Long Island, New York:  Cover-up of pesticide contamination in drinking wells 

Two Suffolk legislators are expected to reveal details today of what they believe is an effort by some state agencies to cover up pesticide contamination in private wells.  

 

Click Here to Add Comment

Previous

Current Articles

Next

---

Subject:   Pols Charge Wells Coverup
 Date:       Fri, 29 Jun 2001 17:05:17 -0400
From:        Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)

To:     Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
          Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation 

cc:    Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov

Dear Mr. Helliker,  I thought you might like to read an article from New York Daily News Online News and Views entitled: City Beat Pols Charge Wells Coverup, By BRIAN HARMON - Daily News Staff Writer.

Two Suffolk legislators are expected to reveal details today of what they believe is an effort by some state agencies to cover up pesticide contamination in private wells.

A Suffolk County Health Department study released in December revealed a high rate of pesticide contamination in drinking wells on Long Island's East End. The water in nearly one-quarter of the public wells tested, and 35% of the private wells, contained pesticides, the study said.

But Legislators David Bishop (D-West Babylon) and George Guldi (D-Hampton Bays) contend the rates are even higher.

They said state agencies are working hard to prevent other detections.

The two lawmakers are expected to comment in detail on their claim today during a noon press conference in Hauppauge.

Bishop, chairman of the legislature's environment and planning committee, did not return calls for comment.

Faced with a growing concern about chemical pesticide used on farms, golf courses and in mosquito breeding areas, the county health department conducts an annual study of wells on the East End.

Pesticide use is a growing concern among Long Islanders. This month, the legislature approved a measure legislation that gives residents the right to refuse to have pesticides sprayed within 150 feet of their home.

The county is developing an index of properties that cannot be sprayed with the poisonous chemicals used to kill off mosquito populations.

Neighborhood spraying has increased dramatically since 1999, when mosquitoes were blamed for the spread of the deadly West Nile Virus in New York City.

The chemical pesticide cocktail used by the county includes Scourge and Anvil. Both have been linked to numerous cancers and nervous system disorders.

Original Publication Date: 6/27/01

Well Mr. Helliker, Just one more "little incident of innocent people and the environment being needlessly poisoned" but, when you begin to string all these "little incidents" together, it clearly shows that there is no "safe" way to use your "registered" POISONS to "control" pest problems.  Bernard Baruch once noted: "Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the only one who asked why?"  Did you ever ask why all of your "professionally treated" pests are STILL here after 4.5 BILLION POUNDS of just your "registered" active POISON ingredient have been used and misused annually for so many years?  Do you know why your "registered" POISONS sicken people?  Could the answer possibly be that the first organophosphates were specifically designed to KILL/INJURE people and not insects?  Maybe "someone" should begin to ask "why" these terrible toxins are STILL your "weapon of choice" and/or why it is supposedly "illegal" to use safe and far more effective alternatives to actually control pest problems?

Respectfully,  Stephen L. Tvedten

---

If you would like to be included in our mailing list for continuing information on pesticides, Email Us. with "subscribe" in the subject line.

TOP