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Conference on Health and Environment in Montreal
Doctors Groups call for
Precautionary Principle and to aggressively limit childrens exposure to
hazardous chemicals
The Coalition for Alternatives to
Pesticides (CAP) Quebec, is proud to present Pesticides in our Bodies /
A Toxic Legacy a health and environment conference organized along
with the Allergy and Environmental Health Association of Quebec (AEHAQ)
and Nature Action Quebec.
This conference will be held on Monday,
October 18, 2004, at McGill University, The McIntyre Medical Building, 6th
floor, Robert Palmer Howard Amphitheatre, 3655 Drummond Street, Montreal.
The registration and booth visits will be held from 5:00 6:30 pm. The
conference will be held from 6:30 10:00 pm.
Opening of the conference will be by Mr.
Jean-Pierre Soucy, Member of the National Assembly, Parliamentary
Assistant to the Minister of the Environment. The Chairman of the
conference is Dr. Pierre Auger, MD Msc FRCPC Hematology, Occupational
Medicine, Public Health Quebec, Environment.
Experts in the field will speak on body
burden, prevention, care and alternatives. The list of
speakers is below.
Important quotations:
With reference to
the conference:
The members of the Quebec College of
Family Physicians are very concerned by the impact of the environment on
our health and its current deterioration is disturbing. Pesticides seem to
have a negative impact on our health and increase the risk of cancer. Even
though we do not have all the scientific evidence, we feel that the
principle of precaution should prevail in this area. Dr Harold Dion,
Chair of the Board, Quebec College of Family Physicians.
With reference to
the study by the National Institute of Health Quebec, on the body
contamination of children in Quebec:
"Quebec has already moved far ahead of
Canada as a whole in taking the issue of environmental contamination
seriously; this study is the latest step in that process. It sends a
signal to regulators everywhere to stop being intimidated by industry
propaganda, threats and lobbying pressures, and to begin aggressively
limiting exposure of their citizens -- and most particularly children --
to hazardous chemicals." Dr. Warren Bell, President, Canadian
Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE).
On environmental
illness caused by pesticide and chemical injury and environmental
contaminants:
I congratulate the Coalition for
Alternatives to Pesticides (CAP) for the organizing this conference, and
even more because they have started a new organization the Allergy and
Environmental Health Association of Quebec (AEHAQ). For over 20 years, I
have seen hundreds of patients from all walks of life (rich, poor, young,
old, manual labor, professionals, etc) come to my office with
environmental illness and I could not offer them any treatment. I hope
that this new organization will carry out the much needed political
pressure, so that we can look after this sickness adequately which will
include favoring research to find the cause and the treatment for this
illness and to bring support to those with environmental illness.
Furthermore, to allow for people with environmental illness to be a full
part of society - as all handicapped individuals can expect from a society
that is just and fair. Dr. Pierre Auger, MD Msc FRCPC Hematology,
Occupational Medicine, Public Health Quebec, Environment.
It is heartening to note that important
groups in Quebec and Canada are supporting and endorsing this conference.
There is no doubt that the time has come for change towards responsible
legislation and government, so that the public is equally and adequately
protected at all times. Focusing on education, prevention and care, I have
no doubt that this conference will make its mark in Quebec. Michel
Gaudet, President, Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (CAP) Quebec
We hope that this conference will have a
major impact on the domain of health in Québec in terms of information,
education, alternatives to toxins and prevention; and that the grave
impact of pesticides on human health is better understood. People must be
aware that the use of pesticides is not only an environmental problem, but
that it also affects us and our children. This is a question of public
health and our governments, without delay, must enact responsible
legislation for positive change." Edith Smeesters, spokesperson for the
Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (CAP) Quebec
It is time for Quebec to take care of
those who have been injured by the widespread use of chemicals in our
environment. This conference must pave the way towards that goal.
Rohini Peris, Vice President, the Allergy and Environmental Health
Association of Quebec (AEHAQ)
The list of
speakers is as follows:
Keynote Speaker:
- JOHN LASETER, Ph.D, CEO and
Laboratory Director of Accu-Chem Laboratories, USA.
BODY BURDEN OF PESTICIDES AND CHEMICALS
Panel of Speakers:
- SOPHIE DAHAN, Ph.D, Senior
Scientist and Program Leader, Cell & Molecular Biology, Montreal.
WIDESPREAD CONTAMINATION HEALTH EFFECTS
- ONIL SAMUEL and MATHIEU
VALCKE, toxicologists, Human Toxicology, National Institute of
Public Health Quebec.
STUDY ON BODY CONTAMINATION OF CHILDREN IN QUEBEC
- JENNIFER ARMSTRONG, MD -
Environmental Health Centre, Ottawa.
CHEMICAL EXPOSURES, MAKING THE CONNECTION
- LYNN MARSHALL, MD FAAEM FRSM -
Medical Director, Environmental Health Clinic Sunnybrook & Women's
College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto.
RECOGNIZING AND MANAGING ENVIRONMENTAL ILLNESS
- ALAN DeSOUSA, C.A. - Member of
the City of Montreal Executive Committee, for Sustainable and Economic
Development, Mayor of the Saint-Laurent Borough of Montreal
THE BANNING OF PESTICIDES: A QUESTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH
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