Update on Industry Research

by Mark D. Gold

Late in 1994, the Journal, "Food and Chemical Toxicology" published a 
a study conducted by scientists of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., 
and the Monsanto Company.  These industry scientists found no effects 
from the carpet sample which Dr. Rosalind Anderson of Anderson 
Laboratories found to cause moderate to severe  pulmonary irritation, 
slight to moderate sensory irritation, and neurotoxicity.

According to Mark Goldman, the manager of Anderson Laboratories, the 
industry scientists change Dr. Anderson's protocol in such a way that 
no adverse effects will be found.  Two common techniques that the 
industry uses, according to Dr. Goldman, are keeping the humidity too 
high so that the toxic chemicals are end up in the water as opposed 
to being inhaled, and to change the material which the exposure tank 
are composed of.

It is really a moot point as far as toxic carpeting causes anywhere 
from mild to severe reactions in test animals using the ASTM E981 
testing procedure.  Dr. Anderson has tested over 100 samples which 
proved to be toxic.  Dr. Yves Alarie, the inventor of the ASTM E981 
testing procedure reviewed Dr. Anderson's protocol and said it was 
valid.  Dr. Alarie also repeated Dr. Anderson's tests on carpet 
samples and verified her results *four* times in his laboratory.  The 
EPA was videotaped in a side-by-side test at Anderson Laboratories 
proving that the carpet sample they chose caused severe problems in 
animals.  The reactions in animals found in Dr. Anderson's test often 
mimiced the acute reactions that were found in humans exposed to the 
same carpet.

The industry article appeared in the journal, "Food and Chemical 
Toxicology."  In my opinion, this journal is heavily biased towards
publishing research which exonerates unhealthy and even dangerous food
and chemical products.  The editor of this journal, Dr. Joseph
Borzelleca is a consultant scientist for the Carpet and Rug Institute
(CRI).

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an organization which 
has already shown that it is in bed with the carpet and rug industry, 
recently gave $60,000 to Air Quality Sciences lab to perform carpet 
testing.  According to Mark Goldman of Anderson laboratories, Air 
Qaulity Sciences lab receives money from the carpet industry.