|
DURSBAN
EPA and Dow Chemical Cutting Backroom Deal to Lift Pesticide Ban
12/22/2004
 Dow
Chemical company is in the process of striking a backroom agreement
with the EPA to repeal a ban on a confirmed highly toxic pesticide.
Four Years ago (June 2000), the EPA announced it had conclusive
evidence that Dow's pesticide Dursban (chlorpyrifos)"does
not provide an adequate margin of protection for children."
(source:http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/chlorpyrifos/consumerqs.htm)
The
chemical was conclusively proven to cause neurological disorders
and birth defects. As a result, a four year phase out of the toxic
chemical was put into play. As of Dec.31, 2004, the chemical is
to no longer be legal, but according to the Washington Post (read
full article here),
Dow and the EPA are striking a deal to allow this toxic chemical's
continued use. There are no new studies that justify this, but
Dow is suddenly claiming chlorpyrifos is safe for kids. As a note
on the legitimacy of that claim, in 2003, Dow was fined $2 million
for illegally making false safety claims about its pesticides.
UPDATE
1/3/2005 - GREAT NEWS!!
The petition has been removed from this page. The EPA has announced
that it will deny Dow's request to delay the ban on Dursban (for
construction termite applications). Thanks to everyone who signed
the petition to the EPA!
Craig
Minowa
Organic Consumers Association
Questions
and Answers:
(The following are letters sent to OCA from readers regarding
this topic, and the follow-up OCA response. Some of the text
of the original letter has been changed to provide anonymity.)
Question
from reader: OK,
in all honesty, I took your e-mail warning seriously.
However, an organic consumer's group isn't what I'd consider
unbiased.
I'm a critical thinker, or try to be. I read the reports.
And your appeal is lacking in specific details. This statement, "The
chemical was conclusively proven to cause neurological disorders
and birth defects," is, to the best of my researching
capability, blatantly false.
Before I jump on a band-wagon, I want facts and details.
What study? I spent far too many years in the Military
and saw what all sides did to take anyone's "word"
for anything.
Answer from OCA: 1/5/2005 Thanks for the note
and concerns. We encourage people to research these issues thoroughly
before coming to any conclusions, so you are definitely on the
right path.
Our
web alert appeal does not contain all of the data that you are
looking for simply because the format of that publication (Organic
Bytes) provides more than a half dozen recent news stories in
a "news tidbit" format. Folks seeking more information
can refer to our website, which contains literally thousands
of related articles and links to thousands of related external
information sources. We take an unbiased scientific stance on
these issues, and are strictly focused on protecting the health
of people and the environment.
In
regards to the specific studies done on chlorpyrifos (Dursban),
there are actually a myriad of studies that consistently result
in the same conclusion. Some of those risk assessments can be
found on the U.S. EPA website here http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/chlorpyrifos.htm
On the EPA website you will also find the actual press announcements
wherein the EPA said they would “eliminate its use for
nearly all household purposes and to move to significantly reduce
residues of it on several foods regularly eaten by children.”
That same press conference had the EPA Administrator saying,
“Exposure to these kinds of pesticides can cause neurological
effects. Now that we have completed the most extensive evaluation
ever conducted on the potential health hazards from a pesticide,
it is clear that the time has come to take action to protect
our children from exposure to this chemical.” (http://www.epa.gov/epahome/headline_0608.htm)
If
you’d like to read the actual guidelines the EPA had put
out regarding drastically reducing the use of Dursban, including
the elements discussed in the web alert you forwarded to your
friend, the full document is here: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/chlorpyrifos/moa62000.pdf
The
EPA announcment, in a nutshell, says of Dursban:
-
Consumer
home, lawn and garden uses would be eliminated by end of 2000
-
Chlorpyrifos
use will be eliminated in all sensitive areas, such as schools,
day cares, parks, hospitals, nursing homes and malls by the
end of the year.
-
The
acceptable levels of chlorpyrifos residues on several foods
will be eliminated or dramatically lowered by the 2001 growing
season.
-
Chlorpyrifos
will be eliminated as a termiticide for new construction by
the end of 2004.
As
a final note, thanks to the public backlash on the EPA for considering
cutting this recent deal with Dow and allowing Dursban's (as
a home treatment termiticide) continued use, the EPA has dropped
its deal with Dow and announced that the ban will indeed go
forward. This is great news. Dow was forced to stop production
of the termiticide on December 31. They can continue to sell
what they have left in stock (until the end of 2005), but that's
it. For folks who thought Dursban was their only option, the
EPA also provides a list of safer alternatives: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/chlorpyrifos/consumerqs.htm#9
Thanks
again for letting your friends/colleagues know about these important
issues. Thanks to folks like you, U.S. children will be protected
from a chemical that is known to cause neurological damage.
Working together, and armed with accurate and full information,
we can continue to bring about positive change.
Here's
wishing you a healthy 2005!
Craig
Minowa
Environmental Scientist
Organic Consumers Association
http://www.organicconsumers.org
|
