Guest guest Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 I thought all methylated chemicals were toxic? Something about they can get into our metabolism process and end up in the reproductive systems? -LanaOn 5/1/06, Zoe & <ZOEA@...> wrote: Even lovely iodine can be turned into a toxic chemical. Our pesticide experts created methyl iodide to replace the nasty methyl bromide. Not too surprisingly, methyl iodide also turned out to be highly toxic. " The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has withdrawn its plan to approve a highly toxic fumigant for strawberries and other high-value crops after California officials, labor unions, environmentalists and others objected that nearby residents and farmworkers could be in danger. " The new pesticide, methyl iodide, is designed to replace methyl bromide, which is banned under an international treaty because it damages the Earth's ozone layer. " Strawberry growers, concentrated mostly in Ventura and Santa Cruz counties, have been searching for nearly 15 years for a fumigant to replace methyl bromide, which they have been phasing out but are still using under exemptions granted by the United Nations. Facing criticism that it was substituting one dangerous chemical for another, the EPA decided not to register methyl iodide, also known as iodomethane. It will reevaluate the pesticide next year.... " In animal tests, breathing large doses of methyl iodide killed fetuses, caused thyroid tumors, damaged respiratory tracts and altered thyroid hormones, which can disrupt the development of infants' brains.... " The manufacturer, Arysta LifeScience Corp., said it has not given up on its new chemical, which it plans to market under the name MIDAS. " http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_258.cfm Zoe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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