EPA CHEERS Study Cancelled

According to Stephen Johnson, acting administrator to the EPA (and Bush's nominee), CHEERS "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." Families in Duval County, FL would receive $970 in payment, a camcorder, and children's clothing in exchange for their participation. Critics of the study were quick to point out that the study was in a low income area and feared families might expose children to pesticides in order to participate.

Apparently, CHEERS has been cancelled. John Heilprin (AP) attributed the cancellation to Sen. Boxer and Sen. Nelson, reporting that the senators would block confirmation of Pres. Bush's nomination for EPA leadership if the study was not discontinued immediately.

Nelson said that the study used "infants in my state [Florida] as guinea pigs" and questioned the involvement of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), calling their financial investment; "a dangerous potential conflict of interest."

Heilprin's article
Kirkpatric Article with great Nelson quotes
Statement on CHEERS website
EPA Press Release