If you live near an urban city, you've undoubtedly heard of emissions testing for vehicles. That's where state or local governments tax you about $25 a year to tell you that your 2003 Volvo doesn't belch pollutants like a 1970 Chevy Nova. The movement, I'm pretty sure, was spearheaded by California.

Well, now some California lawmakers are planning on doing emissions testing (of sorts) on people. The mental images are frightening.

California lawmakers are considering a bill that wades deep into the national debate over biomonitoring - and asks chemical manufacturers and distributors to pay for it.

Biomonitoring is an emerging science that analyzes human blood, breast milk and urine for trace amounts of pollutants, from lead and mercury to a host of industrial chemicals with unpronounceable names. After decades of testing soil, water, air and food, scientists now are scrutinizing pollution in people, cataloging chemicals that take up residence in fat cells and body fluids in hopes of establishing links to cancer and other diseases.

Of course, like all other taxes, fees, and unfunded mandates, corporations will not be footing the bill. Those costs, like all other costs, are borne by the people: the customers, the employees, or the shareholders.