Industry-Backed Legislation Would Bar the Use of Science Behind Hundreds of Environmental Protections

Legislation introduced in Congress would prohibit EPA from using IRIS ’ chemical assessments in environmental rules, regulations, enforcement actions and permits that limit pollution.

IRIS assesses the toxicity of chemicals, estimating the amount of each that triggers cancer and other health effects.

The legislation would essentially bar the EPA from carrying out its mission, experts say.

IRIS ’ collection of more than 500 assessments of chemicals is the largest database of authoritative toxicity values in the world.

Industry scientists challenged IRIS with calculations that showed their chemicals to be less dangerous.

Critiques of IRIS assessments intensified over the years and began to slow the program’s work.

In 2017 , opposition to IRIS escalated further.

The EPA 's IRIS program has been criticized for being slow and overstepping its authority.

Critics say IRIS is being used to develop overly burdensome regulations on critical chemistries.

The American Chemistry Council has called on the EPA to disband IRIS and prohibit the use of its assessments.