Learning from history should keep us from repeating our mistakes. Yet when it comes to environmental politics, the opposite seems to be true. History and improved scientific understanding fail to inform, while alarmism and irrational fears drive policy. The current debate related to flame retardant chemicals is a prime example. Environmental activist groups have petitioned the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to ban an entire class of flame retardant chemicals called organohalogens, with a decision expected this year. Yet, the scientific justification for such bans has long been invalidated. Read more.
