U.S. environmental officials say  one of the nation's most
widely used pesticides (POISONS) poses a safety  risk for those who use it in their gardens, fields and homes.

Subject:     Just one more of your "registered" and recommended POISONS--
Date:         Fri, 29 Oct 1999 13:06:27 -0400
From:     Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To:     Lyndon Hawkins <hawkins@empm.cdpr.ca.gov>
 

Lyndon, are you aware that numerous stories are now on the web, in print, on radio and television announcing another of your "registered" POISONS is UNSAFE?: EPA Says Widely Used Dow Pesticide Can Be Harmful - only one of the stories was Updated @ 1:47 PM ET October 28, 1999 - By Julie Vorman

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. environmental officials say  one of the nation's most widely used pesticides (POISONS) poses a safety  risk for those who use it in their gardens, fields and homes.

Blurred vision, muscle weakness, headaches and problems with  memory, depression and irritability have been linked to large amounts of exposure to Dow Chemical's Dursban, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in a preliminary scientific assessment posted on its web site late Wednesday.

The EPA said the assessment found that exposure to the chemical on the skin, in food, or by inhaling it could be harmful to human health.

The EPA said it had a "particular concern" with Dursban poisoning cases reported to federal health officials. About one-fourth of 325 illnesses reported from 1993 through 1996 were serious enough to require hospitalization, the agency said.

"Data from the two human studies suggest that humans are as sensitive and possibly even more sensitive than animals," the EPA said in the detailed report. One of the studies was conducted with inmate volunteers at a prison.

Dursban is a standard tool (POISON) used to kill insects that attack everything from home-grown tomatoes to corn fields. It is also a powerful weapon against termites and cockroaches, and is frequently used in homes, schools, hospitals, and pet collars.

The report laid out potential health risks, but did not indicate whether the agency planned to tighten use of Dursban or phase it out.

An EPA spokesman was not available for comment.

Dow Chemical, in a letter to the EPA that was included in the report, said EPA's risk analysis was misleading and based on "fundamental errors" of science.

"Three decades of use have shown that unless seriously misused, chlorpyrifos products have wide margins of safety that protect users and consumers, including infants and children," the letter also read.

(Lyndon, I remember this is basically what the paid "scientists" said over ten years ago about Velsicol's/Chlordane's "safety and protection" as I worked to get that "registered" POISON banned.  I thought it was now illegal to say any "registered" POISON "protected" and/or was "safe" - even when used in accordance with the label directions.  POISONS do not "protect" - they KILL!"  When all the smoke cleared away - it was found there was no safe way to apply chlordane - it always contaminated the ambient air!)

EPA's scientific analysis of Dursban is part of a mammoth project to check for harmful residue in food, drinking water and households from some 9,000 U.S. pesticides.

Under a controversial 1996 food safety law passed by Congress, the EPA must require chemical (POISON) makers to build in an extra margin of safety to protect children, whose developing bodies can be more vulnerable to chemicals.

The law has been sharply criticized by farm groups for failing to take into account the cost to growers of using more expensive and less effective alternative pesticides. Farm, chemical and consumer groups will have two months to submit their suggestions to the EPA about the possible health risks posed by Dursban.

The active ingredient in Dursban is chlorpyrifos, a substance that  is part of a class of chemicals known as organophosphates, which have been shown to affect the human nervous system. Organophosphates were developed during World War II as nerve gas weapons.

Environmental groups pointed to the new study as evidence that the EPA should halt the use of Dursban.

"This government study firmly supports our research and position," said Todd Hettenbach, an analyst with the Environmental Working Group. "Dursban must be banned."

A study by the green group two years ago found Dursban (POISON) residue on most breads, crackers, bagels and other wheat-based foods that were tested.

The vast majority of Americans have at least a tiny amount of  the chemical (POISON) in their bodies, the EPA said. A recent Minnesota study found the bug killer at detectable levels in over 90 percent of school children examined.

Two years ago Dow voluntarily stopped selling the pesticide for use in pet shampoos and dips and household foggers. The EPA analysis found exposure to Dursban on the skin, in food, or by inhaling it could be harmful to human health.

H. Josef Herbert, an Associated Press Writer noted on 10/28/99 in Washington that the:  The EPA estimated between 20 million and 24 million pounds of  the chemical (ACTIVE POISON INGREDIENT) are applied annually.  The products (POISONS) are so ``widely used by both homeowners and pest control operators and lawn care operators that ``the majority of the U.S. population is (CONTINUALLY) exposed to chlorpyrifos,'' the EPA review found.

A study of 993 adults found eight in 10 had ``measurable concentrations'' of the chemical (POISON) in their urine. A study of 89 children found nine of every 10 with measurable concentrations, the review said.

At a news conference, the Environmental Working Group displayed a variety of everyday insect control products (POISONS), bought at hardware stores, that contained the chemical (POISON).  ``It's clear that they can't leave this pesticide on the market the way it is,'' said Todd Hettenbach, a pesticide analyst for the advocacy group.

Lyndon, about ten years ago I said eventually the last three letters of Dursban and Lorsban - would eventually tell you what you should do with these terrible nerve gas poisons.  Ban them - but instead your department has demanded that all California nursery plant soils be flooded with this "registered" nerve gas/ neuro toxin to "protect" them against fire ants!  I pray G-d someone will test the nursery people/homes you have poisoned and charge you with the crime - especially when you simply said my more effective and safe/GRAS alternatives were "illegal" to use in California!  I want you to realize that the federal EPA is still only concerned about the active poison ingredient in these terrible volatile neuro-toxic POISONS - they still have not bothered to consider and/or to evaluate all of serious acute/chronic inherent dangers from all of the "inerts", metabolites, contaminants and/or any of the myriad synergistic effects the entire poison formula causes!  USA TODAY 10/28/99 noted: "that regulators (other than you) are concerned about several categories of the chemical's (POISON'S) use: in pet collars, bug sprays aimed into cracks of a home, sprays or granules meant for lawn care and in anti-termite treatments.  (They obviously have not heard about your required nursery soil drench "treatments".)  Those created risks that fell well outside EPA's safety limits!!!

Well Lyndon - when will it be "legal" (in your opinion) to really protect people and to use any of my safer and less expensive and far more effective alternatives to your "registered" POISONS in California?

Respectfully,  Stephen L. Tvedten.

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