Microsoft Word - Health Care Letter

Winter 2007

Dear Governor Gregoire and Washington State Legislators:

We would like to invite you to share in our vision of a Washington that is free of harmful toxic

chemicals. As health professionals, we urge you to take an imperative step towards this goal, by

eliminating all forms of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) through legislative action in the

upcoming 2007 session.

PBDEs, widely used as flame retardants, are linked to harmful health impacts, including learning

and behavioral disorders, and memory impairments. PBDEs are associated with disruption of thyroid

function, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in humans, and a variety of cancers in rodents

. Devastatingly,

those most at risk are those who depend on us for protection: developing fetuses, infants and

young children.

A growing body of research indicates that PBDEs are building up in people's bodies, in animals,

and in the environment. A recent study of ten Washingtonians found PBDEs present in every person

tested. A Seattle physician, Dr. Patricia Dawson, had levels of PBDEs that were three times the national

levels

. PBDEs are also present in the breastmilk of Northwest mothers at levels 20 to 40 times higher

than levels found in Europe or Japan. Recent studies show high concentrations of PBDEs throughout the

Puget Sound food web, including in salmon and orca whales.

Ubiquitous exposures to PBDEs are magnified for some children by take-home contamination

from parents occupationally exposed to PBDEs. This worker safety issue goes beyond the workplace,

impacting not only the employee, but also infants, children and families.

New studies add to the body of evidence indicating that the deca-PBDE breaks down into other,

more harmful forms of PBDEs that have already been banned. This debromination has been

documented to occur not only in the environment, but also in our bodies.

Prevention is the key. Though we cannot reverse the damage that has already been done to

children who suffer from environmentally-linked birth defects and developmental disorders, we can

prevent further harm and protect future generations by banning all forms of PBDEs, including deca.

Taking action now is vital for our children’s health. Washington’s major health associations

support phasing out all forms of PBDEs, including deca, and encouraging safer alternative products and

processes that maintain existing fire safety standards. These organizations include The Washington

Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, The Washington State Medical Association, The

Washington Academy of Family Physicians, The Washington State Nurses Association, The

Washington State Public Health Association, and the Washington State Association of Occupational

Health Nurses.

For the sake of the estimated 300,000 children in Washington who struggle with developmental,

learning and behavioral abnormalities and for the sake of their families, we must act now to eliminate all

forms of PBDEs. We have the science in hand to take action, and we must shoulder the responsibility to

do so. Please help protect our children by supporting legislation to ban PBDEs, including deca, in the

2007 legislative session. Thank you for your time and attention to this pressing issue.

Sincerely,

The following 297 Washington health professionals:

A. Christopher Olson, MD, MHPA

President, Washington Chapter

American Academy of Pediatrics

Spokane

W. Hugh Maloney Jr, MD

President, Washington State

Medical Association

Barry Lawson, MD

Washington Chapter

American Academy of Pediatrics

Bellevue

Roger Rosenblatt, MD, MPH, MFR

Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Family

Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Public Health &

Forestry, Seattle

Laura Hart, MD

President, Washington Physicians for Social

Responsibility

Richard Grady, MD

Pediatric Urologist

Seattle

Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT

INND (Institute of Neurotoxicology &

Neurological Disorders)

