This article is really misrepresenting the research done, and the reason the lawsuit was filed. It makes it sound like people were being thrown into gas chambers with highly lethal gases, and that is NOT what happened.
Like all research, this study was being conducted with IRB approval, and the study participants had the risks explained to them beforehand and signed statements that they understood the risks. Because a medical problem arose with one participant, she was taken to the hospital for testing and observation. The problem resolved itself within a couple of hours. The physicians conducting the study published a paper on the incident to warn other physicians who might conduct similar studies that this problem is a risk of this kind of study. The patient’s life was never endangered.
Lisa Jackson’s testimony (quoted in the linked article), “In testimony delivered to Congress in September of 2011, EPA chief Lisa Jackson claimed that exposure to fine particulate matter of 2.5 microns–or less–was lethal” is also really misleading. She was saying the EPA’s rationale for trying to push such strict air pollution standards that we could shut down all industry and still not be able to meet the standards. The “lethality” of these particulates is based on studies showing that on days of high particulate matter density, more people die from asthma and other respiratory problems than on days of low particulate matter density. And the increase in numbers of deaths is so small as to be nearly hidden in the “noise” of the normal death rate. For instance, if on “normal” days, 1 out of 50,000 asthmatics die, on high particulate matter days, the rate might increase to 1.2 out of 50,000 asthmatics. That’s hardly “highly lethal.”
The entire lawsuit seems to have been filed for the purpose of making a political statement. While I normally like Steven Milloy, I do not like the fact that he stooped to engaging in political circus. That’s normally a tactic of the left. Yes, there are problems with the EPA overstepping its regulatory authority. But that’s not an excuse for circuses.
I am trying to find more out about this...I think the case was filed in 2006 or 7.......heads need to roll on this
Milloy did the right thing. Its against the law for EPA to do this. Someone should go to jail.