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“ Democratic priorities are clear: we will fight to get the economy back on track, we will create jobs, and we will help unemployed workers. ” |
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Pelosi Statement on Release of CDC's National Exposure Report
Washington, D.C.--House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today regarding the release of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) second National Exposure Report:
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is to be commended for today’s release of the second National Exposure Report. The first report, which provided detailed information on human exposure to 27 toxic substances, including lead, pesticides, and second-hand smoke, was a valuable resource for public health officials, policymakers and advocates working to ensure that all of our children grow up in a healthy environment. Today’s report builds on that progress by adding information on 89 toxic substances, bringing the total number to 116.
"More than 100 million pounds of cancer-causing chemicals, 138 million pounds of chemicals linked to birth defects and learning disabilities, and 50 million pounds of chemicals related to reproductive disorders were released into the air and water in 2000. The information in today’s report is vital for addressing the many chronic diseases linked to exposure to harmful toxins in the environment.
"In order to take action to prevent disease, we must understand its cause. Recent scientific studies provide growing evidence of a link between pesticide exposure, rural living, and the incidence of Parkinson's disease. Understanding the link between health and the environment is especially important for women and children. The lifetime risk for breast cancer has increased from 1 in 22 in the 1940’s to 1 in 8 today. Estrogen-mimicking chemicals, which researchers have linked to breast cancer, are measured in the report. The report also examined mercury. Developing fetuses and young children are most sensitive to the effects of mercury exposure, which include reduced motor skills, learning capacity, and memory, and other symptoms of neurological damage.
"As a former member of the health subcommittee that funds the CDC, I made obtaining the funds needed to produce these reports a top priority. In addition, I introduced legislation last year to create a nationwide health tracking system to collect, analyze, and report data on the rate of chronic disease and the presence of relevant environmental factors and exposures, and worked to secure $17.5 million for the CDC to initiate pilot programs to begin developing the capacity for health tracking. The Nationwide Health Tracking Act will be reintroduced later this year, and I will continue to seek additional funds for these critical activities.
"The risks are real, and we must determine what exposures harm health before disease occurs. The findings in this report show that our laws have not kept pace with the science of environmental health. The widespread exposure to chemicals found by the CDC demands stronger policies to protect the public."
“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
