Independent expert oversight is a necessary and important part of ensuring a healthy learning environment for our children. The government agencies engaged in our situation are bound by outdated congressional limitations regarding toxic exposures and risk levels at schools. The EPA’s current acceptable range for PCB exposure extends from a 1 in 1 million cancer risk all the way down to a 1 in 10,000 cancer risk. Yet even as the scientific community continues to find new evidence linking low levels of environmental toxins and health risks the EPA has not raised it’s acceptable range. A one in 10,000 risk is not acceptable by most medical experts and we do not think it is acceptable for our children. We must be sure that we are relying on the most up-to-date advanced research when making health-based decisions for our children, teachers, and community.
To this end, we need to engage independent expert advice to inform us about the most up-to-date “acceptable levels”. They need to put our children and their teachers best interest above all else. These experts will help guide us how to clean up our schools. Only then can we rest assured that Malibu schools are operating at the highest standards of health and safety.