R017-9900
10 A RESOLUTION CONCERNING A 20 UNITED STATES INITIATIVE IN ELIMINATING PERSISTANT 30 ORGANIC POLLUTANTS 40 WHEREAS: Scientific evidence has proven that human exposure to low doses 50 of Persistent Organic Pollutants, often referred to as POPs, can 60 lead to cancer, central and peripheral nervous system damage, 70 immune deficiencies, reproductive disorders, and interference 80 with infant and child development; and, 90 WHEREAS: These Persistent Organic Pollutants, primarily aldrin, chlordane, 100 DDT, diedrin, dioxins, endrin, furans, heptachlor, 110 hexachlorobenzene, mirex, and toxaphene, are released into the 120 environment through pesticide use; and, 130 WHEREAS: When released through pesticide use, these POPs persist for years 140 in the environment due to their chemical stability, which results in 150 their potency; and, 160 WHEREAS: These POPs are circulated, globally, through processes known as 170 the "grasshopper effect" and bio-accumulation; and, 180 WHEREAS: The "grasshopper effect" is a repeated and, often, seasonal series 190 of evaporations and deposits that result in POPs being transported, 200 through the atmosphere, to regions far away from the original 210 source; and, 220 WHEREAS: Bioaccumulation of these POPs is a result of the absorption of 230 POPs in the fatty tissue of humans and other species after 240 consumption of material containing the POPs. Concentrations of 250 POPs can become magnified to 70,000 times the background value 260 or original dose after being absorbed in fatty tissue; and, 270 WHEREAS: Fish, predatory birds, mammals, and humans absorb the greatest 280 concentration of these POPs and when these species travel, the 290 bio-accumulated POPs travel with them; and, 300 WHEREAS: The results of the "grasshopper effect" and bioaccumulation have 310 resulted in a global problem that threatens the health of every 320 species, regardless of region or climate; and, 330 WHEREAS: The United States of America, as a primary producer of these 340 POPs and an influential actor in international relations, could lead 350 the international community in preventing the production, use, and 360 stockpiling of POP-containing materials. 370 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Maryland Student Legislature 380 strongly urge the United States of America to ban the production, 390 use, and stock-piling of the following Persistent Organic 400 Pollutants within the country: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, diedrin, 420 dioxins, endrin, furans, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, and 430 toxaphene; and, 440 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Maryland Student Legislature 450 strongly urges the Government of the United States of America to 460 negotiate market-based strategies such as subsidies or tax breaks 470 for pesticide companies that practice healthy removal of current 480 stocks of POP- containing material; and, 490 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Maryland Student Legislature 500 strongly urges the Environmental Protection Agency of the United 510 States of America to initiate a nationwide awareness campaign to 520 educate the general public on the health hazards associated with 530 the continued use of Persistent Organic pollutants; and, 540 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Maryland Student Legislature 550 strongly urges the United States of America to introduce a 560 international protocol to the United Nations Environmental 570 Program Director that will call for the international ban of the said 580 known Persistent Organic Pollutants. 590 MANDATES: President William Jefferson Clinton 600 Vice President Al Gore 610 Secretary of State Madeline Albright 620 Director, Environmental Protection Agency 630 Director, United Nations Environment Program 640 Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Dennis Hestert 650 Senate Majority Leader, Trent Lott 660 Senate Minority Leader, Thomas Daschle 670 Honorable Representative, Roscoe G. Bartlett 680 Honorable Representative, Robert Erlich Sponsored by: Jeremiah Kelly Delegation Chairperson Western Maryland College 2 College Hill Westminster, MD 21157 (410) 751-8114 jjk001@wmdc.edu