This one could really make you sick. Senator David Vitter (R-LA) is blocking the listing of formaldehyde as a known carcinogen by the EPA. The National Cancer Institute issued a study last year showing a link between formaldehyde and leukemia. The report increased efforts at EPA to upgrade the chemical's status from "probable"to "known" carcinogen. But Vitter has blocked the nomination of a key EPA official while urging the agency to seek another National Academy of Science review of formaldehyde's health risk, a process requiring more time and money. Eventually the agency capitulated, postponing the new designation. Vitter is backed by the formaldehyde industry. For his 2010 election campaign, he received $9000 from Dow Chemical, $5000 from Monsanto, $4000 from Exxon/Mobil and $2500 from the American Forest and Paper Association. His position on formaldehyde corresponds exactly to that of the Formaldehyde Council Inc, which spend $30,000 on a lobbying campaign to win a National Science review of the scientific studies on formaldehyde toxicity.
Vitter is not alone in backing the chemical industry's delay tactics. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) stalled the more serious reassessment in 2004. Koch Industries {"Koch"} contributed $6,000 to Inhofe campaign that year. Koch bought two paper mills from Georgia-Pacific the same year. Formaldehyde is used in the manufacture of plywood. Thousands of Katrina victims complained of respiratory problems after being temporarily housed in government trailers contaminated with formaldehyde.