HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0489.127 2018-2020 From: Christopher Lawinski
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Please vote in favor of Bill 101
Date: Saturday,October 12,2019 12:45:06 PM
LETTER:
Aloha County of Hawaii Council members,
Please vote in favor of Bill 101 to limit the County's use of chemical herbicides.
The science is clear: Long-term exposure is linked with increased risks of cancer including non-
Hodgkin's lymphoma miscarriages, attention deficit disorder and reduced production of sex
hormones. These chemicals can also trigger aggressive breast cancer when combined with other
risk factors. Children have unique susceptibilities to the potential toxicity of herbicides. As a
licensed physician practicing in the state of Hawaii, (MD-15225) 1 have personally treated many
patients who have long term health consequences that they attribute to exposure from these
chemicals.
Studies indicate that glyphosate can contaminate streams, which empty into our ocean, and affect
sea life including fish and coral. Problems with drift of glyphosate herbicides occur frequently.
Massive fish die off events in coastal waters have occurred recently and with more frequency but
have been written off as "unknown cause" because scientific studies were not in place to
determine cause. Yet, how much more toxic does our environment have to get while we wait for
more proof? By then will it be too late?
Fortunately, the County has chosen alternatives to toxic chemicals, such as the choice to use
goats to clear brush at the Hilo Soccer Field. It was more cost-effective than regular maintenance,
and safe for our communities, streams and coastline ecosystems, too. Let's expand these non-
toxic alternatives, and transition away from the use of toxic chemicals for land management.
Mahalo,
Christopher S Lawinski,MD
Vitality Integrative Medicine
15-3039 Pahoa Village Rd.
Pahoa,11196778
p:808-936-1156
fax:808-965-2082
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