Sweet-Scented Pesticide Sugarcoats A Toxic Pill: Critics Decry Industry's Perverse Threat To Children

"Pesticides give off a pretty recognizable smell, and people naturally act adversely to it. This is an attempt to cover up what amounts to a warning signal."

 

Subject:   POISON "Industry" Again Tries to Hide the True Dangers!
Date:       Tue, 05 Sep 2000 09:17:03 -0400
From:        Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)

To:     Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
          Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation 

Dear Mr. Helliker,  I thought you might like to see another "sound science" article entitled:  Source: Agnet Aug. 20/00 - SWEET-SCENTED PESTICIDE SUGARCOATS A TOXIC PILL: CRITICS DECRY INDUSTRY'S PERVERSE THREAT TO CHILDREN - Aug. 20, 2000 - Ottawa Citizen - Andrew Duffy - A1 / Front

An association that represents Ontario lawn-care companies is, according to this story, selling cherry and bubble-gum flavoured scents to mask the smell of toxic pesticides.

The story adds that environmentalists and even some landscapers are worried the use of Masker-Aid Odour Concentrate could increase the pesticide exposure of children.

Barbara Karthein, a landscape artist from Port Perry, Ont., was quoted as saying, "I think it is a rather perverse use. There are certain chemicals in this world that I think we have to treat very, very carefully and use properly, if at all."

The Professional Lawn Care Association began marketing the masking scent to the provinces lawn-care companies in January after testing a series of potential fragrances, including pine and mint.

Yvette Frappier, an official with the Guelph-based association, was cited as saying that adding a fragrance to pesticide or insecticide sprays is no different than adding lemon scent to bleach, which is also potentially dangerous to children, adding, "All it is is a scent, a fragrance, and you add it to your water so that when you add an insecticide or weed killer, it covers the smell. That's it."

The association has sold about 400 litres of the product to Ontario lawn-care companies. About one ounce of Masker-Aid is added to every 900 litres of water used to spread a pesticide.

Julia Langer, director of the World Wildlife Fundxs toxicology program, was cited as accusing the lawn-care association of "trying to sugarcoat a toxic pill" Adding, "Pesticides give off a pretty recognizable smell, and people naturally act adversely to it. This is an attempt to cover up what amounts to a warning signal."

Ms. Frappier said cherry and bubblegum fragrances were used not to make them attractive to children, but because they were the most successful at covering smells. All customers of lawn-care companies, she added, are given a choice as to whether or not the masking fragrance is used.

The story says that American studies have linked significant pesticide exposure to higher cancer rates among farmers and gardeners and to cognitive difficulty among children. In Canada, the agency that regulates pesticides in Canada recently announced it wants the makers of Dursban, one of the most popular insecticides in the country, to stop production because of suspected health risks.

Ms. Langer, who has lobbied for new government controls on pesticides in Canada, was cited as saying the lawn-care associations introduction of the masking fragrance comes at a time when pesticides are under intense scrutiny by local governments and by a public increasingly sensitive to the health issues raised by their use and she suggested the introduction of the pesticide perfume may be an attempt by the lawn-care industry to remain under the political radar screen, adding, "I think it really is an attempt to mask the issue and keep themselves out of the limelight as much as possible."

Well Mr. Helliker, as you well know many pesticide active POISON ingredients have no odor - what you normally smell are the solvents and other "inerts".  But, why vacate the CONTAMINATED/POISONED area when you can stay and play in it. Right?

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