Subject: Environmental Protection Agency Rules Against Bayer´s Fenthion
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2001 13:30:58 -0500
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
cc: Carol Browner browner.carol@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker,
I thought you might like to read an article dated: 01/18/2001,
entitled: USA: Environmental
Protection Agency Rules Against Bayer´s Fenthion Pesticide.
KEYCODE BAYER is published by the German group BAYERwatch which has
been monitoring the BAYER Corporation for more than 20 years.
USA: Environmental Protection Agency Rules Against Bayer´s
Fenthion Pesticide
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
concluded that currently approved uses of fenthion, an organophosphate
pesticide, pose unreasonable risks to human health and the environment.
EPA said it would seek public comment of what measures should be taken to
lessen risks posed by the pesticide, which is primarily used in Florida to
combat mosquitoes. Fenthion is very highly toxic to birds and highly toxic to
marine invertebrates. Its use has been implicated in several bird kill
incidents, including recent bird kills on Marco Island, Florida, which are
currently under investigation by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
"There is reason for the EPA to be concerned about
fenthion," said Carey Pope, a toxicologist who worked for the Defense
Department. "It tends to hang in longer than other pesticides."
Linda Farley from the American Bird Conservancy states that the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife report documents the deaths of at least 16 species of birds caused by
fenthion, including the Piping Plover.
Fenthion can also cause cholinesterase inhibition in
humans; that is, it can overstimulate the nervous system causing nausea,
dizziness, and at high exposures respiratory paralysis and death. EPA
toxicologist William Boyes is reviewing a Japanese study that found a high
rate of myopia (nearsightedness) in people exposed to fenthion. Another study,
by fenthion manufacturer Bayer Corporation, indicates that rats that were
given high doses of fenthion over a period of two years had eye problems as
well. "A conservative approach is what is toxic to animals is hurtful to
humans," Boyes said.
Bayer Corporation of Kansas City, Mo., maintains the
pesticide is safe when used in accordance with label instructions. Bayer has
said the pesticide does not pose a threat to birds or other wildlife when it
is used properly. Organophosphates
made by Bayer include azinphos-methyl, fenamiphos, isofenphos, tribufos and
fenthion.
EPA said its decision is "interim" because the
agency still must assess the cumulative risks of multiple organophosphate
pesticides. After that assessment - which could be completed this year -
additional risk mitigation measures may be required on organophosphates that
share a common mechanism of toxicity, EPA said.
Sources: Chemical Market Reporter, American Birding
Conservancy, Article by Laura Linden (San Francisco)
=====================================================
BAYERwatch collects information about BAYER and
coordinates activities against violations of human and environmental rights
caused by this company. Anyone who has information on possibly illicit
activities of BAYER - please let us know. Anyone who needs photos or
information concerning BAYER is invited to contact us:
CBG/BAYERwatch, Postfach 15 04 18, 40081 Duesseldorf,
Germany, E-mail:
CBGnetwork@aol.com Fax: +49 211 333 940 Tel: +49 211 333
911
Well Mr. Helliker,
Once again the POISON industry is saying that some obviously dangerous
POISON is "safe" when used as directed - I thought that these
statements were against the federal law. Why don't you arrest and/or fine
these flagrant violations of the law? I
notice that your DPR will now require manufacturers and sellers of devices
designed to combat wood-destroying structural pests, to show that their
products are safe and effective for use in California.
Such devices typically use heat, microwave or electrical treatments.
The new law gives you authority to seek civil penalties of up to
$10,000 per violation for any unregistered device sold, possessed or used
after July 1, 2001. I for one,
can not see how you can compare the "dangers" caused by "heat,
microwaves or electricity" to the terrible dangers routinely caused by
your "registered" fumigants, termiticides and other volatile toxins. I think that the public is not as worried about a little heat
as they are about your volatile "registered" POISONS!
It is a shame that you do not require the makers of POISONS, to provide
you with the same safety and efficacy data, so that you could really
"PROTECT the public". If you did, there would not be any "registered"
POISONS. NONE of your
"registered" POISONS are "safe" and judging from the
number of wood destroying organism retreatments - NONE of them are
particularly "effective". It
seems to me, that you are trying once again to stop the use of safe
alternatives. Even if some
alternative does not work - at
least it will not kill or injure the occupants or contaminate the property for
decades as your previously "approved" chlordane has done.
Respectfully, Stephen
L. Tvedten
If you would like to be included in our mailing list for continuing
information on pesticides, please email us at list@safe2use.com
with "subscribe" in the subject line.
Click Here to Add Comment