ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDE MANUFACTURERS WILL NOT MEET EPA DEADLINE FOR DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROTOXICITY STUDIES
Subject: Taken from the Birth Defect News - October, 2001
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001 11:14:04 -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 Regulationcc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read a portion of an article entitled:
ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDE MANUFACTURERS WILL NOT MEET EPA DEADLINE FOR DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROTOXICITY STUDIES
Despite a September deadline on an Environmental Protection Agency request , the majority of pesticide manufacturers have not completed required studies on organophosphate pesticides. In August 1999, the EPA requested that studies be completed examining pesticides' effects on the developing brain and nervous system. About 20 developmental neurotoxicity studies are ultimately expected. About one third have been started. It is unlikely that pesticide registrations will be canceled because of the missed deadline. EPA and pesticide manufacturers are in productive discussions to move ahead with the studies which are described as "complex" by Angelina Duggan, director of science policy of the American Crop Protection Association, a pesticide industry group.
Existing data already show that organophosphates pose a threat to the developing nervous system. "Some organophosphates can affect the development of the nervous system.", said Mark Miller of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He added that the advocacy community is concerned about organophosphates being connected with more subtle effects, such as autism, or attention deficit disorder. While officials are waiting for the studies to be completed, the EPA should impose an additional safety margin mandated by the Food Quality Protection Act according to David Wallinga of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy in Minneapolis. Imposing the safety margin would protect children and provide an incentive for pesticide companies to complete the studies.
The data call-in is being implemented in phases, with the organophosphates first. Ultimately, the EPA will be asking makers of other types of neurotoxic pesticides for the study under the call-in. Despite the absence of the completed organophosphate studies, the EPA is in the preliminary stages of identifying these non-organophosphate chemicals that would be subject to the data call-in.
Excerpted from article by Karen Werner, No. 165, 8/27/01, P. A-5.
Well Mr. Helliker, How can you continue to pretend your pesticide POISONS are "registered"? When you obviously STILL do not know how dangerous even the active ingredients are!
Respectfully, Stephen L, Tvedten
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