ATTACKS ON SCIENCE | Political Report Cards

Doubting Science. Why?

ATTACKS ON SCIENCE

Science is at the core of a healthy democracy. But historically, presidential administrations have, in differing ways, sidelined scientific evidence and attacked scientific integrity.They include disappearing data, silenced scientists, suppressed studies, and other assaults on science-based policy.

Political officials sidelined EPA scientists and disregarded the science on potential health risks caused by fine particulate matter pollution.These actions led to a finalized National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for particulate matter that the best available science suggests is less protective for human health.
By sidelining scientists, the EPA failed to utilize the best available science to develop evidence-based environmental and public health protections. Instead of using the best available science to safeguard communities from harmful air pollution, especially those that are disproportionately impacted, EPA political officials prioritized political considerations over science. In 2020, particulate matter was estimated to cause over 100,000 deaths a year in the US.

Political officials directed scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to exclude key studies when looking at a popular pesticide, atrazine, in a way that downplayed its harmful environmental effects. The scientists refused to alter the science but felt enough political pressure that, in an official memo by the EPA, the scientists gave more weight to industry benefits, setting a regulatory level for atrazine that was over four times higher than the level scientists said was harmful.

Peer reviewed publications on Atrazine shows, that the Testes of multiple species exhibited egg production after exposure to Atrazine.
Male frogs have sperm in the testes. Give them atrazine, no sperm. A scientist from Belgium with fish sperm in the testes; give them atrazine, no sperm. With reptiles, sperm in the testes; give them atrazine and they also have no sperm. Rat studies done in Croatia and Nigeria show the same results.