Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2000 15:10:35 -0500
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Lyndon Hawkins <hawkins@empm.cdpr.ca.gov>
State of California,
Department of Pesticide Regulation
Integrated Pest
Management
Lyndon, I thought you might like to read an article from the February, 2000 issue of The Networker, volume 5, #1, which is The Newsletter of the Science and Environmental Health Network, entitled: TOXICS AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES--A DISSERTATION GOLD MINE, By Nancy Myers, communications director for SEHN.
A forthcoming report on toxic threats to child development could generate many future research projects and dissertations. The problems it sets forth contain challenges that are typical of issues of great public concern: they are scientifically complex and cross widely diverse disciplines.
The Greater Boston chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility has documented the apparent epidemic of developmental, learning, and behavioral disabilities among American children. The report suggests how chemicals commonly encountered in industry and the home might be contributing to these disorders. "In Harm's Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development" is expected to be released in April.
Ted Schettler, one of the study's coauthors and SEHN's science director, believes that links between environmental factors and learning disabilities have been underreported and understudied because they bridge several distinct communities.
On the one hand, the child development and pediatric communities have focused on diagnosis and treatment of learning and development disorders--such as "autism," "attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder," and so forth. Historically, geneticists have focused on genetic determinants of these disorders.
Meanwhile, environmental scientists, toxicologists, epidemiologists, and others have acquired a great deal of information about the role of certain toxicants in producing specific abnormal traits in humans as well as laboratory animals.
Aggregating "traits" into recognized "disorders" is beginning to bridge the divide across disciplines. Both research and skilled communication are needed to mesh the goals, values, language, and findings of these communities.
Scientifically, the problems are challenging because of the complexity of gene-environment interactions and because the developing human brain is uniquely susceptible to toxicants in ways that are only partially understood.
Schettler suggests that students who are interested in making a contribution to this field read the report, consider linking to or following on research that is being done, and think across disciplines, creatively and realistically, about what piece of the problem they might take on.
For example, he described a Minnesota study that documented a rise in birth defects among children conceived at times of high pesticide use. A related study might look for similar correlation between pesticide use and learning and developmental disorders in a homogeneous farming community.
Well Lyndon, it is amazing to me that it took so long for (sound) science to begin to investigate the developmental dangers your "registered" POISONS pose to our children and our earth. Why would any sane scientist, physician, researcher or "regulator" doubt for a moment that these "registered" carcinogens, neurotoxins, developmental and/or reproductive toxins (POISONS) of yours, are also destroying our children in exactly the same way they are "supposed" to destroy our pests? Your "registered" POISONS were specifically created to DESTROY LIFE, and they are usually all volatile, broad-spectrum POISONS at that! We still are being contaminated with your old "registered" POISONS that have been "banned" for generations!
When will it be "legal" (in your opinion) to use safe and effective (unregistered) alternatives to actually control pest problems in California?
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
Please!
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