A researcher, backed by the chemical industry, is developing an AI tool to analyze pollution and health risk correlations, raising concerns among scientists regarding potential bias and regulatory delays. Tony Cox, a risk analyst and former Trump adviser, is funded by the American Chemistry Council to evaluate epidemiological studies. Critics argue this tool could perpetuate industry strategies that cast doubt on health risks associated with pollutants like PM2.5 and PFOA, jeopardizing public health safeguards. Emails indicate Cox’s collaboration with major oil companies like Exxon and Chevron, aiming to challenge scientific consensus via AI-generated analysis. This raises alarms about the integrity of scientific research, especially as it relates to chronic illnesses linked to pollutants. As Chris Frey from North Carolina State University notes, such strategies may obscure critical truths, reminiscent of tactics used by the tobacco and fossil fuel industries. This situation highlights the pressing need for transparent and unbiased evaluation of health and pollution data.
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