About 2,4-D Class II - restricted use pesticide poison

2,4-D.  WHO Class II moderately toxic and a U. S. restricted-use pesticide widely used as a herbicide poison.  Chronically it is a immunotoxin, carcinogen, suspect mutagen, teratogen, suspect fetotoxin that causes anoxexia and damages to liver, kidney and central nervous system; other health effects are vomiting,diarrhea, anorexia, ulcers of the mouth and pharynx; its transformation products include at least 4 dioxins and TCDD.  TCDD  - The National Research Council noted in ”Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children:” In rats, for example, the developing immune system has been shown to be more vulnerable to the effects of the dioxin TCDD, compared to a mature immune system.  A letter from Michael Yanchuks, U. S. EPA, to Farrel Vance, National Resource Defence Council, 9/13/94 noted that TCDD suppressed the developing immune system of neonatal rats but not of adult rats.  TCDD has been found as a contaminant in two forms of the common herbicide 2,4-D and is suspected as a contaminant in at least thirteen other pesticides.  See chloroneb.

In 1987, in a federal District Court in Marshall, Texas a jury for the first time concluded that 2,4-D was linked to a Worker’s death; it awarded the family of a former forestry worker $1.5 million.

Per Rachel’s Hazardous Waste News #3, December 15, 1986, “A study by the National Cancer Institute and the University of Kansas has linked exposure to herbicides with nonHodgkins lymphoma, lymphatic cancers besides Hodgkins disease.  The study was based on the health histories of 948 male Kansas farmers who had cancer and an equal number of non-cancer victims for comparison....The higher cancer risk was found to be particularly associated with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or 2,4-D, a chemical compound used in a variety of herbicides.  Agent Orange, the herbicide sprayed in Vietnam that is the focus of lawsuits filed by exposed veterans, contains 2,4-D...”  And from Rachel’s Environment & Health Weekly #250, September 11, 1991, “Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas--the kind dogs are reported to get most often from exposure to 2,4-D--have been the second fastest-growing cancer in humans in the U. S. during the past 15 years.”
 
2,4-D is a herbicide poison with reproductive and endocrine-disrupting effects and is associated with a whole host of diseases, including cancer of the kidney, testicles, stomach, colon, prostrate and liver; also known to cause adverse psychological effects, immune system disorders, gastrointestinal ulcers and altered liquid metabolism.  Paul Gottlich of www.envirolink.org and an environmental study group for the Montessori Academy held a 3/4/98 meeting wherein Tru Green gave an “IPM” presentation. 

Through the entire presentation there was no mention of IPM.  Tru Green noted they would not use 2,4-D because their certified toxicologist, Dr. Roger Yeary,   advised them not to because of published health reports.  Tru  Green proposed using the “alternative” herbicide, Trimec 959, which contains the chemicals MCPA, MCPP and dicamba instead.  Paul told the group that dicamba also contains 2,4-D.  Paul pointed out this is a tactic used by pesticide (poison) companies to switch to a different chemical (poison) after the one they use has proven to be a major problem.  The ingredients are not explained and parents would not know the “switch” is useless because 2,4-D is still in the proposed “alternative” herbicide.  MCPA and MCPP are also of concern, but there is little or no testing of these done yet.  When the Tru Green Representatives were asked to guarantee the safety of our children, staff, pregnant mothers, birds, squirrels and pesticide applicators, they said they could not guarantee safety, that there was some risk involved with the use of pesticides (poisons).  Paul Goettlich noted, “These representatives, trying to sell us pesticides (poisons), tell us there is a
‘risk’ is an understatement.  Pesticides poisons are not safe!”  2,4-D is the most widely used herbicide in the world.

TCDD - See 2,4-D.

“At the Source: Guide to Causes and Prevention of Breast Cancer” by Janette D. Sherman, M.D. states:  If only TCDD (tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), the most toxic of the dioxins is assayed, the total biological load and effect of dioxin exposure is greatly  underestimated.  Except under controlled laboratory conditions, formation of a single dioxin or dibenzofuran is not the case.  Depending upon the original chemical mixture, heat, and absence or presence of oxygen, dioxins and furans formation is a random process, with potential for creation of any combination of 210 congeners.

Several forms of a furan containing three chlorine atoms are “being investigated as a compound which may be clinically useful for the treatment of mammary cancer”.  The question arises if this is just another product, patentable and profitable, not concerned with
remediation and primary prevention?

Products contaminated with dioxins and furans include the chlorinated phenoxy herbicides 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D and 2,4,5-T).  Used in combination in Vietnam (as Agent Orange) and linked to several documented adverse effects, use continues world-wide on range lands, rice fields, forests, crops, and as home “lawn care" products.

[ See Also:  Occupational Deaths ]