Seattle

Karen R. Bowman, MN, RN, COHN-S

President-Elect, WA State Assoc. of

Occupatioal Health Nurses; President, Karen

Bowman & Associates, Inc.; Seattle

Joanna Garritano Roger, MD

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Bainbridge

Catherine Karr, MD PhD MS

Seattle

Nancy Danoff, MD

Seattle

Sue Heffernan, RN, MN

Children's Hospital, Seattle

Judy Huntington, MN, RN

Executive Director

Washington State Nurses Association

Janet McTurnal, RN

President, Washington State Association of

Occupational Health Nurses

Patricia W. Wahl, PhD

Dean, School of Public Health and Community

Medicine Professor of Biostatistics,

University of Washington

Jay Fathi, MD

Chief, Dept. of Family Medicine,

Swedish Medical Center, Seattle

Thomas A. Preston, MD

King County Medical Society

Maxine Hayes, MD, MPH

L.B. Sandy Rock, MD, MPH

Richland

William Greene, MD

Spokane

Stephanie R. Develle, MD, FAAP

Children's Hospital; Evergreen Hospital

Sally Goodwin, MD

Clinton

Patricia Butterfield, PhD, RN; Seattle

Sara Cate, MD

Yakima

Thomas C Hall, MD

Bellingham

Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD; Seattle

Jean H. Marshall, MD

Supporting Family Physician, Bellevue

Mary Ann O'Hara, MD, MPH, MSt, FABM

Seattle

Jeffrey Roger, MD

Bainbridge Island

J.David Heywood, MD

Kirkland

Katie Hester, ND, ARNP

Seattle

Elise Miller, M,Ed.

Exec. Dir, Institute for Children’s

Environmental Health, Freeland

Michelle Batts, RN

Bainbridge Island

Marilyn Ahearn, MD

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital

Tacoma

Thomas Griffith, ND

Olympia

Robert Haynes, MD

Kirkland

Steve Bentley, RN

Seattle

Matthew Bouthillel, RN

Seatle

Gudrun Murti, MD

Seattle

Tim Takaro, MD, MPH

Jim Trombold, MD

Mercer Island

Roy Farrell, MD

Seattle

Shana Carey, RN

VMMC

Chris Carlsten, MD MPH

Seattle

Joan Garner, MN, RN

Director of Education and Practice

Washington State Nurses Association

Hilke Faber, MN, RN

Assistant Director of Education and Practice

Washington State Nurses Association

Sunil Aggarwal, MS-3, PhC (Medical

Geography), Univ of WA; Immediate Past

President, WA Physicians for Social

Responsibility, Seattle

Janet Primomo, PhD, RN

Assoc. Prof. UW Tacoma

Seattle

Lynn K. Edwards, MD

Seattle

Ingeborg Cox, MD

Senior Fellow OEMP

Seattle

Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, FACEP

Seattle

Linda Culp, RN

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

David W. Dabell, MD

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Gerri Haynes, RN

Kirkland

Michael Mayo, MD

Seattle

Paris DeLuz, CAN, EMT-B

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seatle

Martin D. Fleck,

Executive Director, Washington

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Steve Tarnoff, MD

Seattle

Rick Ingrasci, M.D., M.P.H.

Langley

David Frank, MD

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Alivia Dnaskin, Nursing Student, LMT

Bellingham

Thuy Do, Medical Student, University of WA

Seattle

Samuel Donohoe, MS-2, University of WA

Seattle

Nancy Enz Lill, RDMS

Deaconess Medical Center

Spokane

Jodi Freeman, CPNP

Pediatric Clinic, Inc

Longview

Marnie Frisch, ND

Shoreline

Mary Sue Galvin, RN, ARNP

Seattle

Kenneth B. Gass, MD, PhD

Bellingham

Katherine German, RN

VA Hospital

Bellevue

Christin Gordaries, RN, BSM

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Catherine Del Secco, PA-C

Seattle

Therese Grant, PhD

University of Washington; Seattle

Charles E. Weems, MD

Seattle

Jennifer Hampton, BS, RN Student

Bellingham

Janice Hartung, ARNP

Family Nurse Practitioner

Olympia

Tracy Hendershott, Physical Therapist

Woodinville

Diane Henderson, RN

Seattle

David Hendricks, RN, BSN

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Krista Heron, ND, DHANP

Seattle

Marilyn Hicks, RN

Des Moines

George T. Johnson, MD

Seattle

Nita Hoines, RN

Seattle

Jan Hollingsworth, OHN RN

Group Health

Srdjan Jelacic, MD

Seattle

Gloria Gates, RN

Seattle

Eloise Kailin, MD

Sequim

Lisa Kalutson, RN

Seattle

Evan Kanter, MD, PhD

Seattle

Karl Kamps, EMT

Virginia Mason Medical Center,US Army

Ross Klein, PA-C, MHS

Seattle

Pete Knutson, MA EDWC

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Christine Lang, MD

Seattle

James R. McGrath, MD

Redmond

Jesusa T. Laurel, RN

Seattle

Tonya LeGore, RN

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

David Lerner, M.TCM., L.Ac.

