Stephen Johnson on Health Care Director of the E.P.A.

Supports testing pesticides on people

In October of 2004, Johnson strongly supported a study in which infants will be monitored for health impacts as they undergo exposure to known toxic chemicals for a two year period. The Children’s Environmental Exposure Research Study, dubiously known as CHEERS, will analyze how chemicals can be ingested, inhaled, or absorbed by children ranging from infants to three year olds.

The study will analyze 60 infants and toddlers in Duval County, Florida. The EPA study proposal noted that “Although all Duval County citizens are eligible to use the health care centers, they primarily serve individuals with lower incomes.” Even some EPA officials have been troubled by the lack of safeguards to ensure that these parents are not swayed into exposing their children to the chemicals.