Manipulated Toxicology Testing in Benzene Studies
Toxicology Testing by Industrial Bio Test Laboratory (IBT)
I. Cheating
Regulatory system for chemical products is tailor-made for fraud.
Real work is conducted by or for chemical manufacturers.
Industrial Bio Test Laboratories (IBT)
- In mid 1970 conducted 35-40% of testing in U.S.
- Industry funded test submitted to regulatory agencies in support of safety of thousands of products.
- In 1976, IBT lab was exposed as a fraud by the FDA.
- Evidence showed that numerous studies were fraudulent
- Sick animals were listed as healthy and not included in order to achieve favorable test results
- Some reports were total fabrications based on no studies at all.
- Employees of IBT faked results to please chemical companies.
- Numerous documents were shredded at IBT prior to governmental inspections.
- According to the FDA, "IBT were hell-bent on providing their clients with favorable reports."
- "It was an assembly line for acceptable studies."
- Extra lab mice were added to skew the sample. This trickery was left out from final reports to the EPA.
- Missing raw data had been replaced by after-the-fact invented records.
- Animal deaths had been deliberately concealed.
- Final reports included claims about procedures and observations that never happened.
II. Spinning Science
Test-sampling is greatly skewed.
Studies were systematically designed not to find the product in water [samples].
Sampling areas showing contamination were avoided.
Reinterpretation of results [was done].
Studies [were] conducted for short periods of time so as to conceal carcinogenic effects
[IBT] used low doses and small numbers of animals.
[IBT] used animals that are insensitive to cancers.
[IBT] shortened the duration of the study to make chemicals seem less dangerous.
Studies on cancers should be reviewed by scientists inside and outside the industry.
III. Putting Up a Front
Spinning works best when somebody else is doing it for the industry.
Industry paid for associations, consulting organizations, academics, certain governmental employees, and politicians [to] speak on behalf of industrial products.
Scientists from research organizations testify before congress, governmental hearings, and conventions giving the appearance of detachment that their sponsors would never enjoy.
CIIT formaldehyde study showed carcinogenic effects.
- CIIT will never conduct another long-term cancer study [for industry].
Sources: Fagin D, Lavelle M (Eds.). 1999. Toxic Deception: How the Chemical Industry Manipulates Science, Bends the Law, and Endangers Your Health. Center for Public Integrity, Washington, DC.
Scientific Journals Compromised by Industry Ties
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
- Sample publication: Wong O, Raabe G. 1995. Reg Tox Pharmacol 307-321.
- 45 prominent scientists and physicians questioned this journal's independence.
- Among the 45 scientists are: James Huff, Lynn Goldman, Peter Infante, Philip Landrigan, Herbert Needleman, David Ozonoff, Lorenzo Tomatis, Arthur Upton, and many others.
- Center for Science in Public Interest (CSPI). From a Press release dated Tuesday, November 19, 2002.
Additional Benzene Junk Science Reading:
Benzene Industry-Conducted or Industry-Sponsored Studies
(Often known as junk science)
Benzene Industry Studies Show Similarities to Smoking Studies
The Furor over Junk Science: The Perspective of a Plaintiff's Attorney
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