2,4-D - Common weed killer linked to cancer, neurological impairment, reproductive problems - !!! - different sets of information

[Guest guest]

/Note an observation fraught with significance/:

" What we find is that the (federal agency) looks at a completely

different set of information than the doctors do, " Ms. Sears said. " They

are looking at what happens in animals and their information is largely

proprietary. The doctors are looking at what is happening in children

and people living across the country and they are seeing major reasons

for our problems. This is why we have a complete disconnect between

what's happening at the federal level and down where the doctors are

saying there are problems. "

* * * *

*Common weed killer linked to cancer*

DENNIS BUECKERT

Canadian Press

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060424.wpests0424/BNStory/s\

pecialScienceandHealth/home

Ottawa -- The most commonly used weed killer on Canadian lawns and

gardens -- known only as 2,4-D -- is " persuasively linked " to cancer,

neurological impairment and reproductive problems, says a new study.

The report in the journal Paediatrics and Child Health directly

contradicts a recent re-assessment of 2,4-D by the federal Pest

Management Regulatory Agency, which found the product does not cause

cancer and can be used safely on lawns if directions are followed.

The product 2,4-D is found in many common pesticides, and has been

controversial for decades.

By coincidence, the study appeared the same day that New Democrat MP Pat

tabled a private member's bill that would ban the use of

pesticides for cosmetic purposes.

Mr. says more than 50 million kilograms of pesticides are still

used in Canada each year.

His bill would require pesticide manufacturers to prove their products

are safe before being placed on the market, rather than regulators being

required to prove the products are dangerous.

The authors of the new study say the federal re-assessment is largely

based on animal studies, which cannot predict consequences in humans.

They also say many of the studies are confidential, supplied by the

manufacturers themselves.

" The 2,4-D assessment (by the federal agency) does not approach

standards for ethics, rigour or transparency in medical research, " said

medical writer Meg Sears, speaking for co-authors Robin ,

van der Jagt and Claman.

Dr. an der Jagt is chair of the Canadian Leukemia Studies Group; Dr.

is past president of the Canadian Pediatric Association; Dr.

Claman is a professor of reproductive medicine at the University of Ottawa.

" What we find is that the (federal agency) looks at a completely

different set of information than the doctors do, " Ms. Sears said. " They

are looking at what happens in animals and their information is largely

proprietary.

" The doctors are looking at what is happening in children and people

living across the country and they are seeing major reasons for our

problems.

" This is why we have a complete disconnect between what's happening at

the federal level and down where the doctors are saying there are problems. "

A spokeswoman for the Pest Management Regulatory Agency declined to

comment on the study, but said it is being reviewed. She acknowledged

the agency uses confidential studies in some cases.

About 90 Canadian municipalities and the entire province of Quebec have

already banned the non-essential use of pesticides. Other attempts to

impose a ban, in Ottawa for example, have failed.

© Copyright 2006 Bell Globemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The material in this post is distributed without

profit to those who have expressed a prior interest

in receiving the included information for research

and educational purposes. For more information go to:

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html

http://oregon.uoregon.edu/~csundt/documents.htm

If you wish to use copyrighted material from this email

for purposes that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain

permission from the copyright owner.