Thursday, April 15, 2004

Bush EPA: Leave No Child Unpoisoned

Foxes Guarding the Chicken Coop -- Part XXXVII

15,000 children younger than 6 accidentally ingest rat poison (up from 11,000 ten years before), resulting in proposals for new child safety regulations. But wait, that was when the greens were in control of the country. Now the adults are in charge and -- surprise --
Over the past six years, the pesticide industry has fought off or stalled two regulatory initiatives designed to protect children and wildlife from becoming unintended victims of rat poisons, and public health and environmental groups charge that the industry had unusual access to block federal action.
Instead, using the old, tired, "safe when used as directed" logic, the EPA, at industry's urging, has decided to depend on stronger labeling and precautionary statements.

That should stop those dumb kids from eating rat poison.