ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The following was
issued today by
The Phthalate Esters Panel of the Chemical Manufacturers
Association (CMA):

    The following letter was prepared by the Phthalate Esters Panel
of the
Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) based in Arlington,
Virginia.  For
further information, contact Marian Stanley at 703-741-5623.

    January 22, 1999

    Ms. Marian Burros
    New York Times
    229 W. 43rd St.
    New York, NY 10036

    Ms. Burros:

    Your recent article "Plastic Wrap and Health: Studies Raise
Questions" --
while no doubt well intentioned -- does a disservice to your
readers and to
sound science in general.  Your central thesis is that the DEHA
found in some
plastic wraps may act as an endocrine disruptor.  This is a serious
allegation
and one that is simply not borne out by the facts.  We therefore
have no
choice but to demand a retraction.

    Following are the key points supporting our request for a
retraction:

    -- We are aware of no scientific evidence that DEHA acts as an
endocrine
       disruptor.  The Consumers Union has offered no evidence
supporting this
       inference and, as you report, Dr. Edward Groth himself
acknowledges
       that there is no evidence that the levels of DEHA migration
found in
       the Consumers Union tests pose any threat to human health.

    -- Your article misquotes Dr. Gina Solomon of the Natural
Resources
       Defense Council.  We have spoken with Dr. Solomon directly
and she
       denies saying that "DEHA is almost certainly an endocrine
disruptor."
       She believes you must have confused DEHA with another of the
compounds
       you discussed with her -- a mistake that should have been
caught in
       the fact-checking process.

    -- The FDA has reviewed the available research and found no
evidence
       linking DEHA to estrogenic effects.  Dr. George Pauli at the
FDA told
       you as much.  You should also know that the EPA reached the
same
       conclusion.(a)

    -- Your characterization of the plastics industry's position on
the use of
       films in a microwave is misleading.  A recent publication
from the
       American Plastics Council and The Society of the Plastics
Industry,
       Inc. states that "if you were to accidentally ingest food
containing
       melted plastic, you'd likely have an unpleasant eating
experience but
       you would suffer no harmful effect."

    Ms. Burros, we share your concern for consumers' health and
safety.
However, nobody benefits from the perpetuation of a scientifically
unfounded
health scare.  Please call Marian Stanley at 703-741-5623 so the
retraction
can be made as soon as possible.

    (a)  In a decision to remove DEHA from a list of toxic
chemicals, the EPA
         concluded, "there is insufficient evidence, at this time,
to
         demonstrate that DEHA causes a hormone disruption."