Important Update:  The email flier discussed on this page is different from the November 2005 alert issued by the Organic Consumers Association entitled "EPA to Allow Pesticide Testing on Orphans & Mentally Handicapped Children." The newer alert pertains to proposed regulations on the testing of chemicals and pesticides on human subjects generally. Critics argue that the proposed rules fail to adequately protect children, especially those designated as neglected, abused, or mentally handicapped, from being used as guinea pigs in environmental studies. Read more...

Comments:  Though its implementation was postponed and ultimately canceled due to public controversy, the EPA program known as CHEERS ("Children's Environmental Exposure Research Study") would have measured the effects of toxic pesticide use on small children in family homes.

As originally designed, the plan called for the EPA to supply clothing, a camcorder and $970 to participating families. Critics, including some within the agency itself, objected that the plan was ethically flawed — that, for example, it lacked proper safeguards to prevent poverty-stricken parents from exploiting their own children by purposely exposing them to hazardous chemicals.

Even if those objections were justified (and my purpose here is not to argue otherwise), it is misleading to characterize the study, as the above message does, as one in which "participating low-income familes will have their children exposed to toxic pesticides."  Among the stated requirements for participation is the following:

"Maintain your normal pesticide or non-pesticide use patterns for your household. We will not ask any parent to apply pesticides in their home to be a part of this study."

An April 18, 2005 statement by acting EPA administrator Stephen L. Johnson includes the following remarks:

The Children's Health Environmental Exposure Research Study was designed to fill critical data gaps in our understanding of how children may be exposed to pesticides (such as bug spray) and chemicals currently used in households. Information from the study was intended to help EPA better protect children. EPA will continue to pursue the goal of protecting children's health.

Last fall, in light of questions about the study design, I directed that all work on the study stop immediately and requested an independent review. Since that time, many misrepresentations about the study have been made. EPA senior scientists have briefed me on the impact these misrepresentations have had on the ability to proceed with the study.

I have concluded that the study cannot go forward, regardless of the outcome of the independent review. EPA must conduct quality, credible research in an atmosphere absent of gross misrepresentation and controversy.

Sources and further reading:

CHEERS, Children's Environmental Exposure Research Study
Environmental Protection Agency Website

Factcheck: CHEERS
About U.S. Politics, 11 April 2005

Pesticide Study to Tempt Poor to Risk Kids' Health, Critics Say
Washington Post, 31 October 2004

Organic Consumers Association Action Alert
Press release and petition

Environmental Group Calls Local Pesticide Study 'Racist'
News4Jax.com, 8 November 2004

Last updated: 11/22/05