16
Dec
California Asked To Put an End to a Deadly Fumigant Used on Food Eaten Nationwide
(Beyond Pesticides, December 16, 2024) The fact that three-quarters of all U.S. fruits and nuts and one-third of all U.S. vegetables are grown in California means that all U.S. food eaters have a stake in how food is grown there. California is proposing the continued use of the fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D, also known as Telone), which can cause deadly effects to farmworkers and endocrine disrupting effects to communities of people exposed through nontarget chemical drift from farmland.
So, it is with deep concern that Beyond Pesticides is urging the state of California, where the chemical is undergoing review, to ban the toxicant. Endocrine disruption, an adverse effect for which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has never completed a pesticide testing protocol, adversely affects the functioning of glands and hormones and is linked to major life-threatening diseases in most organ systems in the body—contributing to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, early puberty, infertility and other reproductive disorders, and childhood and adult cancers.
In a recently released draft regulation, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) will allow highly elevated exposure to 1,3-D, ignoring the scientific literature and advice of the state’s own toxicologists at its Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). CDPR is proposing to allow continued community exposure to 1,3-D at levels that are fourteen times higher than the State’s official cancer risk level, perpetuating environmental racism and endangering vulnerable communities.
CDPR’s draft regulation applies separate and unequal standards for different groups, allowing children and adult residents near agricultural fields to be exposed to significantly higher cancer risks than workers in neighboring fields—the “occupational bystanders.” This discrepancy is unjustifiable and fails to uphold the principles of equity and environmental justice.
For decades, 1,3-D has harmed communities, particularly Latino and Indigenous populations, who are disproportionately exposed to the pesticide. The state’s toxicologists have set a cancer risk exposure level of air concentrated with 1,3-D at 0.04 parts per billion (ppb) per day. Yet, CDPR has adopted one regulation and is proposing another for the same pesticide: one adopts the 1,3-D manufacturer Dow Chemical’s preferred exposure standard of 0.56 ppb per day for residents and children, while the other uses the OEHHA standard for occupational bystanders. Even for occupational bystanders, by disregarding off-the-clock exposure, DPR proposes implementing only 100-foot buffer zones, entirely inadequate for protection against a fumigant that can drift for miles at harmful levels.
Public health advocates think it is outrageous that EPA and CDPR would allow farmworkers—whose labor was judged “essential” during the pandemic—to be routinely exposed to highly toxic pesticides, which could be replaced by organic practices.
1,3-D is a pre-plant soil fumigant registered for use on soils to control nematodes. It is allowed on all crops and is often used with chloropicrin, another highly toxic fumigant, to increase its herbicidal and fungicidal properties. 1,3-D causes cancer. In addition, the National Institutes of Health’s PubChem states, “Occupational exposure is likely to be through inhalation and via the skin. Irritation of the eyes and the upper respiratory mucosa appears promptly after exposure. Dermal exposure caused severe skin irritations. Inhalation may result in serious signs and symptoms of poisoning with lower exposures resulting in depression of the central nervous system and irritation of the respiratory system. Some poisoning incidents have occurred in which persons were hospitalized with signs and symptoms of irritation of the mucous membrane, chest discomfort, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and, occasionally, loss of consciousness and decreased libido.” Chloropicrin is extremely irritating to lungs, eyes, and skin. Inhalation may lead to pulmonary edema, possibly resulting in death.
These and other soil fumigants not only pose severe health threats to farmworkers and bystanders but also threaten soil and water ecosystems. In contrast, organic production seeks to build healthy soils that resist plant pathogens, making fumigation unnecessary. Thus, these fumigants pose unreasonable adverse effects on humans and the environment and should be banned.
The public has an opportunity to comment and Tell EPA and Congress to cancel the registration of all toxic soil fumigants and encourage organic alternatives.
In addition, after submitting this Action, there is an option to copy/paste comments directly to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation website. [Unfortunately, a “click and submit” form is currently not available for CDPR comment.]
Comment to California Department of Pesticide Regulation
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (DPR) draft regulation for the cancer-causing pesticide 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D, also known as Telone) continues to allow for exposure levels that are fourteen times higher than the State’s official cancer risk level, perpetuating environmental racism and endangering vulnerable communities.
DPR’s draft regulation applies separate and unequal standards for different groups, allowing children and adult residents near agricultural fields to be exposed to significantly higher cancer risks than workers in neighboring fields—the “occupational bystanders.” This discrepancy is unjustifiable and fails to uphold the principles of equity and environmental justice.
It is outrageous that the DPR would allow farmworkers—whose labor was judged “essential” during the pandemic—to be routinely exposed to highly toxic pesticides, which could be replaced by organic practices.
For decades, 1,3-D has harmed communities, particularly Latino and Indigenous populations, who are disproportionately exposed to the pesticide. The State’s own toxicologists at the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) have set an acceptable cancer risk exposure level of air concentrated with 1,3-D at 0.04 parts per billion (ppb) per day. Yet, DPR has adopted one regulation and is proposing another for the same pesticide: one adopts the 1,3-D manufacturer Dow Chemical’s preferred exposure standard of 0.56 ppb per day for residents and children, while the other uses the OEHHA standard for occupational bystanders. Even for occupational bystanders, by disregarding off-the-clock exposure, DPR proposes implementing only 100-foot buffer zones, entirely inadequate for protections against a fumigant that can drift for miles at harmful levels.
