HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0489.780 2018-2020 Doctors and Pediatricians in strong support of Bill 101
We, the undersigned doctors and pediatricians strongly support Bill 101, and request that
Hawai'i County Council take a proactive stance in protecting the health of Hawai'i county
residents by passing Bill 101 into law.
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Bill 101 is a huge step toward protection of children, elderly, and vulnerable population groups
that suffer from compromised immune and neurological systems, cancer, reproductive
problems, respiratory illness and asthma, Parkinson's,Alzheimer's, diabetes, and learning
disabilities. Of the 30 most commonly used lawn care pesticides, 16 are linked to cancer, 17 are
endocrine (hormone) disruptors, 21 are reproductive toxicants, 12 are linked to birth defects, re;are neurotoxic, 25 cause kidney liver effects, and 26 are skin or eye irritants.
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Now is the time for Hawaii County to act on toxic herbicides. The science on the dangers of
herbicides is clear. The Hawai'i State Board of Education, and local communities across the
state and the U.S. are choosing to stop using these toxic chemicals on our public spaces.
Pesticide-Induced Diseases
Scientific literature documents elevated rates of chronic diseases among people exposed to
pesticides, with increasing numbers of studies associated with both specific illnesses and a range
of illnesses.Beyond Pesticides'Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database documents over 750
studies linked to human health effects. Of which, there are 359 studies on cancer; 107 studies
on sexual and reproductive dysfunction; 102 studies on Parkinson's disease; 87 studies on
learning and developmental disorders; 33 studies on birth defects; 32 studies on asthma; 18
studies on diabetes; and 12 studies on Alzheimer's disease.
The studies in the database show that our current approach to restricting pesticide use through
risk assessment-based mitigation measures is not working.EPA's risk assessment fails to look at
chemical mixtures, synergistic effects, certain health endpoints (such as endocrine disruption),
disproportionate effects to vulnerable population groups;and regular noncompliance with
product label directions. These deficiencies contribute to its severe limitations in defining real
world poisoning, as captured by epidemiologic studies in the database.
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'Health Effects of 30 Commonly Used Pesticides.2015.Beyond Pesticides.http://www.bevondpesticides.org/lawn/factsheets/30health.pdf
(See Appendix C for a fully cited copy of the fact sheet)
'Beyond Pesticides.2019.Pesticide Induced Diseases Database.
http://www.bevondpesticides.org/resources/pesticide-induced-diseases-database/overview y/L q.1�®
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Children's Vulnerability
Children face unique dangers from herbicide exposure. The National Academy of Sciences
reports that children are more susceptible to chemicals than adults and estimates that 50% of
lifetime pesticide exposure occurs during the first five years of life. In fact, studies show
children's developing organs create "early windows of great vulnerability"during which
exposure to pesticides can cause great damage. Additionally, according to researchers at the
University of California-Berkeley School of Public Health, exposure to pesticides while in the
womb may increase the odds that a child will have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD).
As EPA points out in its document,Pesticides and Their Impact on Children: Keep Facts and
Talking Points:6
• "Due to key differences in physiology and behavior, children are more susceptible to
environmental hazards than adults."
• "Children spend more time outdoors on grass,playing fields, and play equipment where
pesticides may be present."
• "Children's hand-to-mouth contact is more frequent, exposing them to toxins through
ingestion."
In 2012,the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a landmark policy statement,
Pesticide Exposure in Children, on the effects of pesticide exposure in children, acknowledging
the risks to children from both acute and chronic effects. AAP's statement notes that, "Children
encounter pesticides daily and have unique susceptibilities to their potential toxicity."The report
discusses how kids are exposed to pesticides every day in air, food, dust, and soil. Children also
frequently come into contact with pesticide residue on pets and treated lawns, gardens, and
indoor spaces.
Herbicides, such as glyphosate and its formulated products (Roundup) and 2,4-D,both widely
used on turf and lawns, can be tracked indoors resulting in long-term exposures. Scientific
studies show that herbicides, like 2,4-D, that are applied to lawns drift and are tracked indoors
where they settle in dust, air and on surfaces and may remain in carpets. Herbicides Herbicides in these
environments may increase the risk of developing asthma, exacerbate a previous asthmatic
condition, or even trigger asthma attacks by increasing bronchial hyper-responsiveness.'This is
especially important as infants crawling behavior and proximity to the floor account for a greater
potential than adults for dermal and inhalation exposure to contaminants on carpets, floors,
lawns, and soil."
'National Research Council,National Academy of Sciences.1993.Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children,National Academy Press,
Washington,DC:184-185.
Landrigan,P.J.,L Claudio,SB Markowitz,et al.1999."Pesticides and inner-city children:exposures,risks,and prevention."Environmental
Health Perspectives 107(Suppl 3):431-437.
5 Marks AR,Harley K,Bradman A,Kogut K,Barr DB,Johnson C,et al.2010.Organophosphate Pesticide Exposure and Attention in Young
Mexican-American Children:The CHAMACOS Study.Environ Health Perspect 118:1768-1774.
