Chemical Manufacturers Regularly Suppress Unfavorable Scientific Research

Suppressing scientific studies that link a product to cancer or environmental damage is part and parcel of corporate lobbying efforts

Monday, July 31, 2023 - Throughout history, companies have often prioritized their financial interests over public health and environmental concerns. The most recent example is when companies like 3M, DuPont, and other manufacturers of AF firefighting foam failed to warn firefighters of the dangers of using the product. One of the most troubling practices used by chemical manufacturers is the suppression of unfavorable scientific research that could potentially harm their profits or damage their reputation. Other industries like the tobacco industry, through its government lobbying efforts and other tactics, have also attempted to hinder or bury research that could have had significant implications for public health, safety, and environmental well-being. There are serious ethical concerns surrounding such practices and the importance of transparency highlights the need for independent research to ensure unbiased dissemination of scientific findings. The chemical industry may be the leading culprit not only based on the detrimental effect of AFFF on firefighter's health but also based on the permanent environmental damage that improperly disposing of it has caused.

Since the 1970s, military troops and firefighters have frequently utilized AFFF, or aqueous film-forming foam, to put out chemical fires. It is now commonly known that some AFFF components can lead to cancer in people. Chemical manufacturers 3M, DuPont, and others have been accused in numerous AFFF cancer lawsuits of concealing or discrediting studies revealing the harmful effects of their chemicals on human health, ecosystems and wildlife. PFAS forever chemical found in firefighting foam may be linked to the decline of pollinators like bees and the contamination of waterways, lakes, rivers, and the ocean. PFAS manufacturers have sponsored their own research aimed at producing favorable outcomes, effectively muddying the scientific consensus on the issue. Additionally, they deployed legal and lobbying resources to obstruct regulatory efforts and delay restrictions on the use of these chemicals. By casting doubt on the credibility of independent research and influencing policymaking processes, these companies sought to evade accountability and protect their economic interests. The chemical industry continues to suppress research highlighting the environmental impacts of AF firefighting foam but is by no means the only one to distort the truth about its products.

The tobacco industry's tactics in suppressing unfavorable scientific research on smoking's health risks provide a stark example of corporate influence on public health. For decades, tobacco companies were aware of the detrimental effects of smoking, including its association with lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory ailments. Despite this knowledge, they embarked on a strategic campaign to manipulate public perception and sow seeds of doubt surrounding the scientific consensus on smoking's health risks. To achieve this, tobacco companies funded their own research, which often downplayed the dangers of smoking. They selectively publicized favorable studies while discrediting reputable research linking smoking to adverse health outcomes. Moreover, these companies employed aggressive legal tactics to intimidate scientists, researchers, and journalists who dared to speak out against the tobacco industry. Through these insidious maneuvers, they aimed to maintain their massive profits while obscuring the truth from the public.

Information provided by AFFFLawsuitCenter.com, a website devoted to providing news about AFFF and PFAS cancer, lymphoma and leukaemia claims, including a free no-cost, no-obligation AFFF Lawsuit Claim.