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Science 19 November 2004:
Vol. 306. no. 5700, p. 1273
DOI: 10.1126/science.306.5700.1273b
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ScienceScope

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has suspended a controversial $7 million study of children's exposure to indoor pesticides while it takes another look at the study's design. The Children's Environmental Exposure Research Study (CHEERS) had encountered a flurry of criticism earlier this month, just as it began in Florida (Science, 5 November, p. 961).

CHEERS is designed to figure out how children become exposed to indoor pesticides, such as roach sprays. Review boards for the three participating agencies had already blessed the study when the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., criticized EPA for taking $2 million in study funding from the American Chemistry Council (ACC), an industry group. It also questioned whether parents would be adequately warned about the potential dangers of exposing young children to pesticides.

EPA stood by the study but announced on 8 November that it would establish a new panel to review it and report back next spring. "It's great that [EPA] pushed the pause button," says EWG's Richard Wiles. But he still has concerns about industry funding--a topic the new panel isn't expected to address. ACC, meanwhile, says it continues to support the research.




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