(Daily Signal)—The Environmental Protection Agency is pushing back after former officials claimed that retiring a controversial risk analysis program will put Americans at risk for toxic exposure.
The Integrated Risk Information System, which the EPA created without a mandate from Congress in 1985, has reportedly exaggerated the risk of certain chemicals, leading to negative real-world consequences. Under Administrator Lee Zeldin, the agency is sunsetting the program, but will keep all its previous reports public, while adding a disclaimer that the system’s assessments may not be fit for purpose. The EPA has also directed offices to reevaluate the reliability of the system’s reports.
Former EPA staff with the climate activist group Environmental Protection Network have criticized the move, saying that retiring the program will make “it easier to second-guess the science between toxic chemical protections.”
“As we told ProPublica, it is 100% false to suggest that EPA’s memo puts ‘people at risk’ or allows anyone to ‘ignore a regulation, permit or enforcement action’—anyone who simply ignores a binding legal requirement is violating the law,” EPA spokeswoman Brigit Hirsch told The Daily Signal in a statement Friday.
She rejected the idea that the sunsetting of the program would give industry more control and increase health risks.
“That is the Left’s favorite fake news accusation to throw at EPA, and it’s lazy nonsense,” Hirsch said.
2 Examples of EPA IRIS Failures
Hirsch noted that the IRIS program developed overly conservative and arguably alarmist assumptions regarding extremely small amounts of a potentially toxic chemical.
“The IRIS program has rightfully drawn criticism over the years because of its unreasonable chemical risk assessments,” Daren Bakst, director of the center for energy and environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, told The Daily Signal. “Too often, the IRIS program focused only on hazard, which is a potential for harm, but not risk, which accounts for both the severity of harm and the likelihood of exposure.”
“For example, lions are undoubtedly hazardous animals. But when confined behind the bars of a zoo enclosure, the risk to visitors is vanishingly small,” he explained. “In practice, this means the IRIS program has raised regulatory alarms without quantifying human exposure levels or evaluating the health and environmental harms of the alternatives that would be used.”
A March 2025 report from the Competitive Enterprise Institute noted that “IRIS’s 2010 draft assessment value for formaldehyde was set lower than the amount humans naturally exhale with each breath.” Despite criticism from the National Association of Scholars, the program formalized the formaldehyde value in 2024, “highlighting how a myopic focus on hazards, absent any context related to real-world exposure data, can result in an absurdly low health value.”
The National Funeral Directors Association emphasized the negative impact of such a stringent formaldehyde rule.
“Formaldehyde is a critical chemical used by funeral directors across America,” Lesley Witter, the association’s senior vice president of advocacy, told The Daily Signal. “Funeral directors are taught in mortuary school how to safely use formaldehyde. Our members have been concerned about access to this critical tool due to regulations based on a flawed IRIS value for formaldehyde.”
“We’re happy to see EPA moving away from relying on unrealistic IRIS assessments and relying on high-quality, gold standard science moving forward,” she added.
The agency’s program also reportedly established an extremely low risk value for the sterilizing agent ethylene oxide, at a level that is 19,000 times lower than naturally occurring levels in the human body. According to the Competitive Enterprise Institute, this stringent ruling contributed to the closure of sterilization plants and worsened the critical shortages of medical equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Chemical assessments should integrate real-world exposure data that consider naturally occurring levels of chemicals in the human body and environment,” Bakst said.
IRIS Defenders’ Response
“EPA should always use the best available science and update chemical risk assessments in transparent ways when the evidence supports doing so,” an Environmental Protection Network spokesperson told The Daily Signal. “But EPA has not explained how this new approach will be better, more consistent, or more independent.”
“Specific disagreements over formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, or any other chemical should be resolved through transparent, independent, peer-reviewed updates, not by replacing a consistent agencywide scientific assessment process with a fragmented system that risks different answers in different EPA offices,” the spokesperson added.
Yet Hirsch emphasized that the information will have more utility in separate EPA offices.
“Essentially, this information moving forward will be developed directly for the purpose of fulfilling EPA’s statutory responsibilities, allowing for more in-depth, specific, and timely analysis to be done on risks posed by pollutants—whereas when the IRIS program developed this information as ‘one-size-fits-all’, offices had challenges utilizing the narrow set of information in a way that was helpful for evaluating actual risk,” she told The Daily Signal.
If the EPA’s offices determine that regulatory changes make sense in light of reviewing the IRIS data, they will “follow all required steps to propose such a change.”
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.
