| In the spotlight he craves once again, activist-scientist | | | | concentration and 2) the failure to use a positive |
| Tyrone Hayes released yet another study this week | | | | control - a basic requirement of this kind of study. |
| online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of | | | | Hayes repeatedly cites other researchers incorrectly, |
| Sciences (PNAS) on the effects of the herbicide | | | | distorting their findings in order to bolster his own |
| atrazine on frogs. | | | | claims. Hayes completely misrepresents the findings |
| It doesn't appear that his flair for the dramatic has | | | | of Carr et al (2003) as supporting his thesis. They do |
| been replaced with the rigors of science in his latest | | | | not. On the other hand, Hayes fails to cite other |
| work. Once again, you can expect many errors of | | | | studies, such as those conducted by DuPreez et al, |
| fact, inaccurate citations of the scientific literature, | | | | that do not support his findings - something a |
| and a failure to cite the extensive body of scientific | | | | reputable scientist would do. In fact, the DuPreez |
| evidence that would undermine his thesis. | | | | studies flatly contradict Hayes's claims. |
| It should be noted that Dr. Hayes' previous work has | | | | Perhaps most notable is that Hayes new claims are |
| been repeatedly and exhaustively examined by | | | | inconsistent with his previous work. For both Hayes' |
| governmental regulatory agencies as well as | | | | earlier and current claims to be true would be a |
| independent scientists and found to not stand up to | | | | physiological impossibility. Either his current study |
| rigorous scientific scrutiny. | | | | discredits his previous work or his previous work |
| This would not be the first time Tyrone Hayes has | | | | discredits this study. |
| published studies in a scientific journal which, upon | | | | Furthermore, it should be noted that Tyrone Hayes |
| investigation, have proven to be unreliable. After an | | | | has declared himself an activist and aggressively |
| exhaustive investigation into Hayes' earlier studies, | | | | campaigns for the banning of the herbicide atrazine. |
| EPA published a 95-page white paper concluding that | | | | As such, the degree of scientific objectivity one |
| his study and other studies he cites are "scientifically | | | | normally expects in such publications is suspect. The |
| flawed." In reference to Hayes' earlier studies, the | | | | fact that he is now using the NRDC to promote his |
| former Deputy Director of EPA's Office of Pesticide | | | | study highlights the political nature of Dr. Hayes' |
| Programs, Anne E. Lindsay, testified in 2005 that Dr. | | | | attacks. |
| Hayes' "data are insufficient" to support what he | | | | Finally, the manner in which Dr. Hayes conducts |
| claimed to have found. | | | | himself has caused some to seriously question the |
| EPA further complained that Dr. Hayes would not | | | | soundness of his judgment. In 2009, in fact, Dr. |
| share his raw data: "[EPA] has never seen either the | | | | Hayes statements and actions were so extreme that |
| results from any independent investigator published in | | | | a member of the Society of Environmental |
| peer-reviewed scientific journals or the raw data | | | | Toxicology and Chemistry asked that Hayes be |
| from Dr. Hayes' additional experiments that confirm | | | | censured for his "inflammatory and libelous attacks," |
| Dr. Hayes' conclusions." | | | | adding that Dr. Hayes "demonstrate[d] that it is okay |
| In response to Hayes' earlier allegations, however, | | | | to present provocative conclusions without |
| the registrants conducted two, massive, | | | | supporting data." |
| state-of-the-art studies, based on newly developed | | | | Apart from all its flaws, if considered at all, this study |
| EPA guidance. Every detail and raw data point of | | | | must be considered in the context of the massive |
| those studies were audited and inspected by the | | | | number of studies that have shown atrazine to be |
| EPA. Both studies clearly and convincingly debunked | | | | safe to use. Authorities around the globe have found |
| the claims leveled by Dr. Hayes. | | | | no link between atrazine exposure and adverse |
| The PNAS Report contains two serious flaws that | | | | health effects. The EPA, the Australian government, |
| undercut its credibility: 1) the use of only one dose | | | | and the World Health Organization have all looked at |
| level of atrazine, when almost all studies used to | | | | atrazine's effects on endocrine systems and given |
| assess the effects of substances for regulatory | | | | atrazine a clean bill of health. |
| purposes are conducted at more than one | | | | |