www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/11/12/epa.pesticidestudy.ap/index.html
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A planned government study into how children's bodies absorb pesticides and other chemicals has been temporarily suspended due to ethical concerns. The Environmental Protection Agency said it would ask an outside panel of scientists to review its planned two-year study involving the families of 60 children in Duval County, Florida, and report back by spring. The study's design has already been reviewed by four other external boards, including two universities. The study was to look at how pesticides, which can cause neurological dam age in children, and chemicals such as flame retardants might be ingeste d, inhaled or otherwise absorbed through such things as food, drink, soi l, crop residue and household dust. "If we decide to go forward with this study, we want to make sure it's do ne right," EPA spokeswoman Cynthia Bergman said Wednesday. "There have b een several concerns raised, including within the agency, and we want to be responsive and address those concerns." Scientists at EPA and environmentalists questioned whether the government should give participating families $970 plus a camcorder and children's clothes, saying it might encourage low-income families to use pesticide s in their homes. EPA also had agreed to accept $2 million for the $9 million study from th e American Chemistry Council, a trade group that represents chemical mak ers. "It's fine that they pushed the pause button here," said Richard Wiles, s enior vice president for the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy an d research organization. "But for the study to have any integrity at all , they need to kick the chemical industry lobbyists and their money comp letely out of the process." The trade group said in a statement that more review is useful, but it st ill supports the study "because of the great importance of increasing un derstanding of the exposures of young children to pesticides and other c hemicals they naturally encounter in their daily lives."
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