Chemical Industry Funds Aid EPA Study

[SCDem]

Chemical Industry Funds Aid EPA Study

By Juliet Eilperin

The Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to accept $2 million from the
American Chemistry Council to help fund a study exploring the impact of
pesticides and household chemicals on young children, prompting an outcry from
environmentalists.

The Children's Environmental Exposure Research Study -- known by its acronym
CHEERS -- does not mark the first time the agency has accepted chemical
industry money to conduct research; the Clinton administration signed similar
agreements. But it represents the most money the chemical trade group has given
the EPA. The chemical industry council represents about 135 manufacturers and
spends $20 million a year on research.

Paul Gilman, who serves as science adviser and assistant administrator for
the EPA's office of research and development, said the money will help the
agency conduct "groundbreaking work" on how chemicals are absorbed by infants
and children as old as 3.

"We will seek their opinions, but we're in control of the project," Gilman
said. "We're comfortable with the fact that it's our study design."

Environmental Working Group President Kenneth A. Cook questioned why an
agency with a $572 million research budget needed to accept industry
contributions to conduct scientific research.

"It simply is not credible that a $7.8 billion agency that employs almost
18,000 people has to go to the chemical industry to get $2 million for a
crucial study to see if chemicals hurt kids," he said. "This is a government
function; we should be investing government funds to be absolutely sure it's
independent."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/admin/emailfriend?contentId=A62569-20 more here

[JuniorPlankton]

1. Hmmmm

reminds me of that fox in charge of a hen house.

:wtf:

[SCDem]

2. It's utterly disgusting

I know that many states (about 23) worked for 2 years to come up with a statewide plan to do something similar... and a week before the grants were to be sent in oops they somehow lost track of the money.