Clean Food Earth: 8/21/16

Monday, August 22, 2016

CA CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA STUDY ON #GLYPHOSATE

Analysis of glyphosate in residential dust samples and risk of childhood leukemia in the California Childhood Leukemia Study

Solicitation Number: N02RC62644-24

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: National Institutes of Health
Location: National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions

Print
Link

Copy or Bookmark this Page

Copy the url below for a direct link to this page.

Bookmark this page by right-clicking here and choosing "Add Link to Bookmarks"

Solicitation Number:

Notice Type:

Synopsis:

Added: Aug 19, 2016 1:42 pm

Contracting Office Address

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Room 1E226, Bethesda, MD 20892, UNITED STATES

Description
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch (OEEB) plans to procure services to measure the herbicide glyphosate in 89 homes from a case-control study of childhood leukemia (the California Childhood Leukemia Study) on a sole source basis from Batelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201, United States.
The purpose of this acquisition is to complete the analyses of dust samples in order to evaluate risk of childhood leukemia.

This acquisition will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures as stated in FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1) and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System code is 541380 and the business size standard is $14.0 million.

Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. It will be awarded as a firm fixed price type contract.

It has been determined there are no opportunities to acquire green products or services for this procurement.

OEEB conducts studies of cancer and environmental exposures to pesticides. Residential herbicide use is a suspected risk factor for childhood leukemia; however, the specific chemicals that might be responsible for this association have not been completely evaluated. The DCEG plans to evaluate the association between levels of glyphosate in homes and the association with childhood leukemia risk among participants of a case-control study of childhood leukemia in California (the California Childhood Leukemia Study [CCLS]), which was conducted by the DCEG in collaboration with University of California Berkeley from 2001 through 2007. Dust samples were collected in a second home interview for residentially stable cases and controls ages 0-7 years of age diagnosis (similar reference date for controls).
Prior analyses of pesticides in the dust samples did not include measurement of glyphosate, a herbicide used in many lawn treatment products and on agricultural crops. A recent evaluation by the International Agency for Research on Cancer determined that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans based on epidemiology and mechanistic studies. In prior analyses of dust samples from this study by the DCEG, five (5) herbicides were measured including 2,4-D, MCPA, dicamba, dacthal, and simazine but only dacthal was associated with leukemia risk. Because self-reported treatment of lawn weeds was associated with increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in this study population and because glyphosate is the second most common herbicide found in products for treating lawn and garden areas in this study population (after 2,4-D), the DCEG intends to measure glyphosate levels in homes in order to evaluate the relationship with ALL. In the first phase of this study it was found that glyphosate was detected in over 80% of homes. DCEG plans to analyze an additional 89 samples to increase our power to evaluate childhood leukemia risk and to evaluate determinants of glyphosate levels in homes.

The California Childhood Leukemia study was conducted in 35 counties in California and glyphosate was the one major pesticide that was not previously measured in dust samples from the homes of cases and controls. Accurately measured levels of pesticides and chemicals in the homes are critical to properly assess these exposures as risk factors for childhood leukemia. Battelle Memorial Institute is proposed as the laboratory to conduct the glyphosate measurements for this procurement. Battelle Memorial Institute conducted all the prior analysis of dust samples for over 40 pesticides and other chemicals with good quality control results and low detection limits. Battelle has extensive and unique experience in the measurement of glyphosate in house dust samples from large studies that is not available from any other potential contract source. They are in a unique position to conduct the work because they are the only known laboratory with the demonstrated expertise and experience to conduct these measurements. They actively developed and tested the methodology to measure glyphosate in house dust samples as part of their research program.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party, especially small businesses, believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. The statement of capabilities and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. Responses must be received in the contracting office by 12:00 PM EST, on September 2, 2016. All responses and questions can be emailed to Kimesha Leake, Contract Specialist via electronic mail at kimesha.leake@nih.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, contractors must be registered and have valid certification in the System for Award Management (SAM) through sam.gov. Reference: N02RC62644-24 on all correspondence.

