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Bruce Trimper Speaks

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Failure to warn gets a new meaning when it comes to chlorpyrifos (Dursban).   In 1982 when the National Academy of Sciences reviewed the tox of Dursban vs chlordane, heptachlor, aldrin and dieldrin it reported that an air guideline of 10 ug/M3 for Dursban was appropriate versus 5, 2, 1 and 1 ug/M3 respectively, for the four others.  This information should have given EPA pause (EPA accepted these guidelines in its 1983 Risk/Benefit Report) when it supported use of Dursban as the replacement when chlordane was removed from the marketplace in 1987 and banned for termite control in 1988.  Science, like other parts of history, repeats itself.  Dursban is only less persistent than chlordane, but its toxicity is more insidious since it directly affects the CNS through enzyme interactions and blockage.  The impact of CNS affects are also difficult to predict since they may be immediate, intermediate or inductively delayed.  One acute exposure can lead to long term COPIND as discussed by Jamal.  The only solution to Dursban is to take it off the market as was done with chlordane.  Diazinon should go with it as have azinphos methyl, methyl parathion, parathion, etc.  Unless we start evaluating risk correctly we are doomed to continue to repeat our mistakes.   It is already beginning to happen with pyrethrins which are being stated as  "natural and safe" replacements for OPs.  None of this is true as Caserett & Doull can readily show.  

R.K. Simon

I understand Mr. Trimper will be one of the speakers at NCAMP*. That should be dynamic! 

Joyce Shepard

( *Don't Miss the National Pesticide Forum 4/6-9/2000)

I was at the inert meeting in Alexandria and I must tell you his video shook a lot of people,including me.  I am use to hearing these stories but this one was different. I would liken their message to a Mike Tyson knock out punch. If you let this guy get away from championing the cause, a big disservice will be done to those suffering in silence.

Another in depth version of this family's struggle can be found at www.pesticide.org/inerts99.html

Dan

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