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2. There is no medical evidence that shows this causes harm to human beings in the amount we apply it in. 3. Health Canada would not allow a cancer-causing agent to be used. These statements are completely
untrue and the rest of this presentation is dedicated to educating
Councillor Steeves, because I have a vested interest in Steeves
descendents. Please, if you can't educate yourself for your
constituents, at least do it for your children. Lie #1 There's no proof the city's fogging is a health risk. Just because you haven't read the proof, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Malathion is immunotoxic, neurotoxic, and genotoxic. immunotoxicologyOPpesticides.pdf AgeDependenceOPneurotoxicity.pdf Malathion-treatedhumanT-lymphocyeshprtmutations.pdf (In case you don't know, T-cells are the ones that protect us from cancer.) Malathion is on the list of known or suspected endocrine-disruptors. See Appendix 5.1 Pesticides, Making the Right Choice for the Protection of Health and the Environment Lie #2 Spoken like a true lawyer--always read the fine print. It is reminiscent of the industry guarantees of safety which are always qualified by the statement "if used according to label directions." Well, according to the label directions on the City of Winnipeg Insecticide Labels and Material Safety Data Sheets we ought to be wearing the following to prepare ourselves for exposure to Malathion: "NIOSH/NSHA approved respirator, chemical safety glasses, chemical resistant gloves, coveralls; Avoid breathing vapours, contact with eyes, skin and clothing." The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's Review of Malathion Incident Reports states the following: "In addition to acute poisoning,
malathion and other
organophosphate
insecticides have been reported to be associated with chronic effects in humans, including peripheral neuropathy, chronic neurobehavioral effects, and the reported development of a sensitivity to chemicals previously tolerated which is associated with a wide variety of symptoms. Malathion is an organophosphate nerve toxin. Organophosphates interfere with the body's ability to send and retrieve messages. This means that brain functions are hindered. Acetylcholinesterase becomes overstimulated at nerve endings (p 34, EPA Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings) and interferes with nerve impulse transmission from nerve fibers to smooth and skeletal muscle cells, glandular cells, and autonomic ganglia, as well as within the central nervous system. Health Canada's Factsheet on Malathion states that "You should consult your health-care provider" about the following symptoms of overexposure:
Immunotoxicity An
excellent literature review on immunotoxicity summarized (i)
The three components of the immune system--humoral, cell- (ii)
The immune system can be stimulated or suppressed by (iii)
Acute toxicity is not directly related to the immunomodulating In other words, the most toxic pesticides, or the most acute doses, are not necessarily causing the most immune deficiency. Lie #3 Health Canada would not allow a cancer-causing agent to be used. What planet do you live on? The list of cancer-causing agents for sale in this country is endless, and it starts with cigarettes. The EPA Comments submitted on behalf of the Natural Resources Defence Council by Dr. Jennifer Sass (Malathion, Docket OPP-34223) which point out in very scientific, detailed terms, precisely how the EPA fails to consider important data in registering Malathion. Dr. Sass states, "Specifically, EPA has erred in its decision to downgrade the carcinogenicity classification of the malathion, overlooked important limitations of its developmental and neurotoxicity studies in its calculation of non-cancer concerns, and ignored peer-reviewed literature documenting toxicity of the malathion metabolite, malaoxon.... Comments submitted by Brian
Dementi, a senior whistle-blower at EPA who felt compelled to write
about the inadequacies of the Malathion review, particularly with
respect to carcinogenicity studies, discounting of findings,
interpretations, and inadequate review of evidence. The above comments, and much more, can be found on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency malathion docket. If you think the city of Winnipeg
is free from the risk of litigation because it relies on registration
by Health Canada, you are being negligent. It is actually illegal to
advertise a pesticide
as being safe. Health Canada Point 1.1 of the Report of the Auditor General, Chapter One: Managing the Safety and Accessibility of Pesticides states, "the federal government is not adequately ensuring that many pesticides used in Canada meet current standards for protecting health and the quality of the environment. 1.5 Health Canada has done only limited research on the health effects of pesticides despite the federal government's stated priority in this area. 1.15 The possible health and environmental impacts may be delayed--in some cases, for decades--and some people, especially children, may be particularly susceptible. 1.46 Steps are not always followed. Although the Agency's process for evaluating pesticides is well-defined, its staff do not always follow the required steps. We reviewed files on 30 recent submissions. They included those that were processed most quickly and those that took the longest to process. We found that in more than half, evaluators expedited the submission, skipped screening steps, cut the scientific review short, or skipped the public consultation stage." 1.102 Health Canada has very limited dedicated funding for research on human exposure to pesticides or the resulting health effects. Three researchers are working on current pesticides, and they rely primarily on outside funding. The Canadian Cancer Society The Insect Control Branch has
likely submitted to you the official
position of the Canadian Cancer Society: So while yes, the official
position of the Canadian Cancer Society is that Malathion's okay
because PMRA says so, I invite you to
read the following positions presented by various individuals within
the
Canadian Cancer Society, speaking out on behalf of all of us: Cancer society says its
research supports
ban on cosmetic pesticide use, Thursday, 03 Aug 2006, The
Charlottetown Guardian. From July 2006, The Canadian Cancer Society's position on pesticides from the Kingston Whig-Standard, written by Cheryl Bird. On Fri 28 Jul 2006, once again, the Canadian Cancer Society's position is explained in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Times, where the author writes, "I would like to take this opportunity to express the Canadian Cancer Society's support to create a pesticide control bylaw that would limit the use of chemicals such as 2,4-D or malathion on lawns and gardens in Maple Ridge." Pesticides dangerous and not necessary The Canadian Cancer Society position is explained in a letter to the editor in the Greater Vancouver Region in January 2006.Canadian Cancer Society community outreach consultant Nathalie Noel, making a presention to the Town of Tillsonburg, August 10, 2005. "The Canadian Cancer Society believes we should limit exposure now, rather than possibly face illness later," she said. "To put it at its most basic level, it's better to be safe than sorry." Thank-you.
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