According to a report from the Associated Press, Dow lawyers, along with two other pesticide manufacturers, sent requests on April 13 to three of Trump’s cabinet agencies, requesting that they “set aside” the results of the government studies that proved their products to be harmful. The companies argue that the studies on the organophosphates are “fundamentally flawed.”
“The industry's request comes after EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced last month he was reversing an Obama-era effort to bar the use of Dow's chlorpyrifos pesticide on food after recent peer-reviewed studies found that even tiny levels of exposure could hinder the development of children's brains,” AP reported.
Three environmental groups are now suing the Environmental Protection Agency over the reversal of the ban, arguing that it is well documented that exposure to the chemicals has been linked to attention, memory and intelligence deficits, tremors, and autism in children.
Federal scientists also determined that the toxins — specifically chlorpyrifos, diazinon and malathion — put 1,800 critically threatened or endangered species at risk.
"Dow actively participates in policymaking and political processes, including political contributions to candidates, parties and causes, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws," Rachelle Schikorra, the director of public affairs for Dow Chemical, told the AP. "Dow maintains and is committed to the highest standard of ethical conduct in all such activity."
Schikorra added that suggestion that their donation was intended to gain influence with the administration is "completely off the mark."
