skip to content

National Campaign to Restore Civil Rights

Translate our site!

EPA to Allow Pesticide Testing on Orphans & Mentally Handicapped Children

  • Organization: Organic Consumers Association
  • Document Type: Report
  • Date Created: Tuesday, November 22, 2005
  • Submitted: Tuesday, November 22, 2005
  • Attachment(s): LINK

The EPA's newly proposed rule jeopardizes children's welfare. The rule allows for government and industry scientists to treat children as human guinea pigs in chemical experiments in the following situations:

Children who "cannot be reasonably consulted," such as those that are mentally handicapped or orphaned newborns may be tested on. With permission from the institution or guardian in charge of the individual, the child may be exposed to chemicals for the sake of research.

Parental consent forms are not necessary for testing on children who have been neglected or abused.

Chemical studies on any children outside of the U.S. are acceptable.