ALERT UPDATE: EPA IGNORING PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO TESTING CHEMICALS ON KIDS
Several months ago, the Organic Consumers Association alerted its readers to an EPA
proposed rule that would allow pesticide and other chemical testing on children. The rule
allows for government and industry scientists to treat children as human guinea pigs in
chemical experiments in the following situations:
1) Children who "cannot be reasonably consulted," such as those that are mentally
handicapped or orphaned newborns may be tested on. With permission from the
institution or guardian in charge of the individual, the child may be exposed to chemicals
for the sake of research.
2) Parental consent forms are not necessary for testing on children who have been
neglected or abused.
3) Chemical studies on any children outside of the U.S. are acceptable.
Thanks to all of you, over 50,000 comments were generated to the EPA condemning this
proposal. Despite overwhelming input from citizens, congress, and EPA's own scientists
opposing the proposed rule, the agency's administrators have announced they are days
away from approving the proposal and allowing chemical testing on children.
"The fact that EPA allows pesticide testing of any kind on the most vulnerable, including
abused and neglected children, is simply astonishing," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
Even EPA's own scientists are speaking out against the agency's proposed rule. "I am
somewhat dismayed that this rule was presented in such a complex -- and I would have to
say, tricky -- way," said Suzanne Wuerthele, a regional toxicologist for the EPA. Earlier in
2005, Congress mandated that the EPA must ban all chemical testing on humans without
exception, in order for the agency to be allocated its full budget. EPA has clearly failed to
do this with this proposed rule. Tell Congress to advise the EPA against publishing this
rule:
Learn more and take action here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa6.cfm
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