The
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has formally announced the closure of a
controversial study into the effects of chemical exposure in children, following
what it described as ‘gross misrepresentation’ by the media. The CHEERS
(Children’s Environmental Exposure Research Study) programme, which was
suspended in November after an initial outcry, had been scheduled to run for two
years. During this period, the homes of test subjects – sixty children - would
maintain their household chemical and pesticide applications, and the
developmental progress of the children would be charted.The basis of the study was ostensibly to develop advancements in child health protection and pesticide regulations, however opponents claimed that the investigation was immoral and targeted vulnerable households.
“The reason Stephen Johnson (Acting Administrator of the EPA) clung so stubbornly to this creepy CHEERS effort is that it served as the beacon to industry that EPA would welcome similar experiments,” commented Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) Executive Director Jeff Ruch. “Stephen Johnson has become the pesticide industry’s ‘go-to-guy’ at EPA.”
Environmental and human rights campaigners now fear that the project could continue with private backing, of which $9m is required.
