Long Beach Coalition for Non Toxic Parks and Schools

Our goal is to make certain that toxic substances are not utilized in or around our public parks or schools
as there is sufficient scientific evidence that these substances can cause cancer, especially in children.
Cities across the U.S. are banning the use of these substances. It is time for Long Beach to do the same.
January 9, 2017
TO:

Mayor and City Council, City of Long Beach

President and Members, Long Beach Board of Health and Human Services
President and Commissioners, Parks and Recreation Commission
President and Members, Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education

As residents of Long Beach we are deeply concerned about the dangers of pesticides and herbicides
being used by the City of Long Beach and Long Beach Unified School District near our homes, and at our
parks and school yards.
You may be surprised to learn that of 30 community used lawn pesticides, 19 are linked with cancer or
carcinogenicity, 13 are linked with birth defects, 21 with reproductive effects, 26 with liver or kidney
damage, 15 with neurotoxicity, and 11 with disruption of the endocrine (hormonal) system. In March
2015, the World Health Organization declared that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-Up,
"probably causes cancer in humans."
In September 2015, the California Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will list
glyphosate as "known to cause cancer." However, this action has been temporarily halted as the
manufacturer of Round-Up which contains glyphosate immediately sued to keep glyphosate off the list
of known carcinogens. CA EPA has already listed tetrachlorvinphos, parathion and malathion and
carcinogens under Proposition 65.
Despite this grave warning, the City of Long Beach and the Long Beach Unified School District continue
to spray RoundUP in the places where our children play sports such as soccer and baseball, roll in the
grass and do all the other things kids like to do.
Let's Not Wait Any Longer:
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that there is no safe level of pesticide exposure for children.
Children are especially vulnerable to the impact of these toxins as they take in more pesticides relative
to their body weight, are more physical in their environment and their bodies are still developing. Pets
and vulnerable populations such as the elderly are also particularly at risk.
But as Dr. Bruce Blumberg, Ph.D, UCI Professor of Development and Cell Biology and Professor of
Pharmaceutical Sciences warns: "The major challenge with showing that a chemical causes cancer in
humans (as opposed to animals) is that the cancer typically develops many years after exposure."

Long Beach Coalition for Non Toxic Parks and Schools

Our goal is to make certain that toxic substances are not utilized in or around our public parks or schools
as there is sufficient scientific evidence that these substances can cause cancer, especially in children.
Cities across the U.S. are banning the use of these substances. It is time for Long Beach to do the same.
The City of Irvine on February 23, 2016 unanimously approved an organic landscaping policy for its more
than 570 acres of parks and 800 acres of right-of-way, 70,000 trees and nearly 1.5 million square feet of
facilities. It is estimated that a switch to non-toxic landscaping alternatives will require the use of 30%
less water.
The City of Long Beach and Long Beach Unified School District needs to do the same now.
The Long Beach Coalition for Non Toxic Parks and Schools is a group of concerned residents who request
the following actions:
Long Beach City Council
1. The City Council shall request the City Manager to immediately stop the spraying of glyphosate
in public areas.
2. The City Council shall request the City Manager to release to the public, the City's Integrated
Pest Management Policy for landscape maintenance functions on City property so that the
public can find out how the City focuses on long term prevention or suppression of pest
problems with minimum impact on human health, the environment and on non-target
organisms with the limited use of pesticides.
3. The City Council shall request the City Manager to verify in writing that employees and
contracted employees are fully complying with California law and regulations concerning the:
a. Training required for those who apply pesticides or herbicides;
b. Licensure/certification for each applicator and evidence of completion of continuing
education requirements;
c. Issuance and use of required safety gloves and eye wear;
d. Clear labeling of any truck or container used to spray pesticides or herbicides;
e. Posting of where emergency medical information can be sought in the workers'
vehicles;
f. Public posting in advance of the spraying with notice as to what the substance is and
when the substance was applied so that park users can determine if the substance has
adequately dried;
g. Evidence that applicators are properly cleaning and storing equipment and unused
pesticides and herbicides;
h. Any and all requirements in 3 CCR section 6724, including records of when and where
pesticides and herbicides have been applied on City of Long Beach properties.

Long Beach Coalition for Non Toxic Parks and Schools

Our goal is to make certain that toxic substances are not utilized in or around our public parks or schools
as there is sufficient scientific evidence that these substances can cause cancer, especially in children.
Cities across the U.S. are banning the use of these substances. It is time for Long Beach to do the same.
4. The City Council shall refer to the Board of Health and Human Services and the Parks and
Recreation Commission a request to conduct public meetings within 90 days on the issue the
current use of toxic chemicals on City properties and recommendations for replacing them with
organic alternatives and to report such findings to the City Council
Long Beach Unified School District
1. The Board of Education shall request the Superintendent of Schools to immediately stop the
spraying of glyphosate in school areas and shall release to the public, the District's Integrated
Pest Management Policy for landscape maintenance functions on School District property so
that the public can find out how the School District focuses on long term prevention or
suppression of pest problems with minimum impact on human health, the environment and on
non-target organisms with the limited use of pesticides.
2. The Board of Education shall hold a special public meeting to discuss how the School District will
develop a policy that will eliminate the use of all toxic chemicals on School District properties,
and replace them with organic alternatives.

Sincerely,
Members, LB Coalition for Non Toxic Schools and Parks
nontoxiclb@gmail.com
CC:
Medical Director, Childrens' Clinic of Long Beach
Editors: Press Telegram, LBReport, LBPost, Grunion Gazette, Beachcomber, Signal Hill Tribune