Insecticide To Be Banned, Decades
After Poisoning Thousands
September 1, 2010 |
Photo Credit: USDA Photo by: Charles O'Rear
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Twenty-five years after the worst known
outbreak of pesticide poisoning in U.S. history, an agreement is announced that phases out all uses of aldicarb. Manufacturer Bayer CropScience agreed to stop producing the highly toxic insecticide,
used to kill pests on cotton and several food crops, by 2015 in all
world markets.
Use on citrus
and potatoes
will be prohibited after next year.
New
EPA documents show that babies
and children
under 5 can
ingest
levels of the insecticide
through food
and drinking
water that
exceed limits that the agency
considers safe. “Aldicarb no longer meets our rigorous food safety standards and may pose unacceptable dietary risks, especially to
infants and young children,” the EPA said. At least 2,000 people
fell ill from eating California watermelons illegally contaminated
with aldicarb on the Fourth of July in 1985. “It is good the revocation
is happening; it is a shame it took 20 years,” said Richard Jackson,
chair of environmental health sciences at UCLA,
who was a top state health official during the outbreak.
outbreak of pesticide poisoning in U.S. history, an agreement is announced that phases out all uses of aldicarb. Manufacturer Bayer CropScience agreed to stop producing the highly toxic insecticide,
used to kill pests on cotton and several food crops, by 2015 in all
world markets.
Use on citrus
and potatoes
will be prohibited after next year.
New
EPA documents show that babies
and children
under 5 can
ingest
levels of the insecticide
through food
and drinking
water that
exceed limits that the agency
considers safe. “Aldicarb no longer meets our rigorous food safety standards and may pose unacceptable dietary risks, especially to
infants and young children,” the EPA said. At least 2,000 people
fell ill from eating California watermelons illegally contaminated
with aldicarb on the Fourth of July in 1985. “It is good the revocation
is happening; it is a shame it took 20 years,” said Richard Jackson,
chair of environmental health sciences at UCLA,
who was a top state health official during the outbreak.
A farm chemical with an infamous history -- causing the worst
known outbreak of pesticide poisoning in North America -- is
being phased out under an agreementannounced Tuesday by
the Environmental Protection Agency.
known outbreak of pesticide poisoning in North America -- is
being phased out under an agreementannounced Tuesday by
the Environmental Protection Agency.
Manufacturer Bayer CropScience agreed to stop producing
aldicarb, a highly toxic insecticide used to kill pests on cotton
and several food crops,
by 2015 in all world
markets.
Use on citrus and potatoes
will be prohibited after
next year.
aldicarb, a highly toxic insecticide used to kill pests on cotton
and several food crops,
by 2015 in all world
markets.
Use on citrus and potatoes
will be prohibited after
next year.
Tuesday’s announcement comes
25 years after a highly publicized outbreak of aldicarb poisoning
sickened more than 2,000 people who had eaten California
watermelons.
25 years after a highly publicized outbreak of aldicarb poisoning
sickened more than 2,000 people who had eaten California
watermelons.
New EPA documents show that babies and children under five
can ingest levels of the insecticide through food and water that
exceed levels the agency considers safe.
can ingest levels of the insecticide through food and water that
exceed levels the agency considers safe.
“Aldicarb no longer meets our rigorous food safety standards
and may pose unacceptable dietary risks, especially to infants
and young children,” the EPA said in announcing the agreement.
and may pose unacceptable dietary risks, especially to infants
and young children,” the EPA said in announcing the agreement.
For infants, consumption of aldicarb residue -- mostly in potatoes,
citrus and water – can reach 800 percent higher than the EPA’s
level of concern for health effects, while children between the ages
of one and five can ingest 300 percent more than the level of
concern, according
to an Aug. 4
EPA memo.
citrus and water – can reach 800 percent higher than the EPA’s
level of concern for health effects, while children between the ages
of one and five can ingest 300 percent more than the level of
concern, according
to an Aug. 4
EPA memo.
In a statement,
Bayer CropScience
said Tuesday that its decision to agree to
phase out aldicarb
came after EPA’s
new report calculated
the health risks to children.
Bayer CropScience
said Tuesday that its decision to agree to
phase out aldicarb
came after EPA’s
new report calculated
the health risks to children.
The company
said it “respects the oversight authority of the EPA and is
cooperating with them” even though it “does not fully agree”
with the agency's new assessment. Bayer CropScience stressed
that the analysis “does not mean that aldicarb poses an actual
risk” to consumers.
said it “respects the oversight authority of the EPA and is
cooperating with them” even though it “does not fully agree”
with the agency's new assessment. Bayer CropScience stressed
that the analysis “does not mean that aldicarb poses an actual
risk” to consumers.
One of the most acutely hazardous pesticides still used in the
United States, aldicarb is a carbamate insecticide that is taken
up by roots and carried into the fruit of a plant. High levels of
aldicarb can have neurotoxic effects; it inhibits an enzyme that
controls the transmission of messages to nerves.
United States, aldicarb is a carbamate insecticide that is taken
up by roots and carried into the fruit of a plant. High levels of
aldicarb can have neurotoxic effects; it inhibits an enzyme that
controls the transmission of messages to nerves.
