Science Before Profit: Defend IRIS to Save Lives

Science Before Profit: Defend IRIS to Save Lives I am a voting constituent writing to oppose recent efforts to undermine the EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). As reported by ProPublica, political directives have sought to sideline career scientists and weaken the independence of chemical toxicity assessments. IRIS serves as the essential scientific backbone for our nation’s air and water safety regulations. When career scientists are bypassed in favor of corporate interests, the public loses its most vital shield against industrial pollution. History indicates that corporations cannot be trusted to self-regulate or prioritize consumer health over quarterly profits. Industry lobbyists have long targeted IRIS precisely because its independent findings force accountability to the gold standard of risk assessment. Without the rigorous, impartial data provided by IRIS, toxic substances will continue to saturate our communities unchecked. We must not allow the integrity of environmental science to be sold to the highest bidder. I urge you to take immediate action to uphold IRIS, ensure its funding remains robust, and codify protections for the scientists who conduct this life-saving research.