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EPA Must Not Revive Aldicarb Use
Thirty-nine years ago, on December 2, 1984, a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, released a cloud of highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas in the middle of the night, killing thousands of people immediately—estimates range from 1754 to 10,000—and up to 20,000 subsequently. Estimates of the number suffering permanent disabilities or chronic disease range up to 95% of the affected population of 531,881. MIC is a precursor used in the manufacture of carbamate insecticides, including aldicarb, carbofuran, and carbaryl. In spite of this history and the many adverse effects of aldicarb, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now considering reviving the pesticide's use in citrus production.
Less than a year after the Bhopal tragedy, a cloud containing aldicarb oxime—which is combined with MIC to make aldicarb—leaked from a Union Carbide plant in Institute, WV. This time, at least 135 residents were treated for eye, throat, and lung irritation. In 1991, seven cars of a freight train derailed near Dunsmuir, CA. A tank car ruptured, dumping 19,000 gallons of the soil sterilant metamsodium into the Sacramento River. Several hundred people were hospitalized after inhaling fumes. The chemical causes birth defects and fetal death and is a known mutagen, so the total impact on human health is unknown. However, the chemical sterilized a 41-mile stretch of the river, killing over a million fish and thousands of trees. Such events are not in the distant past, as shown by the derailment of about 50 out of 141 cars on the Norfolk Southern train that exploded in a towering fireball over the town of East Palestine, OH in February 2023. Among the compounds on board those cars were “inert” pesticide ingredients (vinyl chloride, ethylhexyl acrylate, and isobutylene), an antimicrobial compound (ethylene glycol monobutyl ether [EGBE]), benzene (a carcinogenic solvent), and butyl acrylate. In 2022, train accidents resulted in releases of hazardous chemicals 11 times.
These examples of injuries to humans and the environment show that the harm caused by pesticides goes far beyond the impacts to consumers, farmworkers, other organisms, air, water, and soil caused by the application of those poisons, which are also extensive. We are all potentially affected. In some cases—including aldicarb—the damages caused by use alone have been shown many times to be, in the words of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), “unreasonable adverse effects.”
In fact, no pesticide epitomizes the “cradle-to-grave” dangers of pesticides better than aldicarb. In short, it is a suspected endocrine disruptor and is linked to neurotoxic and reproductive effects, asthma, and learning behavior problems. It has been detected in groundwater, is a potential leacher, and is toxic to birds and fish/aquatic organisms. In use, it has been implicated in poisoning of workers and their children, poisoning deer and other game consuming contaminated seeds, and notably, poisoning food grown in soil treated with the chemical. The effects don't stop there—aldicarb is also notorious for contaminating groundwater. Aldicarb is a highly toxic, systemic carbamate insecticide banned by over 100 countries under the Rotterdam Convention. Both EPA and the World Health Organization (WHO) classify the chemical in the highest toxicity category.
Aldicarb may persist in groundwater for decades due to its long half-life between 200 to 2,000 days, and ingestion of aldicarb-contaminated groundwater by residents adversely affects immune system function. Furthermore, aldicarb is a systemic pesticide that plant roots and leaves readily uptake, leading to toxic chemical residues in pollen and guttation droplets, poisoning pollinators like bees.
Evidence demonstrates that past use of the aldicarb product Temik 15G on citrus fruit crops exclusively posed the highest risk to children and infants, ultimately leading to its 2010 cancellation. Furthermore, the Florida Department of Agriculture denied AgLogic's request to gain “Special Local Needs” approval under Section 24(c) of FIFRA for use on Florida citrus in 2017 and 2018 because AgLogic was unable to demonstrate that aldicarb is safer at controlling pests than other alternatives.
Organic growers know that soil biology and soil health are important to protection from diseases like citrus greening. The use of aldicarb, on the other hand, destroys healthy soil biota.
