HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0489.107 2018-2020 From: Diane Koemer
To: Council Testimon
Subject: Please vote in favor of Bill 101
Date: Wednesday,October 09,2019 6:06:55 PM
Aloha Honorable County of Hawaii Council members,
Please vote in favor of Bill 101 to limit the County's use of chemical herbicides.
My name is Peggy Kadey. I am a senior who loves our children, all animals and the
land.
There is conclusive evidence that Roundup and other glyphosate-containing products
are extremely dangerous to our health. Over the last 15 years I have collected
hundreds of pages of information on Roundup. These include incidents of injury,
news articles, facts on ingredients, and how other communities are banning
glyphosate products.
My husband and I began a support group for the chemically injured in 2003. We did
not expect to receive calls from people who had just experienced injury or witnessed
injury to animals after our county sprayed Roundup Pro, but that's what happened.
There is a high rate of asthma among the children who live in Hawaii. Their lungs are
fragile. Damage to lungs opens up their little bodies to take in more poison. I
understand since my lungs have been injured by chemicals. No one can do their best
work when they are suffering. Why would we want to spray poison near those we
love?
Monsanto, in a letter to NCAP (Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides)
admits that "Isopropylamine salt of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup
herbicide, makes up 41% of the formulation. Excess isopropylamine is present at
about 0.5% of the Roundup formulation."
The MSDS on Isopropylamine says under acute effects, "Harmful if swallowed,
inhaled, or absorbed through skin. Material is extremely destructive to tissue of the
mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract, eyes and skin."
"The surfactant makes up 15.4 percent of the Roundup formulation." The surfactant is
polyethoxylated tallowarnine (POEA). It causes eye burns, skin redness, swelling,
blistering, nausea, and diarrhea according to information gathered by the Journal of
Pesticide Reform, fall 1998 issue,VOL.19, No. 3.
1 would be glad to scan and send supporting documents at your request.
Peter Soares worked for the Kauai County Parks spraying Roundup under the fence
lines. He knew it was very poisonous. He developed ALS. He and I were friends the
year before he died. He remembers feeling sick as he tried to continue doing what the
county had ordered him to do. He risked his life for his job. In the future, county
workers could sue their employers, as you can no longer deny knowledge of the
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harmful effects of chemical herbicides.
It is time to think about what we are doing as a state. Rachael Carson knew this was
coming when she wrote "Silent Spring". Mankind needs to make wiser decisions for
the sake of our children. Please do the right thing and approve Bill 101 to move out of
committee for a council vote.
Very sincerely,
Peggy Kadey
President of Kauai Network for the Chemically Injured
• Kapaa, H 1 96746
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