Seattle

Susan Leupold, RN

Seattle

Dorothy Li, MD

Seattle

Amy Logan, WCC Student Nurse

Ferndale

Kara Lolley, ND LAc

Whole Health Partners

Yakima

Gonya Loobey, SN

Bellingham

Luke Magnotto, MD

Bainbridge

Toni Marthaller-Andersen, MSN, ARNP,

FNP-C; South Whidbey Community Clinic

Kathleen B. Mason, RN

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Cindy McCarthy, RN, MBA, MHA

Seattle

Robin Cooke, RN student

Bellingham

Julie McCormick, DO

Seattle

Kami McKinzey, CDPT

Spokane

Joshua Michael, MD

Emergency Dept, Virginia Mason

Seattle

Rachelle Michelon, BS,RN

Seattle

Meghan Miley, Nursing Student

Bellingham

Chris Moore, PhD, MD

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Bainbridge Island

Jessica Bauser, RN student WCC

Bellingham

Larry E. Moss, MD

Bellingham

Rory Murphy,

Seattle

Barbara Myers, RN

Seattle

Giao Nguyen, MD

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Betty Carlisle, MD

South Bend

Jamie Notzka, PA-C, MHS

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Bill Osmunson, DDS, MPH

Bellevue

Tracy Ouellette, MD

Bellingham

Becca Laughlin, WCC Nursing Student

Bellingham

Catherine Peng, RN

Seattle

Jo Burillo

Virginia Mason Med Ctr, Seattle

Michelle Nelson, RN student

Tammy Pham, ER Tech

Seattle

Kim Poppy,

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Lisa Porad, M.S, L.Ac

Seattle

Jennifer Johnson Public Health Educator,

Olympia

Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, ND

Jeaux Rinehart, RN, BSN, PHN

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Nenette P. Rivera, RN

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

John W. Roberts, MS, MEd

Sammamish

Chelley Rohrig, RN, MeD, COHN-S

Sarah Rosenbloom, RN, BSN, CDE

Evergreen Healthcare, Monroe

John Wacambra, MD

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Maila Rumbaua, ED Tech, LPN

Seattle

Christine Sexauer, RN

Seattle

Joy Sgobba, ER Tech, EMT, HM3 US Navy,

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Susan Sheldon, PhD, FACMG

Seattle

Candace Spears, BSN,RN

Des Moines

Cary A. Stevenson, RN

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Elizabeth Stevees, RN

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Bethany Sullivan, Nursing Student

Bellingham

Erica Sutehall, BSN,RN

Virginia Mason Med Ctr, Seattle

Essie Swanson, P.T.