“After thousands of poisonings, it is mind-boggling that aldicarb
is still in use,” said Steve Scholl-Buckwald, managing
director of the environmental group Pesticide Action
Network North America. “The wheels just grind so,
so slowly. It never should have been registered in the first
place back in 1970 and by the mid-1980s there was
sufficient data to suggest it should have been taken
off the market.”
is still in use,” said Steve Scholl-Buckwald, managing
director of the environmental group Pesticide Action
Network North America. “The wheels just grind so,
so slowly. It never should have been registered in the first
place back in 1970 and by the mid-1980s there was
sufficient data to suggest it should have been taken
off the market.”
On the Fourth of July in 1985, three people who had eaten
watermelon in Oakland, Calif., rapidly became ill with
symptoms that included vomiting, diarrhea, muscle
twitches and abnormally slow heart rates. At the same
time, people in Oregon were falling ill, too, and tests
of watermelons found extremely high levels of aldicarb,
which was illegal to use on all melons.
watermelon in Oakland, Calif., rapidly became ill with
symptoms that included vomiting, diarrhea, muscle
twitches and abnormally slow heart rates. At the same
time, people in Oregon were falling ill, too, and tests
of watermelons found extremely high levels of aldicarb,
which was illegal to use on all melons.
California ordered an immediate ban on watermelon sales,
which meant huge quantities had to be destroyed in fields
and at stores at the height of the season. How aldicarb got into watermelons remains unknown, but experts suspected that
some melon farmers used low levels of it intentionally and
illegally and that some also might have flowed off nearby
cotton fields.
which meant huge quantities had to be destroyed in fields
and at stores at the height of the season. How aldicarb got into watermelons remains unknown, but experts suspected that
some melon farmers used low levels of it intentionally and
illegally and that some also might have flowed off nearby
cotton fields.
That summer, a total of 1,350 cases of aldicarb poisoning
from watermelon were reported in California, plus another
692 cases in eight other states and Canada, according to a
report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Seventeen people were hospitalized. Six deaths and two
stillbirths were reported in people who fell ill, but the
pesticide was not listed as the cause of death in
coroner reports.
from watermelon were reported in California, plus another
692 cases in eight other states and Canada, according to a
report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Seventeen people were hospitalized. Six deaths and two
stillbirths were reported in people who fell ill, but the
pesticide was not listed as the cause of death in
coroner reports.
To date, it remains the largest case of pesticide food
poisoning documented in North America.
poisoning documented in North America.
Richard Jackson, who was a top official in California’s health
department at the time of the watermelon poisonings, testified
at a U.S. Senate hearing back in 1991 that aldicarb posed a
health risk to children and that regulations offered an
inadequate margin of safety.
department at the time of the watermelon poisonings, testified
at a U.S. Senate hearing back in 1991 that aldicarb posed a
health risk to children and that regulations offered an
inadequate margin of safety.
“It is good the revocation is happening; it is a shame it took
20 years,” said Jackson, now chair of environmental health
sciences at UCLA.
20 years,” said Jackson, now chair of environmental health
sciences at UCLA.
Dr. Lynn Goldman, an environmental health professor at
Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public
Health, also welcomed the agreement, noting that aldicarb
has been under special review at the EPA for more than
25 years.
Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public
Health, also welcomed the agreement, noting that aldicarb
has been under special review at the EPA for more than
25 years.
“It is good to see that EPA and Bayer have now reached
an agreement to phase out the remaining uses,” Goldman
said Tuesday.
an agreement to phase out the remaining uses,” Goldman
said Tuesday.
Goldman was an epidemiologist with California’s health
department when the outbreak occurred.
department when the outbreak occurred.
“As a state health official, I wanted to see stronger action on
aldicarb,” she said, adding that she and Jackson
“recommended that aldicarb be banned in California,
because of its potency and what seemed to be a large
temptation for misuse. We obviously did not prevail.”
aldicarb,” she said, adding that she and Jackson
“recommended that aldicarb be banned in California,
because of its potency and what seemed to be a large
temptation for misuse. We obviously did not prevail.”
Aldicarb was the first of the so-called “dirty dozen”
pesticides that Pesticide Action Network targeted in 1985
for worldwide ban. At the time, it was found in bananas and
in well water on Long
Island, NY.
pesticides that Pesticide Action Network targeted in 1985
for worldwide ban. At the time, it was found in bananas and
in well water on Long
Island, NY.
Scholl-Buckwald said that the EPA relies mostly on
voluntary agreements, instead of bans, to avoid lawsuits from manufacturers.
voluntary agreements, instead of bans, to avoid lawsuits from manufacturers.
“The system is designed to leave things like this on the
market as long as possible. It’s innocent until proven guilty. It’s really
unconscionable that it takes literally decades to do this,” he said.
market as long as possible. It’s innocent until proven guilty. It’s really
unconscionable that it takes literally decades to do this,” he said.
