
Gradient Principal Testifies before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power Julie E. Goodman, PhD DABT, a Principal at Gradient, was invited to provide scientific testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Power at a hearing entitled, "The American Energy Initiative: What EPA's Utility MACT Rule Will Cost U.S. Consumers," in Washington, DC on February 8, 2012. The focus of the hearing is the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS). Dr. Goodman will discuss significant limitations in the studies relied upon by EPA to estimate the health benefits of the proposed standards. Specifically, EPA estimated that the MATS will reduce the disease burden in America to such an extent that it will translate into tens of billions of dollars saved. The largest purported benefits from the MATS are derived not from reducing mercury emissions, but from reducing fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) emissions. Despite the vast array of peer-reviewed scientific literature on the topic, EPA based its benefits assessment on only two PM_2.5 epidemiology studies that reported statistical associations between PM_2.5 reductions and health benefits. Dr. Goodman will testify that the two studies relied upon by EPA had methodological limitations and were not consistent with many epidemiology studies indicating no correlation between reducing PM_2.5 and health benefits. In addition, some scientific studies indicate an exposure threshold exists below which PM_2.5 is not likely to cause adverse health effects, a factor ignored in the EPA assessment. Dr. Goodman will discuss how EPA's analysis was not supported by the weight of available scientific evidence and grossly inflated the estimated benefits of the proposed standards. Watch the hearing live on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 10:00am. energycommerce.house.gov Click here to review Julie's testimony.	For more information on Gradient's services, please contact: Julie E. Goodman, Ph.D., DABT Principal jgoodman@gradientcorp.com Gradient is an environmental and risk science consulting firm renowned for our specialties in Toxicology, Epidemiology, Risk Assessment, Product Safety, Contaminant Fate and Transport, and Environmental Chemistry. We employ sound science to assist national and global clients in resolving their complex problems relating to chemicals in the environment, in the workplace, and in consumer products.
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Gradient Principal Testifies before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power

Julie E. Goodman, PhD DABT, a Principal at Gradient, was invited to provide scientific testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Power at a hearing entitled, "The American Energy Initiative: What EPA's Utility MACT Rule Will Cost U.S. Consumers," in Washington, DC on February 8, 2012. The focus of the hearing is the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS).

Dr. Goodman will discuss significant limitations in the studies relied upon by EPA to estimate the health benefits of the proposed standards. Specifically, EPA estimated that the MATS will reduce the disease burden in America to such an extent that it will translate into tens of billions of dollars saved. The largest purported benefits from the MATS are derived not from reducing mercury emissions, but from reducing fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) emissions. Despite the vast array of peer-reviewed scientific literature on the topic, EPA based its benefits assessment on only two PM_2.5 epidemiology studies that reported statistical associations between PM_2.5 reductions and health benefits.

Dr. Goodman will testify that the two studies relied upon by EPA had methodological limitations and were not consistent with many epidemiology studies indicating no correlation between reducing PM_2.5 and health benefits. In addition, some scientific studies indicate an exposure threshold exists below which PM_2.5 is not likely to cause adverse health effects, a factor ignored in the EPA assessment. Dr. Goodman will discuss how EPA's analysis was not supported by the weight of available scientific evidence and grossly inflated the estimated benefits of the proposed standards.

Watch the hearing live on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 10:00am.
energycommerce.house.gov

Click here to review Julie's testimony.

For more information on Gradient's services, please contact:

Julie E. Goodman, Ph.D., DABT
Principal
jgoodman@gradientcorp.com

Gradient is an environmental and risk science consulting firm renowned for our specialties in Toxicology, Epidemiology, Risk Assessment, Product Safety, Contaminant Fate and Transport, and Environmental Chemistry. We employ sound science to assist national and global clients in resolving their complex problems relating to chemicals in the environment, in the workplace, and in consumer products.