Scandal ridden EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announce today that he is ordering staff to limit their use of scientific studies to those where the underlying data is publicly available, disqualifying the use of long-standing, landmark studies linking air pollution and pesticide exposure to harmful health impacts. These studies had long protected the confidential health information findings were based on which protected patients and scientists. This announcement has long been on polluters’ wishlists since medical science, which generally guarantees the anonymity of patients participating in studies, has repeatedly proven that smog, particulate matter, and heavy metals - all hallmarks of the fossil fuel and chemical industries - can cause death and severe health complications. Pruitt, who has also repeatedly been granted favors and career advancement through his relationship with polluting industries, is seeking to hide medical science from the public which would ordinarily force EPA to develop and enforce new protections against harmful pollution.