Environmental Group Seen As Stooge For Lawyers

Environmental Group Seen As Stooge For Lawyers

NU Online News Service, Jan. 21, 9:55 a.m. EST?An environmental group that drew national attention with a study warning that farmed salmon is a poisonous food, uses junk science to create reports that act as a tool for personal injury lawyers creating class lawsuits, according to a business group.[@@]

The American Tort Reform Association based in Washington, D.C. also suggested that the Environmental Working Group lacked staff with good credentials. EWG, also in Washington, said ATRA was "ranting."

According to EWG their analysis of fish consumption data Shows 800,000 U.S. adults eat enough toxic PCB chemical from farmed salmon to exceed allowable lifetime cancer risk 100 times over.

EWG said it bought salmon from local grocery stores and found seven of 10 fish were so contaminated with PCBs that they raise cancer-risk concerns, relative to health standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

ATRA said that the EWG fish study was funded by Pew Charitable Trusts, which it said had "close ties to personal injury lawyers." It said that EWG reports are featured on InjuryBoard.com and other online tools created by personal injury lawyers to solicit class members.

EWG, according to ATRA creates "public anxiety and hysteria needed for personal injury lawyers to solicit plaintiffs and file an onslaught of reckless lawsuits.

ATRA cited a variety of criticism about the report for its limited sampling, and remarks by some scientists that any risk is outweighed by the benefits of fish.

It mentioned professors from the University of Florida, Harvard School of Public Health, Purdue University and University of Albany, SUNY among other sources including Dr. Elizabeth M. Whelan, president of the American Council on Science and Health.

Dr. Whelan cited a report that EWG has no doctors or scientists on staff.

ATRA's members include insurers and a wide spectrum of businesses from other sectors.

Asked to react to the ATRA charges, EWG released a statement from Mike Casey, its vice president for public affairs saying that "it seems there are still people left on earth who can be found to take a check from industry to try convincing the public that polluting our food sources with industrial contaminants is no big deal--or even a good idea.

"This is some pretty hysterical ranting, even for a corporate front group like ATRA. Maybe they served too much PCB-laden farmed salmon at the ATRA's holiday party and they're still feeling the effects?"