NEWS OF THE WEEK FEDERAL BUDGET
area has suffered as funding for biomedical research rose sharply At NIH, only a 2% hike has been proposed, taking the budg et to $27.9 billion. The Administration justifies this small increase by noting that it has shown its support by completing a doubling of the NIH budget over the pre viousfiveyears. RESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH Other R&D funding agencies 2004—a 32% rise from relevant has proposed a 7% increase programs this year. would get little or no increase. in federal spending for re The $53 billion increase at De USDA would get exactly the search and development in fiscal fense is somewhat misleading. same funding as proposedforfis 2004. The total would be $122.7 Only $1.3 billion isforscience and cal 2003, $1.8 billion. Science and billion, the most technology research. That is an technology research at the Ener ever spent on R&D. 8% decrease fromfiscal2003 and gy Department would rise about However, increases would actually be lower than 3%, to $5.2 billion, mostly by in at agencies are un 2002 funding. Most of the De creases in the nuclear energy pro even, and many are fense spending increase goes to grams. And the Commerce De receiving reduc development and testing of big partment budget would grow by tions. In fact, near weapons systems. 1%, to $851 million, on increases ly 70% of the $7.7 NSF is slatedfora substantial at the National Oceanic & At billion increase in increase in its budget, however. mospheric Administration. funds would go to The Administrationhas proposed Early congressional reaction to the Department of a 9% rise in funding, to $5.5 bil the Fresident'sproposal on science Defense. And R&Dforthe new lion. Much of that increase is in funding is negative. Rep. Sher Department of Homeland Secu physical sciences research, perhaps wood L Boehlert (R-N.Y), chair rity would receive $1 billion for a recognition that supportforthis man of the House Committee on Science, says: "The Administra tion's budget proposalforscience ENVIRONMENT and technology is disappointing. Many science programs do not even keep up with inflation.'' he Centers for Disease Control & Pre "exposure of children to lead ... remains a se Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson vention has released the most extensive rious public health problem," says Jim Pirkle, (D-Texas), also on the Science assessment ever of the U.S. population's deputy director for science at CDC's National Committee, is disappointed in the exposure to environmental chemicals. The Center for Environmental Health. proposalforNSF. "Underfunding study reveals some progress in reducing expo NSF is surely a grave mistake that By measuring survey participants' levels of sures and some findings of concern. will cost much more in loss of cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine, researchers ideas and technology in the fu found that exposure to tobacco smoke for The survey measured 116 environmen ture," she says. nonsmokers has decreased since the 1991tal chemicals in blood and urine samples tak 94 survey. However, for children, levels of the en in 1999-2000 from some 2,500 people And Sen. Pete V Domenici (Rmetabolite declined only 58%, whereas for nationwide. N.M.), chairman of the Senate adults, it fell 75%. Children are exposed to Committee on Energy & Natural "This kind of exposure information ... more tobacco smoke because they spend less Resources, praises the proposal's helps lay the critical groundwork for future time in smoke-free workplaces, Pirkle says. commitment to hydrogen re research in ensuring that exposures to search and greenhouse gas reduc chemicals in the environment are not at lev Other chemicals that CDC scientists meas tions but is troubled by cuts in els that affect our health, " CDC Director ured for the study included mercury, urani DOE's science programs. Julie L Gerberding says. um, cadmium, phthalates, chlorpyhfos, and organochlorine pesticides. One reassuring finding is that blood lead Comparisons of the 2004 levels have declined. In a 1991-94 survey of 27 CDC plans to issue an exposure survey budget proposal with 2003 fund-
R&D SPENDING IS UP OVERALL FOR 2004
Many programs get no increase; FY 2003 budget is unfinished
Ρ
Survey Documents Chemical Exposure
T
chemicals—CDC's first national exposure sur vey— 4.4% of children who were one to five years old had elevated blood lead levels, equal to or above 10 μg per deciliter. In the new sur vey, only 2.2% of children in this age group have elevated blood lead levels. Nevertheless,
every two years. Among other uses, the sur veys will help physicians recognize unusually high levels of exposure to chemicals in pa tients. The complete report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport.—BETTE HILEMAN
has not yet approved most of the fiscal2003budgetThatbudget is expected to be passed this month. A report on the 2004 budget will appear in the Feb. 17 issue o f C&EN.-DAVID HANSON
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C & E N / FEBRUARY 10. 2003
HTTP://WWW.CEN-ONLINE.ORG