1,3-D is a pre-plant soil fumigant registered for use on soils to control nematodes. It is allowed on all crops and is often used with chloropicrin, another highly toxic fumigant, to increase its herbicidal and fungicidal properties. 1,3-D causes cancer. In addition, the National Institutes of Health’s PubChem states, “Occupational exposure is likely to be through inhalation and via the skin. Irritation of the eyes and the upper respiratory mucosa appears promptly after exposure. Dermal exposure caused severe skin irritations. Inhalation may result in serious signs and symptoms of poisoning with lower exposures resulting in depression of the central nervous system and irritation of the respiratory system. Some poisoning incidents have occurred in which persons were hospitalized with signs and symptoms of irritation of the mucous membrane, chest discomfort, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and, occasionally, loss of consciousness and decreased libido.” Chloropicrin is extremely irritating to lungs, eyes, and skin. Inhalation may lead to pulmonary edema, possibly resulting in death.
DPR must prioritize the health and safety of California’s most vulnerable residents and adopt a single health-protective standard of 1,3-D air concentrations of 0.04 ppb for all Californians, ensuring equal protection from this carcinogenic pesticide. 1,3-D and other soil fumigants not only pose severe health threats to farmworkers and bystanders, but also threaten soil and water ecosystems. In contrast, organic production seeks to build healthy soils that resist plant pathogens, making fumigation unnecessary. Thus, these fumigants pose unreasonable adverse effects on humans and the environment and should be eliminated.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.
Comment to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (CDPR) draft regulation for the cancer-causing pesticide 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D, also known as Telone) continues to allow for exposure levels that are fourteen times higher than the State’s official cancer risk level, perpetuating environmental racism and endangering vulnerable communities.
CDPR’s draft regulation applies separate and unequal standards for different groups, allowing children and adult residents near agricultural fields to be exposed to significantly higher cancer risks than workers in neighboring fields—the “occupational bystanders.” This discrepancy is unjustifiable and fails to uphold the principles of equity and environmental justice.
It is outrageous that CDPR would allow farmworkers—whose labor was judged “essential” during the pandemic—to be routinely exposed to highly toxic pesticides, which could be replaced by organic practices.
CDPR’s draft regulation highlights the dangers to which farmworkers are routinely exposed. It is outrageous that the Environmental Protection Agency would allow farmworkers—whose labor was judged “essential” during the pandemic—to be routinely exposed to highly toxic pesticides, which could be replaced by organic practices.
1,3-D is a pre-plant soil fumigant registered for use on soils to control nematodes. It is allowed on all crops and is often used with chloropicrin, another highly toxic fumigant, to increase its herbicidal and fungicidal properties. 1,3-D causes cancer. In addition, the National Institutes of Health’s PubChem states, “Occupational exposure is likely to be through inhalation and via the skin. Irritation of the eyes and the upper respiratory mucosa appears promptly after exposure. Dermal exposure caused severe skin irritations. Inhalation may result in serious signs and symptoms of poisoning with lower exposures resulting in depression of the central nervous system and irritation of the respiratory system. Some poisoning incidents have occurred in which persons were hospitalized with signs and symptoms of irritation of the mucous membrane, chest discomfort, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and, occasionally, loss of consciousness and decreased libido.” Chloropicrin is extremely irritating to the lungs, eyes, and skin. Inhalation may lead to pulmonary edema, possibly resulting in death.
1,3-D and other soil fumigants not only pose severe health threats to farmworkers and bystanders but also threaten soil and water ecosystems. In contrast, organic production seeks to build healthy soils that resist plant pathogens, making fumigation unnecessary. Thus, these fumigants pose unreasonable adverse effects on humans and the environment. Their registrations should be canceled.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.
Comment to the U.S. Congress
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (CDPR) draft regulation for the cancer-causing pesticide 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D, also known as Telone) continues to allow for exposure levels that are fourteen times higher than the State’s official cancer risk level, perpetuating environmental racism and endangering vulnerable communities.
CDPR’s draft regulation applies separate and unequal standards for different groups, allowing children and adult residents near agricultural fields to be exposed to significantly higher cancer risks than workers in neighboring fields—the “occupational bystanders.” This discrepancy is unjustifiable and fails to uphold the principles of equity and environmental justice.
It is outrageous that CDPR would allow farmworkers—whose labor was judged “essential” during the pandemic—to be routinely exposed to highly toxic pesticides, which could be replaced by organic practices.
CDPR’s draft regulation highlights the dangers to which farmworkers are routinely exposed. It is outrageous that the Environmental Protection Agency would allow farmworkers—whose labor was judged “essential” during the pandemic—to be routinely exposed to highly toxic pesticides, which could be replaced by organic practices.
1,3-D is a pre-plant soil fumigant registered for use on soils to control nematodes. It is allowed on all crops and is often used with chloropicrin, another highly toxic fumigant, to increase its herbicidal and fungicidal properties. 1,3-D causes cancer. In addition, the National Institutes of Health’s PubChem states, “Occupational exposure is likely to be through inhalation and via the skin. Irritation of the eyes and the upper respiratory mucosa appears promptly after exposure. Dermal exposure caused severe skin irritations. Inhalation may result in serious signs and symptoms of poisoning with lower exposures resulting in depression of the central nervous system and irritation of the respiratory system. Some poisoning incidents have occurred in which persons were hospitalized with signs and symptoms of irritation of the mucous membrane, chest discomfort, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and, occasionally, loss of consciousness and decreased libido.” Chloropicrin is extremely irritating to the lungs, eyes, and skin. Inhalation may lead to pulmonary edema, possibly resulting in death.
1,3-D and other soil fumigants not only pose severe health threats to farmworkers and bystanders but also threaten soil and water ecosystems. In contrast, organic production seeks to build healthy soils that resist plant pathogens, making fumigation unnecessary. Thus, these fumigants pose unreasonable adverse effects on humans and the environment.
Please tell EPA that their registrations should be canceled.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.
