"California’s former top pesticide regulatory official dismissed safety guidelines suggested by her own staff scientists on the grounds that they were 'excessive' and too onerous for the pesticide manufacturer, recently released internal documents show."

"In response, the scientists lodged a formal protest, calling the official’s actions 'not scientifically credible,' according to the documents released by court order last week.

The documents amount to a 'smoking gun,' says Paul Blanc, a professor of occupational and environmental medicine at UC San Francisco. Last year, Blanc helped advise the staff scientists on their evaluation of the pesticide, methyl iodide.

'The decision by the regulatory superiors was not science-based,' Blanc said."

Amy Standen reports for California Watch/Center for Investigative Reporting August 30, 2011. [2]