Symmetrical transparency in science.

In recent months, there has been considerable discussion in the scientific community of the need for increased transparency, openness, and data access [Dealing with Data special section, 11 February, “Making data maximally available,” B. Hanson et al., Editorial, p. 649, and “Climate data challenges in the 21st century,” J. T. Overpeck et al., Perspective, p. 700, as well as (1–4)]. Missing from the discussion, however, is recognition that a good deal of science relevant to public and environmental health and welfare is done in the private sector and, largely because of the 1999 U.S. Data Access Act and the 2001 U.S. Data Quality Act, this private science is not subject to the same scrutiny as public science. Much or even most private science may well be of high quality, but it is difficult to judge because private science does not face the same transparency requirements as public science, even when it assesses public health, safety, or environmental threats; supports product licenses or pollution permits; or is supposed to support industry's regulatory compliance. This constitutes a seriously tilted playing field.