Report Criticizes EPA Dioxin Assessment

April 26, 2001

The Dioxin Reassessment Review Subcommittee of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), an independent scientific panel that advises the Environmental Protection Agency, released a review of an EPA dioxin risk assessment originally published in 1994. The SAB report criticizes EPA's conclusions and recommends substantial revisions to the assessment.

Major criticisms of the EPA assessment are 1) it is unclear whether dioxin is a human carcinogen; and 2) even if dioxin is a human carcinogen, it is unclear what, if any, additional cancer risks can be associated with a high fat diet that contain dioxins at the background levels.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association, responding to the SAB report and the EPA dioxin risk assessment, said, "Questions remain concerning the cancer risk from background doses of dioxin and estimates of cancer risk by the EPA. The way to resolve these questions is through continued examination of the scientific evidence. The beef industry supports continued review of the EPA dioxin risk assessment by scientific organizations like the Scientific Advisory Board and the National Academy of Sciences."

NCBA said the original EPA dioxin risk assessment "is based on irrelevant beef fat content data that does not reflect the U.S. beef supply. Recent data; science-based policy; cooperation between FDA and USDA and harmonization with other world entities that have set standards for dioxin are essential for achieving a legitimate dioxin standard and effective dioxin control measures."

Studies have shown that there is at least 80% less dioxin in the environment today than there was in the 1970s, said NCBA. "Cattle don't produce dioxin and beef is leaner than ever before. Regulatory efforts to further reduce dioxin should be focused on areas where further reduction is possible and will be more effective."