This revival of consideration of aldicarb use demonstrates the danger of regulating pesticides through negotiated voluntary cancellations, which do not produce a record on which EPA or the public can depend for future decisions. Despite previous cancellations due to unreasonable adverse effects, particularly on children's health through voluntary cancellations, EPA is now considering approving the use of aldicarb for use on Florida oranges and grapefruits. The harms of aldicarb are perhaps the best documented of all pesticides.
Please see the Daily News from December 14, 2023, for more information about aldicarb.
EPA must not revive the use of aldicarb, which is responsible for so much death and destruction, beginning with its manufacture and continuing through its use.
The targets for this Action are the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Congress.
Thank you for your active participation and engagement!
Photo credit: This June 8, 2010 file photo, a worker cleans the dust as he displays a panel of photos of people who died in the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster at the forensic department of Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal, India. India's Supreme Court issued notices Monday, Feb. 28, 2011 to Dow Chemicals and Union Carbide Corp. seeking payment of US$1.7 billion in enhanced compensation for survivors of the world's worst industrial disaster that occurred more than 26 years ago. (AP Photo/Prakash Hatvalne)
Letter to EPA:
Thirty-nine years ago, on December 3, 1984, a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, released a cloud of highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas in the middle of the night, killing thousands of people immediately—estimates range from 1754 to 10,000—and up to 20,000 subsequently. Estimates of the number suffering permanent disabilities or chronic diseases range up to 500,000. MIC is a precursor used in the manufacture of carbamate insecticides, including aldicarb, carbofuran, and carbaryl. In spite of this history and the many adverse effects of aldicarb, EPA is now considering reviving the pesticide’s use.
Less than a year later, a cloud containing aldicarb oxime—which is combined with MIC to make aldicarb—leaked from a Union Carbide plant in Institute, WV, and at least 135 residents were treated for eye, throat, and lung irritation. In 1991, seven cars of a freight train derailed near Dunsmuir, CA, dumping 19,000 gallons of the soil sterilant metamsodium into the Sacramento River, resulting in the hospitalization of several hundred people, with unknown future impacts from birth defects, fetal death, and mutations. Miles of the river were sterilized, killing over a million fish and thousands of trees. In February 2023, about 50 out of 141 cars on a Norfolk Southern train exploded in a towering fireball over East Palestine, OH. Among the compounds on board those cars were “inert” pesticide ingredients, an antimicrobial compound, benzene, and butyl acrylate.
Thus, the harm caused by pesticides goes far beyond the impacts caused by the application of those poisons, which are also extensive. We are all potentially affected. In fact, no pesticide epitomizes the “cradle-to-grave” dangers of pesticides better than aldicarb. It is a suspected endocrine disruptor, linked to neurotoxic and reproductive effects, asthma, and learning behavior problems. It has been detected in groundwater, is a potential leacher, and is toxic to birds and fish/aquatic organisms. It is a systemic pesticide readily taken up by plant roots and leaves, leading to toxic chemical residues in pollen and guttation droplets, poisoning pollinators like bees.
It has been implicated in poisoning of workers and their children, game-consuming contaminated seeds, and notably, food grown in soil treated with the chemical. Aldicarb is also notorious for contaminating groundwater, where it may persist for decades due to its long half-life between 200 to 2,000 days. Ingestion of aldicarb-contaminated groundwater by residents adversely affects immune system function. Aldicarb is a highly toxic, systemic carbamate insecticide banned by over 100 countries under the Rotterdam Convention. Both EPA and the World Health Organization (WHO) classify the chemical in the highest toxicity category.
Evidence demonstrates that past use of aldicarb on citrus fruit crops exclusively posed the highest risk to children and infants, ultimately leading to its 2010 cancellation. In 2017 and 2018, the Florida Department of Agriculture denied “Special Local Needs” approval for use on Florida citrus because the registrant was unable to demonstrate that aldicarb is safer than alternatives.
Organic growers know that soil biology and soil health are important to protection from diseases like citrus greening. The use of aldicarb, on the other hand, destroys healthy soil biota.
