WHEREAS, in the race for technological advancement and global expansion, the high-technology industry significantly depletes natural resources and uses vast amounts of dangerous chemicals; and

WHEREAS, the impact of technological advancement reveals hazardous waste disposal, polluted drinking water, waste discharges that harm fish and wildlife, and high rates of miscarriages, birth defects, and cancer clusters among residents and workers in contaminated communities; and

WHEREAS, up-to-date information on the environmental health hazards related to advanced technology is needed to develop intervention strategies that will continually reduce or eliminate exposures that threaten health in order to promote the health and welfare of the residents and visitors of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, communication is essential in order to address community concerns, incorporate community knowledge in the decision-making process, and provide information about the health risks associated with hazardous substances and the basis behind risk management decisions; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the Department of Health shall maintain current scientific data on community exposure to actual and potential sources of environmental health hazards, including environmental health hazards posed by technological advances; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health shall maintain updated information regarding its characterization of contaminant sources, identification of routes of exposure, investigation of health effects, and the employment of risk assessments and management strategies to minimize adverse outcomes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

Report Title:

Dept. of Health; Information on Environmental Health Hazards.