For decades, a minor EPA program meticulously evaluated chemical toxicity through rigorous science. Known as IRIS, its scientists’ calculations supported countless U.S. and international chemical regulations, permits, and environmental rules. Now, the Trump administration claims its library of over 500 assessments is unreliable, potentially undermining hundreds of state and federal protections against hazardous chemicals. Environmental scientists warned that the second-guessing might reach even well-established standards, like permissible arsenic levels in drinking water and acceptable lead amounts in paint and soil. In an internal memo obtained by ProPublica, David Fotouhi, the agency’s deputy administrator, sharply criticized IRIS this week and instructed EPA offices that have relied on any of the program’s chemical assessments to review them. He also urged “external entities” that have relied on the IRIS assessments to conduct comparable reviews themselves and warned against incorporating them into future regulations. The six-page memo indicated that the EPA would append “disclaimer language” to the Integrated Risk Information System program’s website, clarifying that its toxicity determinations are not necessarily intended for regulatory use. “This opens the door for polluting companies to challenge rules and regulations they oppose,” remarked Robert Sussman, an attorney with experience at chemical companies, environmental organizations, and the EPA. Anyone wanting to disregard a regulation, permit, or enforcement action can now simply cite this memo and claim the IRIS number it relied on was invalid. It’s a major blow to the effort of shielding people from chemicals. Fotouhi’s memo reflects industry complaints that the program’s scientists are overly cautious in assessing chemical toxicity. Prior to his appointment by President Donald Trump as the EPA’s second-highest official, Fotouhi served as a lawyer for companies accused of toxic pollution. In an emailed statement, the EPA press office stated that Fotouhi has met all relevant government ethics requirements and affirmed that his directive would neither endanger people nor permit violations of environmental regulations. The office noted that any changes to permits or regulatory standards must undergo a process involving public participation. “Science is at the heart of the Agency’s work, and this memo reaffirms that point clearly and unequivocally,” the press office wrote. The EPA established IRIS in 1985 as the nation’s central repository for information on chemical toxicity.
