what conflict of interest?

Here's an interesting side story: the Charles Gelman mentioned in this article was a leading force in the repeal of Michigan's polluter pay law in 1995. That's cost taxpayers a few hundred million, and will ultimately cost a billion or two. Mr. Gelman's former company may have saved a few million, too.

Federal health officials said Tuesday they will look into a possible conflict of interest involving a prominent toxicologist who is heading up a review of a sensitive safety issue.

Several lawmakers said the controversy could undermine the credibility of the Food and Drug Administration's assessment of bisphenol A, or BPA. The chemical, used to make plastics, is found in consumer goods from soup cans to baby bottles, and seen as a health risk by some.

[snip]

But a Food and Drug Administration official said there is no reason to believe that University of Michigan professor Martin Philbert did anything improper.

Philbert is also acting director of a risk science center at Michigan. That center received a $5 million pledge this summer from a wealthy businessman who is openly skeptical of BPA's risks. Philbert did not disclose the donation when the FDA scrutinized his finances as he prepared to take charge of the advisory panel, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on Sunday.

Comments

[Lloyd Alter]

great story, I wrote about it and also quoted your book that popped up in google when looking for background...this should be told everywhere.