Archive for July, 2009
A recent article in Pesticide Action Newtork’s North America issue reports that a common structural fumigant, VIKANE (sulfuryl flouride) is 4,800 times more potent than carbon dioxide! Additionally, Dow recently has begun marketing VIKANE (sulfuryl fluoride) as a post-harvest fumigant for dry fruits, nuts, and grains under the trade name ProFume.
Health effects of this commonly used chemical range from blood and kidney toxicant, neurotoxin, and respiratory toxicant. Also, the July 2008 ferry accident in the Philippines where it was found that 20,000 pounds of Vikane had been aboard was spilled into the ocean.
Originally developed by Dow Chemical in the 60’s, it is used as a fumigant insecticide primarily in the Southeast for termites. However, it provides no protection from future infestations. It is also used in children’s lice preparations and for treatment of bed bugs, rodents, powder post beetles. It is widely used as a structural fumigant insecticide to control drywood termites.
Sulfuryl fluoride is currently marketed by three manufacturers: Vikane (Dow) has been commercially available since the early 1960s, with Zythor (marketed by competitor EnSystex II of North Carolina) Most recently Drexel Chemical Company has registered Master Fume for the structural market.
During application, the building is enclosed in a tight tent and filled with the gas for a period of time, usually at least 16-18 hours, sometimes as long as 72 hours. The building must then be ventilated, generally for at least 6 hours, before occupants can return. Sulfuryl fluoride is colorless, odorless, and leaves no residue. During the fumigation process, a warning agent called Chloropicrin (similar to tear gas, but more toxic) is first released into the building to ensure that no occupants remain.
A report issued by MIT says that Vikane will “become a greenhouse gas of some importance of the quantity of its use grows as people expect.”
There’s a lot of people asking that question these days, thanks to the growing interest in pesticide-free food and mounting concern about its dangers. According to the evidence, a normal meal contains a mix of pesticides and their resulting breakdown products.
The Pesticide Action Network is at the forefront of educating the public to raise awareness on chemical exposure. Their new database on pesticide residues lists such contaminants as carcinogenic, endocrine (hormone disrupting) neurotoxic, or those toxic to reproduction or development.
Even the most organic farmer or followers of a totally organic lifestyle cannot escape these toxins entirely. With air and water currents and weather patterns, all carrying residue, even certified organic produce cannot be totally pesticide free. This list, however, helps one discern the lowest levels.
The most alarming factor is that one group, organophosphates, pollutes the food supply in terrifying proportions. Neurotoxins, they are responsible for farm worker poisonings. Endosulfan, which is marketed under a few varieties, leads the list as most highly present on commercially grown tomatoes. Like DDT, it is long lasting in the environment. As an endocrine disruptor, even in low levels during pregnancy, is has been linked to birth defects, autism and male reproductive damage. Higher levels which are most common among farm workers include nausea, headache, seizures, vomiting and even death.
Currently, there are no regulations in place that requires toxicity testing of any of these compounds before they are sold for public use. Under the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976, only 5 out of the 80,000 synthetic chemicals have been banned. Once a compound is released for use, it is extremely difficult to get it taken off the market. Lindane, for example, is a chemical found in children’s lice shampoos, is currently banned in over 50 countries, yet the United States still permits its use. Atrazine, a chemical in popular lawn chemicals such as Weed-B-Gone, is one of the most prevalent substances found in water and soil, animal, aquatic life and humans. It is banned in Europe.
It is time for chemical reform. We can no longer be blind or placated by false promises and lies from Dow, Monsanto, Bayer and others. These substances affect us NOW. With alarming instances of birth defects, cancer and environmental impact, there is not a minute to waste.
If you’re into eating local food, you have to see this trailer for the movie “FRESH”. If you’re NOT into local food - watch it anyway!
Joel Salatin, of PolyFace Farm is featured in this film, as is another inspiration for the growing local food movement, Will Allen of Growing Power. Russ Kremer a hog farmer in Missouri, nearly died from an antibiotic resistant staph infection after being gored by one of his animals. These men, along with hundreds of other across this nation are in the forefront of the sustainable agriculture movement and local food.
Food production in this nation has long been a sort of secret society. We all blindly accepted that the groceries we bought at our local store were good for us. Ads on TV and radio promised its goodness and purity. Chemicals were our friends, weren’t they? Why, good old Monsanto and others promised us they were safe, there was no danger to our children or pets, and yes - we could even spray the stuff on our vegetable gardens and eat the veggies right away! Now, however, the spotlight is ON them, their dirty little secrets are being found out.
The public is getting smarter and starting to realize that corporate America isn’t and hasn’t been acting in their best interests. That’s why farmer’s markets have become so popular. People get to know where their food comes from. They get to meet the farmer (or his/her representative) each week. Their food has a ‘face’ so to speak. A connection has been made.
Get informed about what you eat! All is NOT what it seems!