The West Australian - Deadly Herbicide
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The West Australian - Deadly Herbicide
Date:
Wed, Oct 16 2002
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
Dumped drums tied to deadly herbicide
By Peter Trott
A DUMP of 23 drums suspected of being used for controversial herbicide 2,4,5-T has been found in bush about 30km north of Derby.
A former Agricultural Protection Board worker in Derby, Ron Delvin, said all the drums had square puncture marks characteristic of chemical drums dumped by board workers.
The drums are empty and have not yet been disturbed.
Their discovery follows a report on September 26 by Agriculture Minister Kim Chance which linked chronic illness among weed sprayers in the 1970s and early 1980s with exposure to 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. The chemicals were used in the Vietnam War defoliant Agent Orange which was blamed for illnesses and birth defects.
The report, by occupational physician Andrew Harper, was ordered by Mr Chance last year after claims that a rogue batch of 2,4,5-T containing excessive levels of the deadly toxin dioxin was supplied in the 1970s.
Mr Chance said an expert panel would assess links between chemical spraying and long-term illnesses among former Kimberley APB workers. He said the Government would give immediate assistance to workers in need of specialist medical care.
Carl Drysdale, of Derby, who has campaigned for the past 20 years for recognition of the link between chemical exposure and sickness, said yesterday he had not received any help with medical expenses.
He was in Perth having specialist medical treatment but expected to be out of pocket up to $2000 for the trip which was funded partly by the Patient Assistance Travel Scheme.
A spokesman for Mr Chance said last night that Kimberley doctors had been advised in writing of special circumstances for care of former APB workers. Mr Chance is to meet Mr Drysdale today.
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