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June 2003 Forum Summary
Cancer and Environment Forums

Ad Hoc Discussion Group Meets on the (IPM) Green

On June 18, 2003 the Ad Hoc Discussion Group meeting took place at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, Long Island. Our host at this location was Cornell Professor of Horticulture, Frank Rossi, aka "the Turf Guy." Frank Rossi's collaborative project testing the reduced use of synthetic pesticides on the golf courses at Bethpage, through the use of integrated pest management (IPM) techniques, was a featured topic at this meeting. Over fifty participants, representing many aspects of professional activity (health, local and state government, breast cancer services, landscaping), civic issues, and personal interests took part. Participants came from across Long Island and New York City. We were very pleased to be joined by representatives from several breast cancer activists groups with whom we have been working for over eight years.

BCERF staff had the wonderful opportunity to tour the Hewlett House and visit with its outstanding staff. Hewlett House is a comprehensive resource and support center for any and all people with cancer-related concerns. Without referral and at no cost, one is able to walk in to this warm environment and obtain support and information that has been up to this point extremely difficult for many to find. Personal counseling, group classes, medical and financial information, and more are part of what is offered at the still-growing Hewlett House (watch for organic gardens soon!)

86 East Rockaway Road
Hewlett, NY 11557
516.374.3190
www.hewletthouse.org

Participants were informed of the administrative change taking place for BCERF by Rodney Dietert and Rodney Page (see cover article).

Translational Research: Current Work

BCERF Research Associate Heather Clark provided a research update from the BCERF program. A recent Ph.D. from Cornell's Department of Natural Resources, Heather re-joins the program after working with us several years back. She reported on two chemicals for which she is developing critical evaluations and fact sheets: DBCP and Ochratoxin A. The National Toxicology Program has identified both of these chemicals as mammary carcinogens in its studies in laboratory animals. DBCP or dibromochloropropane, a banned pesticide highly toxic to the male reproductive system, is a water contaminant in several areas of the country - most dramatically, in California's Fresno area. Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin produced by certain species of Aspergillus and Penicillium molds. It has been detected in a wide range of foods from grains to coffee and cocoa. Please watch for availability of these two BCERF publications.

The Precautionary Principle: What does it mean and how is it taking shape in Europe?

BCERF Associate Director for Translational Research, Suzanne Snedeker, then presented a fascinating history and overview of the precautionary principle. She described the emergence of this philosophy as applied to environment and health issues in international settings -- such as the 1992 United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development -- but also as a notion that relates as far back as Hippocrates and shows up in early approaches to infectious disease control. She relates examples which can be described as precautionary approaches in various legal and policy decisions in the US, and how many federal acts -- as they are written but perhaps not as consistently carried out - take a precautionary approach. Examples of this include the Food and Drug Cosmetic Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The largest professional association of public health workers, APHA, has a policy statement that "encourages precautionary action...even if some cause and effect relationships have not been established with scientific certainty." Her full discussion of comparison of the US versus European approaches, and the new European Union initiative entitled REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization for Chemicals) can't be captured in this summary, but please look for an article on this theme in a coming issue of The Ribbon.

We regret that Sandra Steingraber could not be part of the meeting and present her talk on Canadian Legislation Regulating the Cosmetic Use of Pesticides.

Large-scale case studies of non-agricultural IPM

The afternoon centered on two large-scale case studies of IPM: on Bethpage State Park golf courses and throughout the New York City public schools. Frank Rossi described his and Jennifer Grant's (Assistant Director of the NYS IPM Program) multi-year collaboration with the Bethpage State Park superintendent and crew to develop turf care programs to reduce or eliminate the need for pesticides. Frank reiterated the notion that demand for these kind of innovations directly affects their research and development. He described the buy-in they are receiving from the crew and the golfers, and the success stories to date in reduced pesticide use, without decreased performance of the turf.

We were very lucky to be joined by Dan Dickerson, the Director of Pest Control for the Board of Education, City of New York. With limited resources and staff, Dan is carrying out a no-pesticide use policy in New York City public schools, which includes 1200 school buildings and a population of 1.2 million students. His IPM approach emphasizes all aspects of prevention, such as systematic sealing of pest entry points, and uses baits and traps instead of spray and fog pesticide applications. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded his program a certificate for outstanding efforts towards risk reduction in 2002.

Thanks to everyone for their participation. If you have feedback on this meeting or input into future Ad Hoc Discussion Group meeting planning, please contact Carmi Orenstein at 607-254-2893 or cso1@cornell.edu

Last Update 08.04.05