Perhaps The "Sound Science" Is Wrong
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Perhaps The "Sound Science" Is Wrong
Date:
Tue, 13 Aug 2002 09:04:57 -400
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
NATIONAL CHEMICAL INJURY AND SENSITIVITY DAY
PUBLIC PROTEST
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 -- 12 PM - 2 PM
PARLIAMENT HOUSE
NORTH TCE, ADELAIDE
please forward this notice and attached fliers to friends and information networks
Over the last two decades millions of people around the world have developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. MCS is often caused by exposure to pesticides, solvents and indoor air pollutants. People with MCS are made sick by chemicals found commonly in building products, paints, plastics, new carpets, pesticides, cleaning products, perfumes, and many others products. Symptoms of MCS, which range from mild to life threatening, include headache, poor concentration, diarrhoea, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, dizziness, irregular heart beat and seizures. People with severe MCS are often diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
People affected by chemical injury and MCS are routinely denied access to health care, housing, education, employment and other essentials due to chemical barriers, ignorance, discrimination, and deliberate government policy.
The numbers of people with MCS are increasing worldwide and the World Health Organisation has recognised this emerging epidemic as a serious environmental health concern. The Federal government of Germany has formally recognised MCS and European researchers are calling for additional precautions in chemical use. In the USA, where MCS is widely recognised, public health department studies have shown that 6% of Californians and 2% of New Mexicans have already been medically diagnosed with MCS. Many US states now have strict pesticide legislation requiring pesticide companies to give prior notification of their activities to a register of people with MCS. In the USA and Canada, local governments have begun to adopt bans on the use of pesticides in response to public concerns.
Where is Australia in these developments? Despite the growing international recognition of MCS, Australian authorities maintain a policy of denial and refuse to undertake public health action to address the problem. No MCS prevalence studies have been conducted and no precautionary policies on MCS exist. Australia, with the highest per capita rate of pesticide consumption in the world, continues to allow its pesticide regulators to promote these products as "safe, when used as directed". There are no public health regulations to protect people with MCS from further pesticide exposures. There are no indoor air quality regulations which recognise the problem of MCS even exists.
I invite you to join the protest rally on National Chemical Injury and Sensitivity Day to show your support and concern for environmental public health. Stop the criminal negligence in chemical regulation. Stop the discrimination and human rights abuses against people with MCS and those who are about to develop the condition.
For more information please contact the South Australian Task Force on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.
Yours sincerely
Peter Evans
Convenor
South Australian Task Force
on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
mailto: satfmcs@hotmail.com
Ph (08) 8240 5084
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