January 25, 2000

David Hunter
Editor
Chemical Week
888 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10106

Re: Article entitled "U.S., EU Face Off Over APEs," from January 12 edition of Chemical Week

Dear Mr. Hunter:

Commenting on the recent Soap and Detergent Association's findings that the use of nonylphenol ethoxylates in detergents and cleaning products in the US poses little or no risk to the environment, the World Wide Fund for Nature's Elizabeth Salter dismisses the results as biased. She is quoted as saying, "Who paid for this risk assessment?" and points to the pending European Union risk assessment of nonylphenol that may come to a different conclusion.

Society depends on industry-funded studies to assess the health and environmental effects of many products. Challenging a study simply based on its funding is an insult to every scientist in industry. It says: we cannot be trusted, we lack scientific integrity, our product stewardship ethic means nothing. Scientific disagreements are legitimate - a broad-brush attack on the motives of an entire industry is not.

The SDA risk assessment was based on numerous sources, including government, academic and industry studies. SDA reviewed conditions in the US, not Europe, and reached the conclusion that nonylphenol ethoxylates can be used safely. This is consistent with the conclusion reached by the US EPA.

Sincerely,
Robert J. Fensterheim
Executive Director ALKYLPHENOLS & ETHOXYLATES RESEARCH COUNCIL

 

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