The paper industry also set out to cast doubt on the scientific basis of EPA's dioxin standards. It hired five scientists in 1990 to reexamine a 1978 study showing dioxin caused cancer in mice. This study had been influential and was reputed to have been the real basis for the EPA's tough line on dioxin. The rat slides from that study were reexamined by the five scientists and tumours recounted. The paper industry's scientists counted 50% fewer tumours than had been originally counted. Although the new count still showed that dioxin was a more potent carcinogen at low doses than other chemicals, the paper industry used their recount to push the EPA to loosen their dioxin standards. (Bailey 1992)

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Reference:

Bailey, Jeff, 1992, 'Dueling Studies: How Two Industries Created a Fresh Spin on the Dioxin Debate', Wall Street Journal, 20 February, p. A4.

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