California mulls testing humans for pollution
SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) -- California, land of cutting-edge environmental measures, is considering a new plan to test humans for minute traces of pollution and toxins, officials said Wednesday.
Under legislation debated Wednesday, the state could become the first in the nation to fund research to probe links between environmental toxins and chronic disease by testing human blood, urine, breast milk, and fatty tissue.
"We have a right to know what's in our bodies," said Jeanne Rizzo, executive director of the Breast Cancer Fund. "Once we know what's showing up, we can start reducing our use of toxic compounds, and look more closely at the ones we don't know as much about."
Scientists have studied how chemicals show up in the environment, and how those chemicals break down, but relatively little research has been done on the chemicals' effect on humans.
"Biomonitoring is the next logical, critical step for us in addressing threats to public health," said Democratic State Senator Deborah Ortiz, chairwoman of the health and human services committee.
"It is my hope that this research can lead to more deliberate decision-making as we tackle chronic diseases and cancers that are pervasively and frighteningly invading our families and personal lives."
The California program would seek new mothers around the state to volunteer samples of breast milk for testing. For example, Rizzo said, communities near aerospace companies might want to look more closely for chemicals used or produced by that industry.
The idea has precedents. Both Sweden and Germany have long-standing biomonitoring programs, and the results of those studies eventually led to EU restrictions on certain products.
The California state legislature is expected to vote on the measure by the end of the summer.
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