Kids & Teachers Are Not Lab Rats
AB 405- Schwarzenegger's dilemma: Sign a bill banning the use of experimental pesticides in schools or cave into chemical industry lobbyists.
VAN NUYS, CA. (PRWEB) October 5, 2005
Parents, students and community members, some traveling hundreds of miles to attend, gathered at Van Nuys High School Auditorium last week to hear a panel of celebrated experts in the field of children's environmental health speak about the hidden dangers of pesticides, and to urge the passage of AB 405, legislation that will end the use of experimental pesticides in K-12 public schools throughout California.
AB 405, is a common sense bill that prevents K-12 public schools from being used as test sites for experimental pesticides, and protects children, teachers and school workers from being poisoned by chemicals which health effects are unknown. The bill authored by California Assembly member Cindy Montanez, and sponsored by California Safe Schools, was passed by both the Senate and Assembly last session and continues to gain tremendous public and political support.
AB 405 would prevent the use of chemicals on schools grounds that have incomplete data as required under current regulations. This missing data typically includes information about metabolic impacts, mechanistic properties, the fate of residue, risk assessment, efficacy, leaching, stability, receptor dosage, application, and resistance studies.
Experts confirmed in great detail that AB 405 does not financially impact school districts, the state of California, or industry, and continues to allow the use of hundreds of products that might be necessary to respond to any health or safety emergency from pests in schools.
Panelist included: Dr. Harvey Karp, internationally celebrated pediatrician and author, actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr, Boardmember Julie Korenstein, of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Mitzi Shpak, a Caltech Microbiologist (Genetics), and Diana Dixon Davis of the PTA.
Jackie Cambas a parent who has been following the AB 405 legislation commented: "Who's kidding who? Experimental & conditionally registered
Pesticides are the same! When health effects studies are missing for these chemicals, we are all lab rats and guinea pigs for the chemical industry. Our Governor plays characters who protect children on the big screen. I hope and pray he protects the more than 6 million kids, and hundreds of thousands of teachers and school employees who are impacted by this loophole in current law."
For further information:
California Safe Schools 818-785-5515
Www. calisafe. org
Assemblymember Cindy Montanez 916-319-2039
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