Despite Industry Concern, EPA Advancing Methanol Noncancer Risk Study

摘要

EPA appears to be pressing ahead with its schedule for its assessment of methanol's noncancer risks, despite concerns from industry that the agency's draft report is overly stringent and does not include the latest research on the chemical. Methanol industry representatives urged agency staff at a May 26 listening session to delay the assessment until they can review a series of studies published by a Canadian professor and funded by the Methanol Foundation. The new research "raises fundamental questions about the choice of the point of departure for any quantitative assessment of methanol and the designation of reference doses," said Chuck Elkins, a consultant to the Methanol Institute, the group that represents producers and users of the substance. Relevant documents are available on InsideEPA.com. Seepage 2 for details.