WASHINGTON (Aug. 1, 1:55 p.m. ET) — A decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to classify styrene as a carcinogen threatens jobs in the composites industry, according to John Schweitzer, senior director of government affairs of the Arlington, Va.-based American Composites Manufacturing Association.
“Given the sound scientific basis that styrene is not a likely human carcinogen, HHS' issuance of a cancer warning can only have the effect of causing needless worry among the employees and plant neighbors of thousands of smaller companies, and driving an even greater number of manufacturing jobs out of the U.S., without public health benefit,” Schweitzer said at a recent roundtable hosted by the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy.
“The federal government's process of determining hazardous risk is fundamentally flawed and poses a serious threat to the viability of thousands of small businesses across the country,” Schweitzer said.
