Toxic Residues

Danger sold in stores by the sack

Toxic chemicals regularly sold in chains and garden shops can destroy your health.

Last month an article in the Toronto Globe and Mail by Alanna Mitchell outlined that the link between common household pesticides and fetal defects, neurological damage and the most deadly cancers is strong enough that family doctors in Ontario are urging citizens to avoid them in any form. The Ontario College of Family Physicians recently released the most comprehensive study ever done in Canada on the chronic effects of pesticide exposure at home, in the garden and at work.

"The review found consistent evidence of the health risks to patients with exposure to pesticides," the study said, naming brain cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer and leukemia among many other acute illnesses.

There were also links between parents' exposure and unborn children ranging from damage to death even from pesticide residue on food, ant spray and flea collars. As is often the case, these risks are even greater for children. Their bodies are smaller so their skin surface is larger in proportion to adults and they ingest more food for their size. A trade association representing large multinational chemical companies questioned the college, which is a non profit organization, and asked whether it really had the public's interest at heart in releasing the data because pesticides are highly regulated in Canada and help make many fruits and vegetable easy to grow.

Apparently Canadian government officials do not agree with the chemical companies. Toronto has introduced a new law to reduce pesticide use and have launched a campaign to reduce pesticide use that include posters showing a dandelion and the caption: "Relax. It's just a weed." Quebec has already banned the most common lawn and garden pesticides across the province starting next year as over 66 communities have initiated bylaws to limit pesticides. The Canadian Cancer Society, the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, the Registered Nurses Association of Canada and the Ontario Public Health Association agree and recommend bans on pesticides.

You can read the entire Globe and Mail article

http://www.hallmundur.com/goodle/goodle.htm# Goodle - a good news search engine (just for fun)

US Army Surgeon General Orders Care For DU Exposures

From Dr. Doug Rokke

Depleted uranium munitions are used during combat because they are extremely effective. However, in winning these battles through use of uranium munitions United States Department of Defense personnel have contaminated air, water, and soil. Consequently, children, women, and men have inhaled, ingested, or got wounds contaminated with uranium. Uranium is
a heavy metal and radioactive poison.

The toxicity is not debatable as the Director of the U.S. Army Environmental Policy Institute stated in a congressionally mandated report that "No available technology can significantly change the inherent chemical and radiological toxicity of DU. These are intrinsic properties of uranium " (Health and Environmental Consequences of Depleted Uranium Use in the U.S.
Army: Technical Report, AEPI, June 1995). The primary U.S. Army training manual: STP 21-1-SMCT: Soldiers Manual of Common Tasks states "NOTE: (Depleted uranium) Contamination will make food and water unsafe for consumption." [Task number: 031-503-1017 "RESPOND TO DEPLETED URANIUM/LOW LEVEL RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS (DULLRAM) HAZARDS"].

Although, existing U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) directives require that prompt and effective medical care be provided to all exposed individuals (Medical Management of Unusual Depleted Uranium Casualties, DOD, 10/14/93) and the thorough clean up of dispersed radioactive contamination (AR 700-48: "Management of Equipment Contaminated With Depleted Uranium or Radioactive Commodities"); United States, British, and Australian officials refuse to comply with these directives.

The U.S. Army Surgeon General, Lt. General James B. Peake issued a memorandum dated April 29, 2004 (available at www.traprockpeace.org) that depleted uranium bioassays will be administered to all individuals with Level 1 and Level 2 exposures and that bioassays would be provided upon request for all Level 3 exposures.

Level 1 is defined as: "Personnel who were in, on, or near combat vehicles at the time they were struck by depleted uranium rounds (to include wounded), or who entered immediately after to attempt rescue."

Level 2 is defined as: "Personnel who routinely entered depleted uranium damaged vehicles as part of their military occupation or who fought fires involving depleted uranium munitions."

Level 3 is defined as: "Personnel involved in al other exposures incidental in nature, e.g. driving by a vehicle struck by depleted uranium". (SECDEF 3/30/03: Policy for the Operation Iraqi Freedom Depleted Uranium (DU) Medical Management:
http://www.deploymentlink.osd.mil/du_library/pdfs/policy_oif_053003.pdf )

This directive still ignores exposures incurred while within, near, or after entering any DU destroyed structure or on contaminated terrain.

I must also ask if the same medical test will be provided to all U.S. coalition military personnel and to all Iraqi military and civilians who were exposed? Will medical care also be provided to all individuals who have been exposed and denied a radiobioassay and relevant medical care all exposed individuals where ever depleted uranium (uranium) munitions were manufactured, tested, and/or used in combat?

It is essential that the use of depleted uranium munitions cease immediately to prevent further exposures."