Goldman in 1993 was named EPA assistant administrator
overseeing pesticide programs, but she said Tuesday that
even then, her efforts to restrict aldicarb were hamstrung by
insufficient scientific evidence at the time and a weak
pesticide law. She said she faced “the need to exercise
due process in making sure that the company producing
the chemical had a fair hearing.”
overseeing pesticide programs, but she said Tuesday that
even then, her efforts to restrict aldicarb were hamstrung by
insufficient scientific evidence at the time and a weak
pesticide law. She said she faced “the need to exercise
due process in making sure that the company producing
the chemical had a fair hearing.”
Years later, in 2007, the EPA concluded that there were
“potential human health risks” from drinking-water contamination,
as well as risks to birds and other wildlife. But the agency
approved its continued use with added precautions, such
as increased setbacks between fields and
water wells and reduced amounts applied to crops.
“potential human health risks” from drinking-water contamination,
as well as risks to birds and other wildlife. But the agency
approved its continued use with added precautions, such
as increased setbacks between fields and
water wells and reduced amounts applied to crops.
Then, this month, the EPA revised its analysis using new
toxicity data and determined that current uses meant babies
and young children were at risk of being exposed to levels
in water and food that exceeded the agency’s level of concern.
toxicity data and determined that current uses meant babies
and young children were at risk of being exposed to levels
in water and food that exceeded the agency’s level of concern.
Aldicarb residues are found in grapefruit, oranges, orange
juice, potatoes, frozen French fries and sweet potatoes.
It already has been banned in bananas because of the
potential for high exposure in children.
juice, potatoes, frozen French fries and sweet potatoes.
It already has been banned in bananas because of the
potential for high exposure in children.
In the new analysis, children’s exposure from drinking water was estimated based on aldicarb use at cotton and peanut farms in Georgia.
“Potatoes, citrus and water are the greatest contributors to the aldicarb exposure,” the EPA document says.
Bayer researchers recently reported that water contamination has been minimal. They analyzed 1,673 drinking-water wells that were within 300 meters of fields treated with aldicarb, which has the trade name Temik, and found that none violated the EPA’s health advisory limit.
“For nearly 40 years, Temik has provided farmers with
unsurpassed control of destructive pests, without compromising
human health or environmental safety,” Bill Buckner,
president and CEO of
Bayer CropScience, said in a statement Tuesday.
unsurpassed control of destructive pests, without compromising
human health or environmental safety,” Bill Buckner,
president and CEO of
Bayer CropScience, said in a statement Tuesday.
While it is known that high exposure can cause vomiting, diarrhea and neurotoxic effects, the potential for chronic health effects from low exposure remains poorly understood. It is not carcinogenic, although researchers found a high rate of colon cancer in pesticide applicators exposed to high levels.
Its use has steeply declined in the U.S. over the past couple of
decades, particularly on food crops. It is currently legal to use only on citrus, potatoes, dry beans, peanuts, soybeans, sweet potatoes, sugar
beets and cotton. Its main use is to kill mites and nematodes on
cotton, potatoes and citrus.
decades, particularly on food crops. It is currently legal to use only on citrus, potatoes, dry beans, peanuts, soybeans, sweet potatoes, sugar
beets and cotton. Its main use is to kill mites and nematodes on
cotton, potatoes and citrus.
In 2008, about 75,000 pounds were applied to California crops
-- almost entirely cotton - compared with more than half a million
pounds in 1998, according to state Department of Pesticide
Regulation data.
-- almost entirely cotton - compared with more than half a million
pounds in 1998, according to state Department of Pesticide
Regulation data.
Union Carbide was the sole manufacturer of aldicarb until 1987.
Its plant in Bhopal, India, was making aldicarb when a pesticide
called methyl isocyanate leaked, killing several thousand people
in 1984.
Its plant in Bhopal, India, was making aldicarb when a pesticide
called methyl isocyanate leaked, killing several thousand people
in 1984.
Aldicarb already has been banned in Europe, although it is
still used, and perhaps manufactured, in other countries.
still used, and perhaps manufactured, in other countries.
Under the new agreement, Bayer, the sole U.S. manufacturer,
said its distribution will end by 2017. Use on citrus and potatoes
will be banned beginning in 2012, and all remaining uses will
end in 2018.
In the meantime, new requirements will go into effect to change
labeling and to protect ground water near cotton, soybean and
peanut farms.
said its distribution will end by 2017. Use on citrus and potatoes
will be banned beginning in 2012, and all remaining uses will
end in 2018.
In the meantime, new requirements will go into effect to change
labeling and to protect ground water near cotton, soybean and
peanut farms.
“We recognize the significant impact this decision will have
on growers and the food industry, and will do everything possible to
address their concerns during this transition,” Buckner said. He added,
“We recognize the loss of this tool to growers and will seek innovative
solutions to fill this void.”
on growers and the food industry, and will do everything possible to
address their concerns during this transition,” Buckner said. He added,
“We recognize the loss of this tool to growers and will seek innovative
solutions to fill this void.”
But Scholl-Buckwald said he was disappointed that the
agreement didn’t have earlier deadlines.
agreement didn’t have earlier deadlines.
“After 40 years, the question is why should there be a
phaseout period at all,” he said.
phaseout period at all,” he said.
Marla Cone is the Editor in Chief of Environmental Health News.
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