The affair surrounding the evidence that dioxin is a carcinogen doesn’t stop just at the falsified studies since a new scandal involving Monsanto came to light with the new matter of Richard Doll. This affair started with a scientific study conducted by the Swedish researcher Lennart Hardell in 1973 which demonstrated the link between exposure to the pesticides 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T and the development of rare cancers like soft-tissue sarcomas. His findings were to be challenged by one of the world’s most renowned cancer specialists, Professor Richard Doll, who told an Australian national commission that “His conclusions cannot be sustained and in my opinion, his work should no longer be cited as scientific evidence. It is clear, too, (...) that there is no reason to suppose that 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T are carcinogenic in laboratory animals and that even TCDD (dioxin), which has been postulated to be a dangerous contaminant of the herbicides, is at the most, only weakly carcinogenic in animal experiments”. [1]

It was the case that Professor Doll enjoyed a reputation as being incorruptible because it was he who had proven the link between smoking and lung cancer. Unfortunately, this legendary reputation was smashed to pieces in 2006, when the Guardian revealed that the Hon. Sir Richard Doll had been secretly working for Monsanto for 20 years, as was proved by a letter from 1986 addressed to him from Monsanto, confirming the renewal of his contract at a fee of $1500 per day. [2] This threw the independence of research carried out for commercial manufacturers, who often finance such studies, into disrepute.

[1] Cited in Lennart Hardell, Mikael Eriksson et Olav Axelson, “On the misinterpretation of epidemiological evidence, relating to dioxin-containing phenoxyacetic acids, chlorophenols and cancer effects”, New Solutions, Spring 1994

[2] “Renowned cancer scientist was paid by chemical firm for 20 years”, The Guardian, 8 December 2006