Essie Swanson Physical Therapy

Kirkland

Shelly Waldern, ARNP

VMMC and Meadowbrook Urgent Care

Seattle

Anastacia Wall, PA-S

University of Washington, Seattle

Sonja Olson, MD

Seattle

Cindy Walsh, RN

Seattle

Jenny Greenwood

Pediatric Physical Therapist

Spokane

Bronwyn Watson, Nursing Student

Bellingham

Susan Weissman, PAC

VMMC

Seattle

Dana Weldon, Nursing Student

Bellingham

Dana Kelly, RN Kelly, RN

Paul R. Whaley

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Andrea Wenger Hess, RD, CDE

Certified Solution® Provider

Lisa Whatley, RN, BSN, IBCLC

Evergreen Hospital Medical Center

Kirkland

Crystal Wilson, HUC

VMMC

Seattle

Miriam Epstein-Stiles, BSN,RN

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Mary K. Cer, RN

Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle

Jane Wright, RN

Donna Yancey, RN

Seattle

Julie Postma, PhD, RN

Seattle

Richard E. Rust, MD

Shoreline

Betty Bekemeier, MPH, MSN

Lecturer, Health Services; School of Public

Health & Community Medicine

University of WA

Mary K. Salazar, PhD, RN, COHN-S

Maia Dianne Syfers, ARNP

Nurse Practitioner for Planned Parenthood of

Western Washington, Vashon

Thomas S. Catalina, MPAS, PA-C, CPT,

Ret.USA, VMMC, Seattle

Bonnie Ryding, ARNP

Olympia

Butch deCastro, PhD, MSN/MPH, RN

Seattle

Thomas A. Carson, RN

Bellingham

Mark Vossler, MD

Kirkland

Molly Parker, MD, MPH

Seattle

Monica C. Murray, PT, CEAS

Vashon

Shanon Sidell

Bastyr Univ, ND Candidate

Kenmore

Jane B. Pearson, ND

Poulsbo

Sandra Wells

Director of Nursing, Heritage College,

Toppenish

Kathleen Stimpfle, RN

Autism Society of WA, Spokane Chapter

Diane Dakin, MD

Olympia

Penny Woodruff RN MS

Nursing Program Dir.

Grays Harbor Coll. Aberdeen

David C. Hall, MD

Seattle

Stasia Warren, MN, RN

Spokane

William Mitchell, ND

Seattle

Anne M. Hirsch, DNS, ARNP

Spokane

Louise Kaplan, PhD, ARNP

WSNA, Olympia

Christine Stubbe

Bastyr Univ, ND Candidate

Kirkland

Mary Hemme, RN, CDE

Wenatchee

Karen Landenburger, RN, PhD

Assoc. Professor, Univ of WA,

Tacoma

Joan M. Guercia, RN, MSN

Clinical Education Program

Richland

Michael Neely, DC

Olympia

Mary Laurette Gallo, RN

Eastsound

Maggie Flanagan, RN, BSN

Fox Island

Christopher Covert-Bowlds, MD

Seattle King County Health Dept

Debra Wilson, RN

Olympia

Eddy Cates, MD

Olympia

Kate Vidales, OTR/L

Pediatric OT

Olympia

Annie Bruck, MN, RN, COHN-S

Shirley I. Carstens, RN, MS, NCSN, FNASN

Tacoma

David Koch, MD

Bellingham

Joyce Burt, RN, BSN

RNC certification in Women's Health Care;

Student MSN program Seattle Pacific Univ.