I am appalled that despite previous cancellations due to unreasonable adverse effects, particularly on children's health, EPA is now considering approving the use of aldicarb for use on Florida oranges and grapefruits. This reconsideration of aldicarb use demonstrates the danger of regulating pesticides through negotiated voluntary cancellations, which do not produce a record on which EPA or the public can depend for future decisions.
EPA must not revive the use of aldicarb, which is responsible for so much death and destruction, beginning with its manufacture and continuing through its use.
Thank you.
Letter to U.S. Senators and Representative:
Thirty-nine years ago—on December 3, 1984—a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, released a cloud of highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas in the middle of the night, killing thousands of people immediately—estimates range from 1754 to 10,000—and up to 20,000 subsequently. Estimates of the number suffering permanent disabilities or chronic diseases range up to 500,000. MIC is a precursor used in the manufacture of carbamate insecticides, including aldicarb, carbofuran, and carbaryl. In spite of this history and the many adverse effects of aldicarb, EPA is now considering reviving the pesticide’s use.
Less than a year later, a cloud containing aldicarb oxime—which is combined with MIC to make aldicarb—leaked from a Union Carbide plant in Institute, WV, and at least 135 residents were treated for eye, throat, and lung irritation. In 1991, seven cars of a freight train derailed near Dunsmuir, CA, dumping 19,000 gallons of the soil sterilant metamsodium into the Sacramento River, resulting in the hospitalization of several hundred people, with unknown future impacts from birth defects, fetal death, and mutations. Miles of the river were sterilized, killing over a million fish and thousands of trees. In February 2023, about 50 out of 141 cars on a Norfolk Southern train exploded in a towering fireball over East Palestine, OH. Among the compounds on board those cars were “inert” pesticide ingredients, an antimicrobial compound, benzene, and butyl acrylate.
Thus, the harm caused by pesticides goes far beyond the impacts caused by the application of those poisons, which are also extensive. We are all potentially affected. In fact, no pesticide epitomizes the “cradle-to-grave” dangers of pesticides better than aldicarb. It is a suspected endocrine disruptor, linked to neurotoxic and reproductive effects, asthma, and learning behavior problems. It has been detected in groundwater, is a potential leacher, and is toxic to birds and fish/aquatic organisms. It is a systemic pesticide readily taken up by plant roots and leaves, leading to toxic chemical residues in pollen and guttation droplets, poisoning pollinators like bees.
Aldicarb has been implicated in poisoning of workers and their children, game-consuming contaminated seeds, and notably, food grown in soil treated with the chemical. It is also notorious for contaminating groundwater, where it may persist for decades due to its long half-life, between 200 to 2,000 days. Ingestion of aldicarb-contaminated groundwater by residents adversely affects immune system function. Aldicarb is a highly toxic, systemic insecticide banned by over 100 countries under the Rotterdam Convention. Both EPA and the World Health Organization (WHO) classify the chemical in the highest toxicity category.
Evidence demonstrates that past use of aldicarb on citrus fruit crops exclusively posed the highest risk to children and infants, ultimately leading to its 2010 cancellation. In 2017 and 2018, the Florida Department of Agriculture denied “Special Local Needs” approval for use on Florida citrus because the registrant was unable to demonstrate that aldicarb is safer than alternatives.
Organic growers know that soil biology and soil health are important to protection from diseases like citrus greening. The use of aldicarb, on the other hand, destroys healthy soil biota.
I am appalled that despite previous cancellations due to unreasonable adverse effects, particularly on children's health, EPA is now considering approving the use of aldicarb for use on Florida oranges and grapefruits. This reconsideration of aldicarb use demonstrates the danger of regulating pesticides through negotiated voluntary cancellations, which do not produce a record on which EPA or the public can depend for future decisions.
Please ensure that EPA does not revive the use of aldicarb, which is responsible for so much death and destruction, beginning with its manufacture and continuing through its use.
Thank you.