Subject: Mothball Ingredient Causes Cancer, Government Says-----
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001 14:49:01 -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: Friday January 26,
2001, 10:22 AM ET and entitled: Mothball Ingredient Causes Cancer, Government
Says.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Naphthalene, which gives mothballs
and public restroom deodorizers their distinctive aroma, causes cancer in
rats, US government researchers said on Thursday.
Rats who breathed naphthalene fumes developed cancer at a
rate high enough to worry scientists at the National Toxicology Program (NTP),
who must now decide whether people have the same risk.
The rats especially developed rare cancers in the nose,
the researchers found.
``The rats in the study were exposed by inhalation, just
as most people are, in doses comparable to some human consumer and workplace
exposures,'' the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which
administers the NTP, said in a statement.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (news -
web sites), Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites) and other
agencies suggested the tests after some German workers exposed to naphthalene
developed cancers including larynx, gastric, nasal, and colon cancer.
The report was the 500th issued by the NTP using
laboratory rats.
``Since NTP was established in 1978, its reports have
changed how substances are handled in occupational and home settings, and in
the more general environment,'' it said in a statement.
Some chemicals restricted because of its tests include
tetrachloroethylene and carbon tetrachloride, once used in home cleaning
fluids; mirex, which was restricted in its use as a pesticide and fire
retardant; benzene, an ingredient in gasoline, and phenolphthalein, once an
active ingredient in most over-the-counter laxatives.
``Unlike the old cliche that 'everything causes cancer',
almost half the chemicals tested do not produce tumors in laboratory rodents,
and with a few rare exceptions, chemicals that cause tumors or other diseases
in rodents eventually are found to cause similar if not identical problems in
humans,'' the NTP said.
Well Mr. Helliker,
I would like to note that this "registered" POISON of yours
has still not been tested for any reproductive hazards.
This "registered" hydrocarbon/POISON was finally tested for
its ability to cause cancer only after, some German workers exposed to
naphthalene developed cancers including larynx, gastric, nasal, and colon
cancer. I love it when the POISON
"industry" says that they beLIEve in "sound science"
and/or their POISONS are "completely tested, safe and/or effective".
My favorite story is when "they" say:
"That all of their POISON applicators are properly trained."
If I give the same ingredients and the same recipe to several cooks,
I can virtually guarantee you the results will vary greatly.
Kenneth Ewart Boulding once wrote: "Nothing fails like success
because we don't learn from it. We learn only from failure." If this is
true "we" really are about to learn "something", because
this whole "experiment" with your "registered" POISONS
seems like quite a failure to me.
Respectfully, Stephen
L. Tvedten
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