EPA scientists say they're being pressured on pesticide studies

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EPA scientists say they're being pressured on pesticide studies

 

U.S. EPA managers and pesticide-industry officials have been pressuring agency

scientists to skip steps in pesticide testing and allow continued use of some

potentially harmful pesticides, says a letter sent to EPA chief Stephen Johnson

by union leaders representing agency employees. The " integrity of the science

upon which agency decisions are based has been compromised, " the unions wrote,

recommending that Johnson tighten restrictions on some pesticides until

questions are settled. At issue are acceptable residue levels of 20

organophosphate and carbamate pesticides, used everywhere from flea collars to

golf courses to farms. The EPA lacks a standard procedure for testing the

toxicity of some pesticides to developing nervous systems, according to the

EPA's Office of Inspector General; studies have indicated that certain

pesticides can disrupt the development of nervous systems in young kids.

 

 

straight to the source: The Wall Street Journal, John J. Fialka, 25 May 2006

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