Pesticide Warnings Ordered
Click Here to Add CommentSubject: Pesticide Warnings Ordered
Date: Sun, 21 Apr 2002 12:30:27 -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
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear
Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read an article dated: Friday,
19 April, 2002 from the BBC News Online entitled: Insecticide ban amid cancer
fears.
Householders
with wasp killer are being warned of a cancer risk
Shops have been ordered to clear
their shelves of almost 50 brands of insect killer, amid fears they could cause
cancer.
Acting on scientific advice the
government said the insecticides, including top-selling lines from Boots,
Superdrug and Vapona could be dangerous.
The decision makes it illegal to
sell, advertise or supply any of the products concerned until further tests are
completed.
Health officials stressed the
withdrawal of products was a precautionary move pending the chemical tests.
'Careful
consideration'
The 47 products banned include
fly, moth, wasp and cockroach killers.
The decision was taken following
advice from the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP).
It said it could not rule out a
link between a chemical called dichlorvos, which all the products contain, and
cancer.
Dr Alan Whitehead, Health and
Safety Minister, said: "This is a precautionary step, and one which has
been taken in the light of careful consideration of independent scientific
advice."
Food and Farming Minister Lord
Whitty said: "The suspension will last until such time as acceptable data
regarding the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of dichlorvos can be
presented to the ACP."
The suspension has been delayed
since August due to legal action from the manufacturers.
Scientific
evidence
A spokesman for the Health and
Safety Executive said the courts agreed an injuction until a risk could be
proved.
He said: "The risk is remote
but there is scientific evidence which shows a significant risk and so our
action is proportionate.
"If people have these
insecticides at home our advice is they can finish using the product or throw it
out in the usual way.
"What we don't want is people
panicking that they have to get rid of it immediately."
Among the government's suspended products are:
-
-
Boots Slow Release Fly Killer, and Moth Killer.
-
Superdrug Small Space Fly/Moth Strip, and Slow Release Fly Killer.
However, a spokeswoman for Sara
Lee, the makers of Vapona, said: "The only products to contain dichlorvos
in the Vapona range are Vapona Fly Killer Strips, Vapona Moth Killer Strips and
Vapona Professional Cockroach Killer."
She said the company took the
decision to discontinue these in October 2001.
"No other Vapona products
(including the Wasp and Fly spray) contain dichlorvos," she added.
A full list can be found on the
Health and Safety Executive's website, under press releases for April, which is
accessed using the What's New index on the front page.
The BBC is not responsible for the
content of external internet sites
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1939000/1939569.stm
Well
Mr. Helliker, Albert Einstein once noted: "We are part of the whole which
we call the universe, but it is an optical delusion of our mind that we think we
are separate. This separateness is like a prison for us. Our job is
to widen the circle of our compassion so we feel connected with all people and
situations." When will you fell free enough to allow the
"legal" use of safe and far more effective (unregistered)
alternatives?
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.