US rule would strip science from environmental policies and increase premature deaths, warn scientists

Decades of landmark public health studies on matters such as air pollution and water quality could be eliminated from consideration in future decision from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), health experts have warned.

Scientists told the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology that the Trump administration is demanding access to the underlying data behind health studies used in decision making, including confidential patient information. They appeared before a Congressional hearing on a rule change—which has been billed as a means of improving transparency—proposed by the Trump appointed EPA administrator, Andrew Wheeler.

Since allowing access to such data would breach confidentiality agreements between researchers and study participants, many studies would be excluded from consideration when drawing up new rules on problems like lead contamination or vehicle emissions, said the scientists. Included among these would be many landmark studies underpinning knowledge of the harms these pollutants …