Toxic Pesticide Killing Wildlife, Suit Charges
Click
Here to Add Comment Subject:
Toxic Pesticide Killing Wildlife, Suit Charges
Date:
Tue, 29 Oct 2002
09:07:43
-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: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Toxic Pesticide Killing Wildlife, Suit Charges
WASHINGTON, DC, October 28, 2002 (ENS) - Three environmental groups filed suit today against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the use of a toxic pesticide that is killing federally protected species in Florida.
The lawsuit, filed in federal district court by Defenders of Wildlife, American Bird Conservancy and the Florida Wildlife Federation, charges the EPA with violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) by its registration of the pesticide fenthion. Fenthion has been documented to cause ecological impacts and is toxic to birds.
"Fenthion is one of the most dangerous bird killing pesticides in use in this country," said Dr. Patti Bright, director of American Bird Conservancy's pesticides and birds campaign. "It is not necessary to bear the extreme ecological costs of fenthion when there are equally effective pesticides available for mosquito control that won't kill birds, don't wreak environmental havoc, and are in use to combat mosquitos in 49 other states and even most of Florida."
Fenthion has long been known for its toxicity to birds, not only when ingested but also when inhaled or absorbed through the skin. The pesticide was once formulated and marketed for the purpose of killing birds, as the active ingredient in "Rid-a-Bird" perches.
Landing on a fenthion smeared perch for a few seconds was enough to kill starlings and other target species, but also led to the deaths of non-target species, such as bald eagles, peregrine falcons and American kestrels that fed on the poisoned carcasses.
"It's really quite unbelievable," said Rennie Anderson, staff attorney with Defenders of Wildlife, regarding the EPA's continued registration of fenthion. "EPA has known for some time, and has even acknowledged in its own documents, that fenthion poisons birds and other wildlife and has been linked to multiple bird kill incidents. Yet, despite warnings from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regarding the risks to wildlife, EPA still allows fenthion to be sprayed without fulfilling even its basic obligation under the ESA to consult with the Service concerning these impacts."
Past use of fenthion for mosquito control has shown that almost any aerial application of the pesticide, even when spraying is consistent with EPA labeling requirements, will result in indiscriminate killing of non-target wildlife. Birds, butterflies, and aquatic species are all vulnerable to fenthion.
"More than thirty federally listed species live in the Everglades region, and many others depend on this ecosystem for important habitat needs, including millions of migratory birds that travel through the state every year," said Nancy Anne Payton, the Florida Wildlife Federation's southwest Florida field representative. "This lawsuit aims to protect these species from the needless and deadly spraying of fenthion."
In June, the USFWS advised the EPA that fenthion poses "unreasonable adverse effects" to the environment, including to species protected under the ESA and MBTA, and recommended to EPA "that fenthion not be reregistered and existing registrations should be canceled for all uses immediately."
In Collier County, Florida, one of the few remaining counties that spray fenthion, the disease carrying mosquitoes targeted by the spraying have developed resistance to the pesticide, making the chemical more effective at killing non-target species than the targeted mosquitoes, the environmental groups charge.
If you would like to be included in our mailing list for continuing information on pesticides, please email us at list@safe2use.com.