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Volume
VIII, Number 3
November-December
2000
CONTACTS
Beyond
Pesticides
Tel: (202) 543-5450
Dow Agroscience
Tel: (317) 337-4799
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IN
BRIEF
Pesticides: The Real Pests?
By
Amanda Presley
Joe Crozier and Yvette Maiangowi thought that, like many other
Americans, they were simply developing seasonal allergies. Within months
of moving into their Arizona home, the symptoms began: asthma, headaches
and fatigue. Worst affected was four-year-old James: He ground his teeth
at night and vomited frequently.
"At first we thought these [problems] were caused by pollens, molds or
dust," says Crozier. The family replaced the ventilation system, cleaned
carpets and disinfected walls and ceilings. The symptoms grew worse. An
area doctor finally diagnosed them with pesticide poisoning. Over 785
gallons of pesticides had been sprayed in their home by a previous owner,
they later learned, including 370 gallons of Dursban, a compound banned by
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this past June.
Dursban is the most widely used insecticide to date -- between 15 and
24 million pounds have been used each year, two to four million pounds in
the home and garden. One thousand cases of poisoning are reported
annually, with such symptoms as nausea, headaches and dizziness. Lack of
treatment could pose long-term damage to the nervous system, says Jay
Feldman, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Beyond
Pesticides.
The EPA's ban resulted from tests proving that Dursban, also known as
chlorpyrifos and Lorsban, causes brain damage in fetal rats whose mothers
were given the pesticide. Concern over children's health prompted the EPA
to restrict spraying of Dursban on popular produce, in particular apples,
grapes and tomatoes.
But while the ban phases out retail use of Dursban, critics like
Feldman argue it's not enough. "All high exposures should have been
eliminated immediately," Feldman says. Instead, retail sale of the
chemical will be allowed until the end of 2002. (Wal-Mart agreed to remove
all chlorpyrifos products by October.) Spraying under new home foundations
will continue legally until the end of 2005. Dursban will be allowed
indefinitely at non-residential areas like golf courses, and will remain
an agricultural pesticide.
But other chemicals of similar toxicity will replace it, warns Feldman.
The compound is one of 37 organophosphates, pesticides that attack the
nervous system. Dursban is registered in more than 88 countries and is an
ingredient in products like Ortho Home Pest Control and Black Flag Liquid
Roach and Ant Killer. Elin Miller, vice president of Dow AgroSciences,
stands by Dursban's safety. "We ultimately felt we had to reach an
agreement with the EPA...but this does not change our conviction in the
safety of chlorpyrifos for all labeled uses." |
