working against healing - two regulatory agencies - EPA and OSHA

[Guest guest]

This post contains the first paragraphs of two news items.

* Lawmakers upset over job cuts at EPA's watchdog

* OSHA Leaves Worker Safety in Hands of Industry

Increasingly, patented toxins are associated with autism and other

neurobehavioral phenomena (eg, D'Amelio et al 2005; PCB/auditory

announcement 2007; Vreugdenhil HJ 2002). Increasingly, nutritional

optimizing and detoxification strategies are found to help many but not

all ASD children so treated. As these trends continue and on behalf of

the virtual owners of WHO and WTO, the right to supplements remains

threatened by the FDA and too willing Congresspersons. The two snippets

herein describe the attitude within two " regulatory " agencies.

- - - -

*Lawmakers upset over job cuts at EPA's watchdog*

Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:19PM EDT

By Tom Doggett

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2441288020070424

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers are investigating plans by the

Environmental Protection Agency's acting inspector general to lay off 60

full-time staff in his office while he earns a $15,000 bonus.

The House Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials said it is

worried that removing that many employees, mostly auditors, criminal

investigators and senior program analysts, would undermine the

effectiveness of the office.

The Office of the Inspector General, OIG, performs audits, evaluations and

investigations of EPA and its contractors. With less staff, it could be

more difficult for the OIG to make sure the EPA is enforcing

anti-pollution rules and environmental regulations at oil refineries,

power plants and other regulated facilities...

- - - -

April 25, 2007

*OSHA Leaves Worker Safety in Hands of Industry*

By STEPHEN LABATON

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/washington/25osha.html

WASHINGTON, April 24 — Seven years ago, a Missouri doctor discovered a

troubling pattern at a microwave popcorn plant in the town of Jasper.

After an additive was modified to produce a more buttery taste, nine

workers came down with a rare, life-threatening disease that was ravaging

their lungs.

Puzzled Missouri health authorities turned to two federal agencies in

Washington. Scientists at the National Institute for Occupational Safety

and Health, which investigates the causes of workplace health problems,

moved quickly to examine patients, inspect factories and run tests. Within

months, they concluded that the workers became ill after exposure to

diacetyl, a food-flavoring agent.

But the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, charged with

overseeing workplace safety, reacted with far less urgency. It did not

step up plant inspections or mandate safety standards for businesses, even

as more workers became ill...

*

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