Malathion Tests
From the Metro article (Aug. 29) on malathion: “In an interview, (Los Angeles County health official Dr. Paul) Papanek said the urine testing is being done to support the state’s contention that the amount of malathion absorbed by the body after spraying does not pose a health threat.”
What kind of science is this? Bad, unscientific and a definite conflict of interest. Self-monitoring or self-testing are no substitutes for independent assessments.
Whether it’s the self-monitoring by agencies of their sewage being discharged into Santa Monica Bay or justifying a state policy to spray malathion over an unwilling and vulnerable populace, we must insist on impartial, truly scientific evaluations.
ELLEN STERN HARRIS
Executive Director
Fund for the Environment
Beverly Hills
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