Contracting Office Address:

Primary Point of Contact.:

Secondary Point of Contact:

EPA ADMITS #GLYPHOSATE #ROUNDUP USE IS OUT OF CONTROL

Press Release: Widespread Misuse of Roundup

MOMS ACROSS AMERICA·WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016

For Immediate Release: April 19, 2016

Contact: Blair Fitzgibbon, 202-503-6141

EPA Admits Widespread Misuse of Roundup Herbicide Must Stop

Confirms that Label Says People & Pets Must Be Kept Away Until Spray is Dried

Groups Demand Immediate National Street Closures & Barriers for Safety

Washington, DC - The EPA’s recent review of the labeling of the herbicide Roundup has major implications nationwide. Announced by Mom Across America activist Anne Temple at the January Monsanto shareholder meeting as a point of concern, the widespread misuse of glyphosate based herbicides is practiced in nearly every town of America. On December 29th, 2015, the federal EPA Office of Pesticides Program in Washington DC confirmed that they expect all applicators of Roundup, which contains glyphosate, and any other herbicides to adhere to labels which requires them to take all necessary measures to "keep people and pets away until the solution dries." Since then, reports of spring spraying and misuse have been cited across the country. Moms Across America and Hawai’i Opposition to Pesticide Exposure (HOPE) are asking county Ag Commissioners to discontinue the use of glyphosate based herbicides, but until those steps are taken, they are demanding immediate street closures & caution tape barriers in public areas that have been sprayed with Roundup.

This landmark determination means that city road workers, school maintenance, homeowner associations, university landscapers and individual homeowners, need to comply with the label directions or risk fines and/or lawsuits. To comply with the law accurately they need to barricade off areas sprayed with these chemicals until they dry, which could be 45 minutes to 4-6 hours, according to professional pesticide applicators and the EPA, depending on weather conditions such as humidity and rain. Signs are not sufficient for pets, children and people who do not read English. States like Hawaii have fines and criminal penalties which apply to anybody who knowingly violates Section 191A-41 of the Hawaii Pesticides Law. Nationally and internationally, citizens and regulators should now be looking to enforce compliance with product directions.

Brad Edwards, with the group Hawai’i Opposition to Pesticide Exposure (HOPE), expressed cautious optimism in regards to the recent EPA determination. "With the large amount of Roundup/Glyphosate used for roadside spraying across all of our islands, this is amazing news! For years, residents in Hawaii have been begging the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to properly regulate the widespread misuse of glyphosate, but so far the Department has refused to take action against both government and private applicators. With this recent EPA ruling, the State of Hawaii will finally be forced to step in and protect members of our community from repeated exposure to this harmful chemical.”

"The fact is that cities simply cannot afford the risk of using Roundup any longer,” said Zen Honeycutt, Director of Moms Across America. “We have found glyphosate in our tap water, children’s urine, breast milk and others have found it in cereal, cotton products, beer, and wine which comes from the excessive use of Roundup on our food crops and in public areas. Internationally, the spraying of this herbicide, which has been deemed a probable carcinogen, is inhaled by people driving or walking by, and gets on the feet of pets and shoes or ankles of people walking through these areas. Chemical residues from shoes get on carpets and can then poison babies who crawl on the floor. Glyphosate has been linked to birth defects, neurotoxicity, non Hodgkin's Lymphoma etc, and mothers call for immediate action to protect our communities. We expect our officials to protect the health of our pets, citizens, city workers and our cities from harm and from lawsuits.”

We call for citizens around the world to report, file complaints with the County Ag Commissioner and file lawsuits as necessary to require public space compliance with herbicide application instructions. We also call upon city councils, schools, churches, community centers, universities and homeowners to discontinue the use of Roundup/glyphosate and toxic chemical sprays altogether and use organic, steam or mowing alternatives instead. Until these steps are taken we insist that the law and directions of the label, confirmed by the EPA, are complied with and caution tape barriers are placed around all areas sprayed with glyphosate based herbicides.

###

Moms Across America is a National Coalition of Unstoppable Moms raising awareness about GMOs and toxins in our food and environment. Their motto is "Empowered Moms, Healthy Kids."

Hawai’i Opposition to Pesticide Exposure (HOPE) is a community group focused on regulatory, legislative and legal pathways to fix the broken system and protect the health of the residents of Hawai’i.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/notes/moms-across-america/press-release-widespread-misuse-of-roundup/586668318166376