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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0489.079 2018-2020 L=J A P A Board of Directors: Gary L. Houser Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action President Strongly Supports Bill 101 Andrea N. Brower Aloha Hawaii County Councilmembers, lkaika M. Hussey On behalf of the Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action (HAPA) we Co-Vice Presidents submit this testimony in strong support of Bill 101 which will Kim Coco Iwamoto prohibit the use of herbicides along county Hawaii County parks and Treasurer roadsides. Bart E. Dame As a statewide environmental, social and economic justice Secretary organization HAPA engages over 10,000 local residents throughout Hawaii annually. Our supporters are passionate about establishing better measures to protect our keiki and communities from the Paul Achitoff impacts of toxic pesticide exposure. Kaleikoa Ka'eo Children are at higher risk for health effects from exposure to Michael Miranda pesticides than adults,because their internal organs are still developing and maturing(1).The body of evidence in scientific Walter Ritte Jr. literature shows that pesticide exposure can adversely affect a child's neurological,respiratory,immune,and endocrine system,even at low Pua Rossi-Fukino exposure levels(2). Karen Shishiclo The American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization made up of 60,000 pediatricians (3),has repeatedly warned about the risks of Leslie Malulani Shizue Miki children being exposed to pesticides. In 2012 there was an official statement recommending we reduce children's exposure to pesticides (4). In 2015 a'Statement of Concern'written by scientists and directed to scientists,physicians,and regulatory officials in the Environmental Health journal highlighted changes in the scope and magnitude of risks to humans and the environment stemming from applications of glyphosate-based herbicides concluding that(5): (1) Glyphosate is the most heavily applied herbicide in the world and usage continues to rise; (2) Worldwide,glyphosate often contaminates drinking water sources,precipitation, and air, especially in agricultural regions; The Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action(HAPA)is a public non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. HAPA's mission is to catalyze community empowerment and systemic ch g towards valuing 'aina (environment) and people ahead of corporate profit. Ila Comm. No. . I I Ref. To:5;WU Ref. ate OCT 1 5 2019 (3) The half-life of glyphosate in water and soil is longer than previously recognized; (4) Glyphosate and its metabolites are widely present in the global soybean supply (meaning that children are already heavily exposed in food); (5) Human exposures to glyphosate are rising; (6) Glyphosate is now authoritatively classified as a probable human carcinogen; (7) Regulatory estimates of tolerable daily intakes for glyphosate in the United States and European Union are based on outdated science. World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer recently concluded that glyphosate is "probably carcinogenic to humans"(7). Last year a California jury awarded a large multi-million dollar settlement to a school groundskeeper, Dwayne "Lee"Johnson,after ruling that he indeed contracted non- Hodgkin's lymphoma because of his repeated exposure to glyphosate based herbicides while applying it around a school. Over 18,000 similar cases are currently awaiting trial. We appreciate the warm reception Mr.Johnson received when NAPA and our partners in the Protect Our Keiki Coalition brought Mr.Johnson to meet with Hawaii Island Councilmembers, Parks and DOT agency representatives. Given the above information it should be perfectly clear that the time is right to transition to non-toxic alternatives. Nothing is more important than protecting our growing keiki. There are effective and cost-neutral organic land management options that the county can adopt(1). In fact,many other jurisdictions have taken similar steps to protect public health by banning glyphosate and have successfully transitioned to organic land management practices,even in climates similar to Hawaii with little to no cost difference. 181 Resources are currently available to provide additional trainings for communities who might have difficulties transitioning away from herbicide use.We welcome the opportunity to partner with Hawaii County to bring additional resources,such as experts in organic land management practices,to assist as needed. Thank you for your consideration! We strongly urge you to support Bill 101. Respectfully, Oo L, Anne Frederick, Executive Director The Hawai'i Alliance for Progressive Action(HAPA)is a public non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. HAPA's mission is to catalyze community empowerment and systemic change towards valuing 'aina (environment) and people ahead of corporate profit. References: 1. healthychildren.org(2017) Protecting Children from Pesticides: Information for Parents: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all- around/Pages/Protecting-Children-from-P esticides-Information-for-Parents.aspx 2. Beyond Pesticides Children and Schools https://www.b eyondp esticides.o rg/programs/children-and-schools/overview. 3. American Academy of Pediatrics (2012)AAP Makes Recommendations to Reduce Children's Exposure to Pesticides https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press- roo m/Pages/AAP-Makes-Re commendations-to-Reduce-Children's-Expo sure-to-P estici des.aspx 4. American Academy of Pediatrics (2012)Pesticide Exposure in Children http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/130/6/el757 S. Myers; et al(2017) Concerns over use of glyphosate-based herbicides and risks associated with exposures: a consensus statement https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/sl2940-016-0117-0 6. Skrzypczak; et al(2 018) Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis.Assessment of DNA damage in Polish children environmentally exposed to pesticides https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/Sl383571818302912 7. International Agency for Research on Cancer (2015)https://www.iarc.fr/ 8. https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/toxic-tort-law/monsanto-roundup-lawsuit/where-is-glyphosate- banned/ The Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action(HAPA)is a public non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. HAPA's mission is to catalyze community empowerment and systemic change towards valuing `aina (environment) and people ahead of corporate profit.