A recent article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN) makes misleading claims about the effects of vinyl flooring on human health. What’s more, it’s based on a flawed, agenda-driven study from a researcher with a track record of anti-PVC bias. We pointed this out to C&EN and they asked us to submit a letter to the editor to express our concerns. We did so, but they elected not to publish it. Here’s the letter we submitted, in full:
When an article makes overbroad claims, cites biased researchers, and misstates basic facts, readers are the ones who lose.
In “Chemists move indoors to measure the air quality in our homes” Celia Arnaud makes several concerning and misleading claims about vinyl flooring and phthalates. She claims that “understanding exposure and how various compounds affect human health is still a long way off.” This is patently false when it comes to phthalates. As far back as 2007, the European Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) published a detailed opinion on risk assessment of indoor air quality concluding that it “does not find consistent scientific evidence which indicate[s] that phthalates should be high concern chemicals in indoor air.” Similar indoor air assessments have since been published over the years, including by Health Canada in 2015 and in South Korean children from 2011. None of the studies have identified any phthalate-related concern with indoor air.
What’s more, the article bases its criticism of phthalates almost entirely on the work of Dr. Heather Stapleton who has a long record of collaboration with anti-vinyl activist organizations. Furthermore, the research cited in the article contains several flaws. The fact remains, even the greatest possible exposures found within Dr. Stapleton’s research were at least 25 times below the safe level as determined by the U.S. EPA. This alone undercuts the conclusions she makes; not to mention the many other methodological and scientific flaws found in the study.
We appreciate the editors of C&EN for correcting several erroneous claims in the original version of the article. Still, the questionable source Ms. Arnaud relies upon for her story, and the misguided statements she makes, perpetuate distortions about vinyl flooring that misrepresent the facts and fail the interests of C&EN readers.
Outlets like C&EN have a duty to evaluate the credibility of the ‘experts’ whose work they promote, so that readers can make informed assessments about the information presented to them. When they abdicate that responsibility, the public has a right to know.