6 See:https://www.eoa.8ov/sites/production/files/2015-12/documents/pest-impact-hsstaff.odf
Roberts JR,Karr CJ;Council On Environmental Health.2012.Pesticide exposure in children.Pediatrics.2012 Dec;130(6):e1765-88.
e Nishioka,M.,et al.1996.Measuring lawn transport of lawn-applied herbicide acids from turf.Env Science Technology,30:3313-3320.
Nishioka,M.,et al.2001."Distribution of 2,4-D in Air and on Surfaces Inside Residences.Environmental Health Perspectives 109(11).
10 Hernandez,AF.,Parron,T.and Alarcon,R.2011.Pesticides and asthma.Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol.11(2):90-6.
11 Bearer,CF.2000.The special and unique vulnerability of children to environmental hazards.Neurotoxicology 21:925-934;and Fenske,R.,et
al.1990.Potential Exposure and Health Risks of Infants following Indoor Residential Pesticide Applications.Am J.Public Health.80:689-693.
A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute finds that household and garden
herbicide use can increase the risk of childhood leukemia as much as seven-fold.12 Similarly, a
2010 meta-analysis on residential pesticide use and childhood leukemia finds an association with
exposure during pregnancy.
Prenatal exposure to herbicides can also have long-lasting impacts on infants and children.
Herbicides, like glyphosate, can adversely affect embryonic, placental and umbilical cord cells,
and can impact fetal development. Preconception exposures to glyphosate were found to
moderately increase the risk for spontaneous abortions in mothers exposed to glyphosate
products.' One 2010 analysis observed that women who use pesticides in their homes or yards
were two times more likely to have offspring with neural tube defects than women who did not
use pesticides.14 Studies also find that pesticidesi6like 2,4-D, can also pass from mother to child
through umbilical cord blood and breast milk. '
Biomonitoring testing has also documented pesticide residues in children. Residues of lawn
herbicides, like 2,4-D and mecoprop, were found in 15 percent of children tested, ages three to
seven, whose parents had recently applied the lawn chemicals. In one study, children in areas
where glyphosate is routinely applied were found to have detectable concentrations in their urine.
" While glyphosate is excreted quickly from the body, it was concluded, "a part may be retained
or conjugated with other compounds that-can stimulate biochemical and physiological
responses."A 2002 study finds children born to parents exposed to glyphosate show a higher
incidence of attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity.'$
Mahalo for your attention and support of Bill 101,
Hawai'i State Representative Richard Creagan,M.D.
House District 5 - Naalehu, Ocean View, Capt. Cook, Kealakekua, Kailua-Kona
Rout Reigart, M.D.
Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics
Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina
First Chair, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Children's Health Protection Advisory
Committee
Co-author, Fifth and Sixth Edition of EPA Publication: Recognition and Management of
Pesticide Poisonings
First Chair of the Board, Children's Environmental Health Network
Past Chair, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental Health
12 Lowengart,R.et al.1987.Childhood Leukemia and Parent's Occupational and Home Exposures.Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
79:39.
13 Arbuckle,T.E.,Lin,Z.,&Mery,L.S.(2001).An Exploratory Analysis of the Effect of Pesticide Exposure on the Risk of Spontaneous Abortion in
an Ontario Farm Population.Environ Health Perspect,109,851-857.
14Brender,JD.,et al.2010.Maternal Pesticide Exposure and Neural Tube Defects in Mexican Americans.Ann Epidemiol.20(1):16-22.
15 Pohl,HR.,et al.2000.Breast-feeding exposure of infants to selected pesticides.Toxicol Ind Health.16:65-77.
16 Sturtz,N.,et al.2000.Detection of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid(2,4-D)residues in neonates breast-fed by 2,4-D exposed dams.
Neurotoxicology 21(1-2):147-54.
1'Acquavella,J.F.,et al.(2004).Glyphosate Biomonitoring for Farmers and Their Families:Results from the Farm Family Exposure Study.
Environ Health Perspect.112(3),321-326.
18 Cox C.2004.Journal of Pesticide Reform.Vol.24(4)citing:Garry,V.F.et al.2002."Birth defects,season of conception,and sex of children
born to pesticide applicators living in the Red River Valley of Minnesota."Environ.Health Persp.110(Suppl.3):441-449.
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Dr. Will Chapple
Family Medicine, Paniolo Pediatrics and Family Medicine
Waimea, Hawai'i County
Mark R. Villarin, M.D.
Junior Fellow, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
North Hawaii Hospital, Waimea Women's Center
Jade McGaff, M.D.
Board Certified OB/GYN
Waimea, Hawai'i County
Christopher S Lawinski, M.D.
Vitality Integrative Medicine
Pahoa, Hawai'i County
Hana Roberts, N.D.
North Kohala, Hawai'i County
Sally Boyd Daughtrey, N.D.
Vitality Integrative Medicine,
Pahoa, Hawai'i County
Kaleo Correa,PhD, FNP-BC,APRN-Rx
Family Medicine, Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner
Mango Medical
Waimea, Hawai'i County
Patricia Hopkins, CNM MSN
Waimea, Hawai'i County
Lee Evslin,M.D.
Pediatrician
Kaua'i County
Dr. Miles Greenberg, N.D.
Natural Health Clinic
Lihue, Kaua'i County
Clare Loprinzi
Maternal and Child Health
Hawai'i County
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