Recently, the claim that residents became sick from past treatments has
held the public’s attention and has been the subject of demonstrations.
Public health officials with three state departments thoroughly reviewed
health claims submitted during and after the aerial pheromone treatments
last year in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties and could find no link
between the claims and the treatments. As the Governor recently said in
Monterey, the spraying is safe, and “there is nothing that says
otherwise.”
I also hear a number of misleading and inaccurate references to describe
the pheromone, including: hormone, carcinogen, mutagen, endocrine
disruptor and other inaccurate descriptions. These unsupported claims
overlook the fact that the federal Environmental Protection Agency, our
state's Department of Pesticide Regulation and numerous health agencies
have thoroughly reviewed and unanimously approved these products and
their classification as pheromones. In fact, the pheromone products we have used in this program are approved for treating organic crops; they
are safe enough that the law states you don’t even have to wait or wash
them off after a treatment before you eat the produce.
However, to thoroughly ensure everyone’s safety, the aerial spraying has
been postponed while we complete what’s known as “six-pack” toxicology
tests in addition to the normal extensive tests on the pheromone
products. These tests thoroughly test toxicity for eye, inhalation,
respiratory and other potential irritants. I am confident that these
additional tests will reassure Californians that we are taking the safest, most health-conscious and most progressivour state of this very
real threat to our agriculture, environment and
economy. I implore everyone to rely on sound science and to shut the
door on false information. For more information about the LBAM project,
please visit our website at www.cdfa.ca.gov or call the LBAM hotline at
1-800-491-1899.
As a public official, I am sworn to protect the public, the environment
and the ecosystems that make California such a uniquely productive and
sustainable resource. I take that responsibility seriously, and I vow
to pursue only the safest, most environmentally friendly means
available.
held the public’s attention and has been the subject of demonstrations.
Public health officials with three state departments thoroughly reviewed
health claims submitted during and after the aerial pheromone treatments
last year in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties and could find no link
between the claims and the treatments. As the Governor recently said in
Monterey, the spraying is safe, and “there is nothing that says
otherwise.”
I also hear a number of misleading and inaccurate references to describe
the pheromone, including: hormone, carcinogen, mutagen, endocrine
disruptor and other inaccurate descriptions. These unsupported claims
overlook the fact that the federal Environmental Protection Agency, our
state's Department of Pesticide Regulation and numerous health agencies
have thoroughly reviewed and unanimously approved these products and
their classification as pheromones. In fact, the pheromone products we have used in this program are approved for treating organic crops; they
are safe enough that the law states you don’t even have to wait or wash
them off after a treatment before you eat the produce.
However, to thoroughly ensure everyone’s safety, the aerial spraying has
been postponed while we complete what’s known as “six-pack” toxicology
tests in addition to the normal extensive tests on the pheromone
products. These tests thoroughly test toxicity for eye, inhalation,
respiratory and other potential irritants. I am confident that these
additional tests will reassure Californians that we are taking the safest, most health-conscious and most progressivour state of this very
real threat to our agriculture, environment and
economy. I implore everyone to rely on sound science and to shut the
door on false information. For more information about the LBAM project,
please visit our website at www.cdfa.ca.gov or call the LBAM hotline at
1-800-491-1899.
As a public official, I am sworn to protect the public, the environment
and the ecosystems that make California such a uniquely productive and
sustainable resource. I take that responsibility seriously, and I vow
to pursue only the safest, most environmentally friendly means
available.
Again, thank you for writing.
Sincerely,
A.G. Kawamura, Secretary
California Department of Food and Agriculture
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