Steve Laney, MD

Spokane

James Krieger, MD, MPH

Chief, Epidemiology Planning and Evaluation

Unit; Public Health - Seattle and King County

Jeri Hodgin, RN

Highline School District, Seattle

Rosemarie Dunlop, RN, BSN

NSD, Kirkland

Jill Workman, BSN, RN

South Whidbey School District

Langley

Martha Anderson, RN, BSN

School Nurse, Ellen Ochoa Middle School

Pasco School District

Maureen Niland, PhD, RN, CNAA

Seattle

Janna Chao, MD

Country Doctor Community Clinic

Seattle

Diane Yelish, RN

School Nurse

Linda Nunn, RN

Shelton View Elementary School Nurse

Jean Erickson, RN

Vancouver

Masahiro Takakura, ND

Kirkland

Diane Tufel, PA-C

Country Doctor Cty Clinic, Seattle

Kim Waldman, RN

Country Doctor Community Clinic

Seattle

Diane Timberlake, MD

Seattle

Sarah Hufbauer, MD

Seattle

Linda Condit, RN

School Nurse, Shoreline School District

Linda Westbrook, RN, PhD

Seattle

Cameron Winter, PA-C

Seattle

Selina Mohammed, PhD, RN

Seattle

Eddie Gonzalez, RN

Oak Harbor

Caroline Worsham, RN

Seattle

Judee Tucker, RN

Marysville

Brian Cooke, RN

Everett

Lindsey Finstermaker, RN

Arlington

Lena Hristova

Nursing Student, Univ of WA Bothell

Mukilteo

Abeba Abraha

Nursing Student, Univ of WA Bothell

Mountlake Terrace

Nurith St. Pierre, PA-C

Country Doctor Community Clinic

Seattle

Maureen Foley, ARNP

Seattle

Abigail Halperin, MD, MPH

Seattle

Frederic Overstreet, MD

Carolyn Downs Community Clinic

Seattle

Mark Ochenrider, MD

Kirkland

Nelly Deutsch, RN

Kirkland

S. Lisa Davison, MD

Middle Way Medicine Seattle

Leslie DeGasparis, ND

Seattle

Jessica Subblefield, ND

Seattle

Karyn White, ND

Olympia

Patricia Perry, RN, CCRW

Tukwila

Carol Lund, RN

Sammamish

Theresa Barcharger, RN, CEN

Kenmore

Rebecca Sindberg, RN

Langley

Michele Campbell, ND

Seattle

Ivy Housden, RN

Kirkland

JoAnna T. Forwell, ND

Seattle

Timothy Ehling, RN

Seattle

June Altoras, RN, BSN

Bothell

Takla Gardy, MD

Seattle

Jake Donaldson

MS-3 Univ of WA, Seattle

Nancy Christensen, RN

Kenmore

Jennifer Osborne, RN

Seattle

Mark Glover, RN

Woodinville

Scott R. Sanderson

MS-3 Univ of WA, Seattle

Deborah E. Peterman, MPH

President, Deborah E Peterman & Assoc.

Health Care Consultant, North Bend

Martina Keller, MD

Seattle

Melissa Minoff, ND

Seattle

Jill Bayha, RN

Arlington

Kim Olson, RN

Marysville

Danielle V. Brown, BA,MA; MD/PhD Student,

University of WA; Seattle

Diana R. Rauch, RN

Colfax

Susan Bayes, RN

Edmonds

Sarah Zerkel, RN

Lake Forest Park

Catherine Orsi, ND

Seattle

Stephanie Maxwell

Virginia Mason Med Ctr, Seattle

Carolyn Starr

Virginia Mason Med Ctr, Seattle

Jessica Banser, RN Student WCC

Bellingham

Alivia Danskin, LMT, Nursing Student

Bellingham

Sharon Bradley, RN, MNS

Spokane

Timothy Batiste, LMP

Clinton

Jennifer Berlin

Certified Surgical Technologist

Gig Harbor

Loren Riccio, ND

Seattle

Aaron Katz, CPH

Seattle

Michelle Simon, ND, PhD

Seattle

Carol Childress, RN

Mt. Vernon

Margo Collins, RN

Marysville

Abby Collins, RN

Seattle

Betsy MacGregor, MD

Langley

Irma Knepper, RN

Snohomish

Robert Jangaard, ND

Freeland

Stephanie R. Calliso, RN

Snohomish

Karen Johnson, ARNP

Country Doctor Community Clinic

Seattle

Harold Moore, MD

Country Doctor Cty Clinic, Seattle

Michael K. Copass, MD

Wayne L. Attwood, MD

Spokane

Nancy Beudet, MS, CIH

Seattle

Mary V. Butler, BSN,RN

Lynden

Cheri Zehner, MPH

Mercer Island

Kirk Prindle, MD

Kirkland

George Hill, MD

Steilacoom

Nancy Starr, MD

Spokane

Mark Johnson, MD

Seattle

John Neff, MD

Seattle

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Note: This petition has been signed by

individuals. Their views do not necessarily

represent the organizations, agencies or

institutions with which they are affiliated.

Darnerud, P.O., et. al. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers:

Occurrence, Dietary Exposure and Toxicology,

Environmental Health Perspectives Journal 2001; 109

(Supplement 1) p. 49-68.

Schreder, Erika, “Pollution in People: A Study of Toxic

Chemicals in Washingtonians”, May 2006.

www.pollutioninpeople.org

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