# You're testing chemicals on \*what\*?!? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 18, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-testing-chemicals-on-what/275380 "2004-11-18T00:15:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-testing-chemicals-on-what/275380/1 "2004-11-18T00:15:36Z")
[http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa-alert.htm](http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa-alert.htm) If this is true, this is really, honestly horrific. How could they do this to little kids? ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-testing-chemicals-on-what/275380/2 "2004-11-18T00:17:58Z")
“Pleasant taste, some monsterism.” ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-testing-chemicals-on-what/275380/3 "2004-11-18T00:22:23Z")
[http://www.epa.gov/cheers/basic.htm](http://www.epa.gov/cheers/basic.htm) According to the official site, they aren’t testing pesticides they are checking for dangers by asking people to maintain their current usage while being monitored. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-testing-chemicals-on-what/275380/4 "2004-11-18T00:24:09Z")
Calm down. It’s to see how the chemicals we use daily effect our children. It’s not as bad as it sounds. (Actually, it should have be done years ago.) [EPA Link to CHEERS Program](http://www.epa.gov/cheers/basic.htm) > [@](#): > > We will not ask any parent to apply pesticides in their home to be a part of this study. and > [@](#): > > **Is there any risk to me and my family?** > > No. You and your child will not experience any risks from participating in this study. > We will not ask any parent to apply pesticides in their home to be a part of this study. > You are not required to change any of your regular household routines. > Researchers at EPA are very sensitive to issues associated with children participating in this study. The study protocol has been reviewed and approved by four independent institutional review boards for the protection of human participants. > > \*\*Why is this important? \*\* > The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has pledged to increase its efforts to provide a safe and healthy environment for children. > > Current information on young children’s exposures to chemicals used in consumer products is very limited. > > This study will help the U.S. EPA to better understand: > how young children are exposed to pesticides and other chemicals from common consumer products > when these exposures occur > levels of exposure at home ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-testing-chemicals-on-what/275380/5 "2004-11-18T00:24:42Z")
I’m not a fan of the EPA by any means, but don’t believe the hype. This is a study on current pesticide use in the home and its effects on children. If the household doesn’t use pesticides currently, they won’t be required to start. And those who use pesticides in the home regularly will not be required to use more. It’s just trying to determine _what_ the kids are currently being exposed to and if it has any effects. More from the EPA: [http://www.epa.gov/cheers/basic.htm](http://www.epa.gov/cheers/basic.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-testing-chemicals-on-what/275380/6 "2004-11-18T00:24:43Z")
As far as I understand the article, it’s more about following the heath of several children as they go about their normal lives in homes where toxic stuff is used. Which is pretty much every house. They’re going to see how the normal use of Pledge, Raid, Windex, etc in a home, affects the kids who live there. Seeing if there things are ingested, inhaled, etc., and what happens to the kids. Not saying it’s right, but it’s not quite like they’re taking healthy kids and suddenly exposing them to tons of toxins. Or am I misunderstanding? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-testing-chemicals-on-what/275380/7 "2004-11-18T00:25:46Z")
Ka-bam. That’s some killa simulposting. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-testing-chemicals-on-what/275380/8 "2004-11-18T00:55:04Z")
Have calmed down and seen reason, somewhat. Darn it, all you smart sensible Dopers, stop interfering with my perfectly good Pit threads! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-testing-chemicals-on-what/275380/9 "2004-11-18T01:57:09Z")
You missed **Reeder** ’s original thread on this : > **[EPA to use poor to test pesticide toxicity of pesticides](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=286563)** > > http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa-alert.htm What a great thing to do. Pay the parents, notice they are using low income families, to poison their children. Again, our government caving to the wants of big business. Screw this. Sign the...