GOING GREEN
chops it into bite-size bits the rest of us can crine disruptor. understand. She then presents it in a cool, Just this spring, the President’s Cancer calm and powerfully poised argument. Panel submitted its report “Reducing EnviThe film corroborates a connection be- ronmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do tween cancer and her hometown’s polluted Now,” assessing the effects of environmental waters from PCBs (a class of manmade exposures on cancer risk. An elite group of chemicals used in flame retardants, paint, doctors selected by both President Obama adhesives, etc.) and the ubiquitous con- and former President George Bush sat on tamination from atrazine, the second most the panel. The report states: “The entire widely used weed killer in the world. Atra- U.S. population is exposed on a daily basis zine is used on more than three-quarters of to numerous agricultural chemicals, some the cornfields in Illinois. of which are also used in Bay Area biologist Tyresidential and commercial rone Hayes makes a camlandscaping. Many of these eo appearance highlightchemicals have known or ing his research studying suspected carcinogenic frogs that have changed or endocrine-disrupting sex from atrazine expoproperties. Pesticides (insure. We’re introduced secticides, herbicides and to poor, oblivious Darfungicides) approved for nell, the first frog in the use by the U.S. EnvironUC Berkeley lab experimental Protection Agency ment to be exposed to (EPA) contain nearly 900 atrazine at one part per active ingredients, many of A family history of cancer might have explained Steingraber’s diagnosis at age 20—except for the fact that she was adopted. billion, as a tadpole. which are toxic.” A consenDarnell started out male sus statement was signed but has grown into an by many members of the adult female with ovacancer research and advories. He now births male cacy community and subfrogs that are female as mitted to the President’s Steingraber doc puts moral imperative on well. (I know. It hurts my Cancer Panel. It concluded LIVING DOWNSTREAM head, too.) “Why is this with, “The most direct way banning cancer-causing chemicals The film screens at the Biimportant? Changing to prevent cancer is to stop oneers Conference, Saturday, testosterone into estrogen putting cancer-causing by Annie Spie ge lman Oct. 16, at 6:30pm in the is very important because agents into our indoor and Santa Rosa Room of the Marin breast cancer is often esoutdoor environments in Center, 10 Avenue of the trogen-dependent,” says the first place.” hen I was invited to a private stream, originally published in 1997.) The Flags, San Rafael. Visit www. Hayes. “We use the same TA-DA! screening of Living Downstream, film weaves in scientific research and bioneers.org/marinconferhormones, have many of “The mounting evithe new documentary about bi- interviews with several experts in the fields ence, for more information. the same genes and we use dence that our environologist, author and cancer survivor San- of toxicology and medicine along with the Visit www.Livingdownthe same water as these ment is playing a bigger dra Steingraber, I was a personal story of Steinstream.com to learn more, frogs. In agricultural areas role in the story of cancer bit hesitant. The showgraber’s struggle with find or create a local screensuch as Salinas, all those than previously supposed ing was sponsored by the bladder cancer. WatchCOMING SOON ing or to order the DVD and pesticides that have run is good news because we Breast Cancer Fund and ing her attend periodic Sandra Steingraber will be supplementary resources to off the crops are in the can do something about Pesticide Action Network cancer check-ups shows speaking in San Francisco on educate others. water destroying immune it. The cynical joke that North America, two orthe harsh reality of what Thursday, Oct. 28, 7:30pm, at systems, destroying re‘everything causes cancer’ ganizations that like to a cancer patient and the Jewish Community Center. production and lowering is not true,” says Steinscare me out of my comher family must endure, For tickets, visit www.ecosperm counts in frogs. But the fi rst species graber. “Most of the chemicals implicated placency. Both groups are always wondering if the birth.blogspot.com, http:// that are exposed to those same pesticides are as carcinogens are derived from the same determined to make us next phone call is going tickets.jccsf.org/public/hall. humans and they’re exposed at much, much sources as those responsible for climate aware of the latest medito bring them bad news asp or call 415/292-1233. higher levels.” change; coal and petroleum. Finding subcal and scientific studies from the pathology lab. Atrazine, sold by Syngenta, is illegal to use stitutes for these two substances is already linked to cancer, our enSteingraber, raised in in Switzerland, the country where on the collective to-do list. Investing in vironment and our colIllinois, was it is made, and in 2004 it was green energy is therefore also an investlective health. They want diagnosed To many of banned in the entire European ment in cancer prevention.” us to wake up, pay attention and become when she was 20. Many of her Union. In March 2010, 16 cities Living Downstream was produced by us, Sandra an educated, clued-in society. SAY WHAT? close family members also in the Midwest sued the company The People’s Picture Company of Toronto, But that would mean turning off Dancing struggle with the disease; but Steingraber is for contaminating their drinking an award-winning independent producwith the Stars and Jersey Shore. while cancer runs in the family, our modern-day water. In the last few years, Pro- tion company that specializes in thoughtNote to self: We are doomed... she cannot say cancer is in her fessor Hayes has testified at vari- provoking documentary films. The film’s Rachel Carson. Living Downstream is a poignant, genes. Steingraber is adopted. ous Senate hearings claiming the director, Chanda Chevannes, spent four enlightening and visually graceful docuThus, she asks, “What do we all EPA is accepting flawed chemical years bringing the book to the screen. “I’ve mentary that was released earlier this year. share in common?” Her meticulous scienindustry-funded studies as evidence of atra- always been interested in biology and the The film is based on Steingraber’s widely tific research points to our contaminated zine’s safety. Hayes resigned from Syngenta environment, and like most of us, I have acclaimed book of the same title. (Coinenvironment. To many of us, Sandra Steinciding with the release of the movie is an graber is our modern-day Rachel Carson. Crop Protection in 2000 because the company cancer in my family. I first read Sandra updated second edition of Living DownShe takes technical theory and data and prevented him from presenting research data Steingraber’s book when I was just out of that showed the herbicide to be a potent endo- high school,” says Chevannes. “My first
‘Stream’ of conscience
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14 PACIFIC SUN OCTOBER 15 - OCTOBER 21, 2010