Business and Government

Numerous scientific bodies around the world, both public and private, attempt to assess the cancer-causing potential of various industrial chemicals. Ideally, those research programs should inform everyone, from policy makers to manufacturers to consumers, enabling people to make better decisions to minimize risks. However, too often classification programs rely on outdated and faulty methodologies and are influenced by political considerations that lead to inappropriate cancer classifications. Their faulty conclusions can create serious problems, including bans on useful products, market deselection of such products, and public confusion about cancer risks. Unfortunately, such problems are becoming commonplace.