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TO: Senator the Honourable Kay Patterson
Minister for Family and Community Services;
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues

CC: Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon Tony Abbott, MP

Re: TOXIN INDUCED DISEASE IN THE COMMUNITY

Dear Minister,

Toxin induced disease has long been known as an issue related to workplace exposure, yet some studies show that levels of toxins e.g. formaldehyde, can actually be higher in the home than in the workplace. Issues related to indoor air quality and health impacts are now well established (1.)

Because of the explosion of man made substances in food, water, air, furnishings, disinfectants, toiletries, cosmetics and other consumer products, we are experiencing elevations in exposures that are causing much pain and suffering in the form of diseases such as allergy, asthma, heart disease, cancer and others (2.)

This is an ongoing problem that affects many in the community yet there is no whole of government approach to the matter.

There are no public health measures in place to protect the community from many exposures and little provision in any part of the medical establishment to help sufferers of toxin induced disease, e.g. exposure to agricultural chemical spray drift or harmful consumer products. In some cases, health problems following exposure are severe and result in the inability to work with obvious loss of income.

As many effective treatments are expensive and not provided under Medicare, some individuals are unable to access necessary health care. Instead, they are locked into chronic debilitating ill health, including severe pain conditions, from which they can obtain no relief.

In many contacts with the Therapeutic Goods Authority, they have been unable to provide assistance with health problems, in particular, appropriate medical care to relieve their pain and suffering following exposure to toxic substances.

Schools in particular are in need of guidelines to protect children with health problems aggravated by toxic substances, such as asthma, and learning disorders.

I therefore request that National Health & Medical Research Council establish a Working Group and set up a consultation process with the community to seriously address the problem of toxin induced disease and ease the pain and suffering of those whose health has been damaged.

Add you own comments here:

Yours sincerely

References:
1. US Environmental Protection Agency. 2001. An introduction to indoor air quality.
www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html
2. Bernard, S L et al. 2001. The Potential Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Air Pollution-Related Health Effects in the United States. Environmental Health Perspectives. 109, Supplement 2, May
3. Lloyd, A and Pender, H. 1992. The economic impact of chronic fatigue syndrome. Medical Journal of Australia. 157: 599-601, November 2.
Rutherford, S. et al. 2000. Relationship between environmental factors and lung function of asthmatic subjects in South East Queensland, Australia. J Occup Environ Med. 42:882-891.