A government watchdog claims that the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to tell their research volunteers about cancer risks associated with their tests.
In 2010 and 2011, the EPA has recruited people to conduct tests on pollutants. The consent forms given to the volunteers did not include any information about cancer risks, as EPA was convinced that the risks should be minimal because the exposure is only for short-term.
According to a report made by the Office of Inspector General, EPA did 13 studies focusing in a particulate matter in the past decade and four studies about diesel exhaust. Each of these studies will require 20 to 40 volunteers to stay in a chamber where pollution levels were simulated to resemble that of Los Angeles' or New York. After that, the blood, heart, and lung functions of the volunteers were measured for two hours. During the conduct of these studies, the EPA maintained its stance that risks are minimal due to the short-term exposure.
The report quoted the agency, as reported by Bloomberg, saying that the exposure levels "reflect a balance between being high enough to produce biological responses but not so high as to produce clinical responses."
The test practices of the EPA have long been criticized by the Republicans. They argued that the agency has self-contradicting rules on their tests involving human volunteers. They have been lobbying for the EPA to stop testing on humans, however, according to the report; the agency is open in revisiting their test rules, but not in stopping their tests involving human subjects.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified outdoor air pollution as a cancer-causing agent which includes diesel engine exhaust, solvents, metals, and dust. Prior to that, air pollution is already linked to respiratory and heart diseases. Although the risk of lung cancer due to air pollution in the United States is low, experts recommend that people should still take extra precaution.
