Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 07:51:47 -0500
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Lyndon Hawkins <hawkins@empm.cdpr.ca.gov>
Senior Research
Scientist
State of California,
Department of Pesticide Regulation
Integrated Pest
Management
Dear Lyndon, I thought you might like to read an article urging some sound science or unbiased study be done on your "registered" POISONS, the url is: >http://news.excite.com/news/r/000317/19/health-dgb and it is entitled: Experts urge study of chemicals and children's health. Updated 7:04 PM ET March 17, 2000.
NEW YORK, Mar 17 (Reuters Health) -- A group of approximately 200 experts -- including environmentalists, chemical industry representatives, academics and government scientists -- has agreed that US government health agencies should launch a nationwide study to follow at least 100,000 children from before birth until they are 18 to 21 years old.
The goal of the study would be to determine whether synthetic chemicals are responsible for the increase in asthma, birth defects and cancers observed in US children since World War II, according to Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, director of the Mount Sinai Center for Children's Health and the Environment, and a spokesperson for the group.
"It would really be a massive study," Landrigan told reporters at the New York Academy of Medicine, where the Endocrine Disrupters & Children's Health workshop was held. "This needs to be done, and it was virtually unanimous that such a study holds out the promise of powerful benefits for children today and in the future."
The chemicals of greatest concern are called endocrine disruptors. They interfere with normal hormone function by blocking the effects of a naturally-occurring hormone, by mimicking a natural hormone, or by interfering with the function of a hormone-producing gland, such as the thyroid.
Observations made in laboratory animals, wildlife and some human groups have established that endocrine disruptors, at least at high doses, can cause significant abnormalities. For example, after a chemical spill of DDT and dicofol occurred in Lake Apopka in Florida, alligators there were found to have small penis size, abnormal testes, and abnormal ovaries that interfered with reproduction.
The group did not create a list of suspect chemicals, Landrigan said, but it did list criteria for the chemicals to be studied. He said included chemicals would be lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and a series of pesticides.
Because observations would begin before birth, some conclusions should be possible within the first 2 years of the study, he added.
Government scientists in attendance expressed support for this massive study, Landrigan said, but there is no guarantee that the study will actually be funded.
The conference was organized by the Pew Charitable Trusts through Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and was supported by seven agencies, including the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation.
Well Lyndon, do you really beLIEve your "registered" pesticide POISONS will not be definitely linked to our children's increased health problems? The increase in asthma, birth defects, and cancer that has been observed in U. S. children since World War II is extremely interesting to me, because that is when we began "treating" our pest problems with your "registered" pesticide POISONS! When will it be "legal" (in your opinion) to use safe and effective alternatives to actually control pest problems in California?
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten.
(Editor's Note: The likelihood of funding for this research is dim unless we all make it our priority to support this effort. In the meantime, individuals, parents and communities are carrying the burden of "proving" that the chemicals and pesticides have caused these harms against the chemical companies' army of lawyers, "bought" scientists and governmental insiders.)
Please!
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