In 2003, the US EPA "Children's Environmental Exposure Research Study" (CHEERS) was approved to assess children's exposure to pesticides in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.

The plans to conduct this highly controversial 2-year study were formally ended on April 8, 2005.
-- Read update from the independent PEER group: Infamous CHEERS Study Returns and Multiplies Under Different Names.

The study was designed to monitor developmental changes in babies, from birth to age 3, who are exposed to pesticides in their homes. Included in the pesticides and chemicals selected to be monitored were:

Fluorinated pesticides:
Bifenthrin, Fipronil, Lambda-cyhalothrin, and Cyfluthrin I, II, III, IV, total;
Fluorinated chemicals:
4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid and the perfluorinated PFOS and PFOA.

EPA PROPOSES ONLY HALF-STEPS ON HUMAN CHEMICAL TESTING — Proposed Rule Riddled With Loopholes; Would Not Bar Infamous “CHEERS” Study

• EPA ON THRESHOLD OF BRAVE NEW WORLD OF HUMAN TESTING — EPA Invites Industry to Mimic Practices of Discontinued CHEERS Study

E.P.A. Halts Florida Test on Pesticides

EPA GRUDGINGLY PULLS PLUG ON QUESTIONABLE “CHEERS” STUDY

Other Human Pesticide Dosing Studies Without Safeguards Can Continue

Statement by Stephen L. Johnson, Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Cancelling Research Study

Nominee Is Grilled Over Program on Pesticides -
"Stephen L. Johnson, President Bush's nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, encountered unexpected turbulence at his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday as Senator Barbara Boxer of California threatened to hold up his nomination over a small but controversial pesticide program in Florida..."

EPA Avoids Regulation of Chemical Experiments on Humans

EPA EMBRACES HUMAN PESTICIDE DOSING WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS. Ethical Rules “Non-Binding”— No Standards to Protect Infants and Fetuses

Press Release

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)

U.S. Rethinks Human Studies on Pesticides

Greens Blast New EPA Deregulation of Pesticide Tests on Humans.
Chemical corporations are seeking approval for toxic experiments on low-income Americans, say Greens.

Stop EPA From Testing Pesticides on Children

Sign-on Petition to US EPA
to Stop Pesticide Study on Kids

EPA SET TO ACCEPT HUMAN PESTICIDE DOSING STUDIES
“Senior Agency Officials” to Decide Ethical Concerns on “Case-By-Case Basis”

See the draft EPA notice on “Human Testing: Proposed Plan and Description of Review Process” - to be published in the Federal Register

Human testing of pesticides: ethical and scientific considerations.

The EPA and Industry Team Up to Protect Profits in Florida Study, Leaving Children Behind

By Robina Suwol & Ashley Posner,Esq. - California Safe Schools (Non-profit)

Published by ALT PRESS Online Edition

Stop Pesticide Study on Kids!
EPA & CHEMICAL INDUSTRY TO STUDY EFFECTS OF KNOWN TOXIC CHEMICALS ON CHILDREN

EPA halts study of pesticides and kids

EPA Stalls Infant Pesticide Dosing Study
Bush Administration Poised to Legalize Human Testing

MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Children’s Environmental Exposure Research Study (CHEERS)

FROM: William Farland, Ph.D. Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science Office of Research and Development

TO: EPA Employees

FACT SHEET. A Children's Environmental Exposure Research Study - CHEERS.

EPA Madness

EPA criticized for study of child pesticide exposure

EPA accused of conflict of interest over chemicals study

EPA PAYS FAMILIES TO EXPOSE THEIR INFANTS TO PESTICIDES

Joint Study With Chemical Industry to Measure Exposure in the Home
Agency Removes Study Protocol From Its Web Site

View excerpts from the CHEERS protocol removed from the EPA website

Title: Longitudinal field measurement study of infant and toddler's aggregate exposure to pesticides and persistent pollutants. Peer Reviewed Study Design.

See the flyers for parents to participate in CHEERS

Study of Pesticides and Children Stirs Protests

Group Demands Halt to Unethical, Scientifically Questionable Study in Which EPA and Chemical Industry Pay Families to Expose Children to Pesticides

Letter to Dr. Paul Gilman, Assistant Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency

A conflict of interest. Our position: The EPA has no business allowing the chemical industry to pay for a study.

EPA responds to Environmental Working Group

FROM: Paul Gilman, Ph.D.
Assistant Administrator, US EPA ORD

TO: Mr. Kenneth Cook, President
Environmental Working Group

Chemical Industry Funds Aid EPA Study. Effect of Substances on Children Probed

Letter to Michael Leavitt, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency

EPA Partners With American Chemistry Council to Study Young Children’s Exposures to Household Chemicals

EPA Conducts Study on Young Children’s Exposures to Household Chemicals in Duval County, Florida

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Longitudinal Study of Young Children's Exposures in Their Homes to Selected Pesticides, Phthalates, Brominated Flame Retardants, and Perfluorinated Chemicals (A Children's Environmental Exposure Research Study--CHEERS), EPA ICR Number 2126.01

US EPA

Federal Register Notice

Docket No. ORD-2003-0011

Part A: Supporting Statement - This document, included as a Docket in the March 3, 2004, Federal Register notice, gives the most pertinent information to the protocol of the CHEERS study.

EPA ICR Number: 2126.01 - 61 pages
From Table 2:
• Of 16 pesticides included in this study, 4 are fluorinated: Bifenthrin, Fipronil, lambda-Cyhalothrin, and Cyfluthrin I, II, III, IV, total
• Perfluorinated chemicals: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
From Table 3: List of chemicals to be analyzed in biological media:
• one is fluorinated: 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid
• Perfluorooctanoic acid/Perfluorooctane sulfonate

US EPA

Federal Register Docket

Docket No. ORD-2003-0011-0006

First public notice of CHEERS study in Duval County, Florida.

US EPA

Federal Register Notice

Docket No. ORD-2003-0011