer Sass and Linda Greer, NRDC, 12 February 2002.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *