Yes, as unbeliveable as it is, researchers in Jacksonville, Flordia are asking families offer up their infant children to a study called "Cheers." The CHEERS actually stands for
Children's Environmental Research Study Cheery right? Who's allowing and even
sponsoring this study? The Environmental Protection Agency. The program is offering a number of inducements if the families stay in the program for two years, including a camcorder and $970.
According to Public Employees for Environmental Justice, the EPA is paying familes to spray pesticides in their homes to study the amount of chemicals absorbed by the infants and possible developmental problems. The study is funded by the American Chemistry Council and many chemical companies.
When the EPA's own scientists protested, the EPA removed the information from their webstite. Now you can read about it here.