The Challenge * Original Declaration * Example of Changes * Why This is Necessary
Family pleads for school IPM
Letter to House and Senate on SEPA Bill
July 29, 2001
Dear All Concerned:
We are the Hawkins' Family, from Tellico Plains, Tennessee. I could have written a letter to Senator Frist and Representative Hilleary from the state of Tennessee, but decided to address this letter to all. Mr. Frist is aware of who we are and I think could understand why we would be writing to all of you.
Our goal is to see that all states mandate IPM. I would like to explain to you why this is so important to us.
I am the mother of two pretty little girls, one 3 and the other 6 years old. They were poisoned by pesticides due to a misapplication in our home in 1997. As a result they cannot be exposed to even very low levels of pesticides, such as those commonly found in schools and public buildings.
The pesticide poisoning incident was so severe that it ate the skin off of the hands and feet of my oldest girl. She was 2 at the time. I was pregnant with my baby, and we do not know what health problems our children face as a result of this exposure. However, we do know that Shanedra, our 6 year old, has nerve damage in the upper and lower body resulting in a loss of reflexes, as well as damage to her immune system. Our little 3 year old is likewise permanently damaged.
The pesticide responsible for the health problems of my children was residual in our home at significantly high levels for over two years, although it was applied in only two treatments. Once we realized what was making our children so sick, we had it cleaned up, at a cost of over $21,000.00 in 1999. The damage is done to our children and there is nothing that can be done to change that. But I ask all of you to consider this.
If this had been a misapplication in a school, it would have been a nightmare multiplied in intensity many times over the nightmare our family has experienced. Nobody can say it will not happen. In fact, there have already been pesticide poisoning incidents in schools that could have been prevented if IPM had been required by law. With this law in place it would be less likely to occurred, due to less toxic chemicals being used instead of what continues to be used in schools.
It took us 3 years of fighting the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to get them to help. We finally had to bring in the EPA to get things moving. In April of 2000, 3 years later, our fight for justice finally resulted in a fine for the misapplication of pesticides in our home in 1997. To this date the technician who poisoned our home is still out there spraying homes. He has had no type of retraining, and because he appealed the fine, no type of corrective measures have been taken. Do you think that people would want him treating their homes if they knew this? Would you? Or how about trusting his judgment in treating the classrooms and buildings where your children or grandchildren attend? If our state laws can't protect us from pesticide misuse, what do we do?
We try a pest control method that reduces the dangers posed by traditional pest control. This is Integrated Pest Management, known as IPM. If IPM had been used at our home, we wouldn't have sick children now.
There are days when my little girl cries and says her legs are burning off, and days when she can't get the toothpaste open. Do we just look the other way and say, "Well, that was just due to an isolated mistake. There's nothing to worry about." That kind of denial is negligence on our part. It is irresponsible. We owe it to our children to use the least toxic methods of pest control. They already exist, and their use is prescribed in IPM, yet it continues to be underused, and pesticide poisonings continue to occur, simply because of ignorance and lack of regulation.
Many children have a burden of poor health already, suffering from a number of ailments including allergies, asthma, neurological problems, CMT, leukemia, skin problems, eye problems, cancer, heart problems and the list goes on. Many pesticides are know to cause or aggravate these disorders. Why in the world would we want to expose them to something that could add to an already heavy burden of health problems, when there are safer alternatives proven to be as effective or more effective than toxic pesticide sprays traditionally used for pest control?
The Chemical Industry tells us that pesticides are safe when used as directed on the label. I say, there is nothing safe about many of these commonly used chemicals. The chemical industry does not have a good track record of truthfulness regarding the chemicals they are marketing. Nor do they hold any warranties on them. Consider the many pesticides that are now banned. This exemplefies the story in plain black and white. These chemicals were banned because they proved themselves to be more dangerous than they were worth. Believe me, it wasn't because they weren't selling well!
I would like to point out that many cooperative extension entomologists are working very hard to educate and train pest control companies, so that a safer method (IPM) can be brought into our schools. In talking with Bob Stoddard of EnviroSafe, Inc., I learned that Michigan has a mandated IPM program which has proven to be very successful. They have 36 districts using IPM, and it is working quite well. Nashville Tennessee has been doing IPM since 1992. IPM has been used successfully in numerous places throughout the country. If these people can do it, then why not the entire country? We owe it to our children, they deserve the best chance of good health that we can give them.
As a parent, I must speak out for the sake of my children, since they are too young to speak out themselves. IPM works, and it keeps children safe and healthy. I ask you to act on behalf of all of our children, yours, mine, and all the children of the nation, and do the right thing: Legislate for IPM.
I ask you to please make sure that IPM is adopted into all schools. Pass the SEPA bill. If there are problems, I feel they can be worked out. Our nation's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports IPM, and is giving grants to educate people about IPM.
I thank you for your time and hope that the right decision is reached, because the safety of our children depend on it.
Sincerely,
Sandra Hawkins (The Hawkins Family) 180 Shadden Rd. Tellico Plains, Tenn. 37385 (423)253-2883
P.S. (Statement from my husband) The bad experience my family and I went through and still continue to go through is something I would not wish on my worst enemy. I consider myself a good father and when my children are sick it kills me not to be able to make things better or figure out what is wrong with them. Which was how it was in the beginning. I'm supposed to protect and provide for my family. I thought that by hiring a professional pest control company to handle the scorpion problem was the safest thing to do. I was wrong, my family and I will pay for that mistake from now on.
There is a safer and less toxic way to control pest and protect our children from dangers linked to pesticide exposure. I ask you to make those hours that our children spend in school safer, bring into our schools IPM. What will it hurt? Give it a chance. Killing bugs is easy, doing it safely is IPM.
Shane Hawkins
Cc's
Rep. Connie Morella (R-MD)
Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN)
Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD)
Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-NY)
Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ)
Rep. John Boehner (R-8th OH)
Rep. George Miller (D-7th CA)
Rep. Tom Petri (R-6th WI)
Rep. Marge Roukema (R-5th NJ)
Rep. Howard McKeon (R-25th CA)
Rep. Michael Castle (R-At large DE)
Rep. Lindsey Graham (R-3rd SC)
Rep. Van Hilleary (R-4th TN)
Rep. Johnny Isakson(R-6th GA)
Rep. Dale Kildee (D-9th MI)
Rep. Major Owens (D-11th NY)
Rep. Patsy Mink (D-2nd HI)
Rep. Robert Andrews (D-1st NJ)
Rep. Tim Roemer (D-3rd IN)
Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT)
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD)
Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT)
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN)
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)
Senator John Edwards (D-NC)
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY)
Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT)
Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Senator Bill Frist (R-TN)
Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY)
Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-AR)
Senator John Warner (R-VA)
Senator Kit Bond (R-MO)
Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH)
Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO)
Senator John Ensign (R-NV)
Journalist Nancy Zuckerbrod (Associated Press)The Challenge * Original Declaration * Example of Changes * Why This is Necessary