[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
PANUPS: Methyl Bromide Drift
=====================================
P A N U P S
***
Pesticide Action Network
North America
Updates Service
http://www.panna.org/panna/
=====================================
September 9, 1996
High Levels of Methyl Bromide Drift in California
Frustrated by state and local officials' failure to protect
them from what they believe are high levels of exposure,
residents of two California communities, Ventura and
Castroville, have moved to have air around their homes tested
for methyl bromide, a widely used soil fumigant. Initial
tests show high levels of the toxic pesticide outside of
state mandated safety zones.
According to Karen Light of Farm Without Harm, an
organization based in Castroville, CA, neither state nor
local officials would agree to do any drift testing in their
community. Light formed Farm Without Harm last year after she
and others in her neighborhood became ill when methyl bromide
was applied to nearby strawberry fields. At that time,
Monterey County Health officials determined that methyl
bromide was the cause of the residents' symptoms, which
included nausea, vomiting and eye irritation.
State and local officials maintain that they do not routinely
monitor airborne pesticides in neighborhoods since
established buffer zones make methyl bromide use safe for
residents. The State requires a buffer zone of at least 30
feet from occupied structures such as houses or schools; the
zone may currently include a homeowner's backyard. The size
of recommended buffer zones is determined based on field size
and rate of methyl bromide application.
Several weeks ago in Ventura, a day care center operator was
one of several residents who complained of illness after
methyl bromide was injected into strawberry fields near their
neighborhood. Residents stated that they suffered headaches,
nausea, stomach aches and other flu-like symptoms. Two
families left their homes and the day care center was
temporarily relocated. Ventura County authorities state that
the grower's application of methyl bromide was done legally
and that no pesticide poisonings have been verified.
Earlier this summer, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a
Washington-based environmental group, started an ongoing air
monitoring project that has tested air in two areas. Analysis
of air samples from the Ventura and Monterey county
neighborhoods revealed many instances when short-term methyl
bromide levels were much higher than average levels permitted
by California safety standards, which are calculated over 24
hours.
Analysis of air in a residential neighborhood in Castroville
confirmed 36 individual detections of methyl bromide
exceeding 210 parts per billion at a distance of more than
1,300 feet from the application site -- six times the state
recommended "safety" buffer zone for that particular site.
The State of California's 24 hour safety standard is 210
parts per billion.
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)
criticized EWG for incorrectly stating that its study showed
methyl bromide levels exceeding CaliforniaUs 24 hour safety
standard. Averaged over 24 hours, methyl bromide levels found
in the tests would have been within legal limits, according
to a department spokesman. However, EWG argues that they were
not claiming there were violations of state standards, but
rather that people in surrounding neighborhoods are being
exposed to high levels of methyl bromide.
EWG conducted air monitoring tests using a system approved by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to monitor
toxic gas emissions and to measure air pollution releases
>from factories and refineries. EWG pointed out that DPR does
not systematically monitor ambient air near agricultural
fields for methyl bromide or any other pesticide, despite
data showing that many different pesticides drift off-site
into surrounding communities after routine, legal
applications.
Use of methyl bromide was slated to be suspended in
California in March 1996 due to missing animal testing data
required under the California Birth Defects Prevention Act.
At the request of methyl bromide users and producers,
California Governor Pete Wilson called a Special Session of
the State Legislature for the purpose of extending the March
ban. The legislature passed a bill extending the use of
methyl bromide until the end of 1997 and defeated amendments
that would have required larger buffer zones around methyl
bromide application.
Methyl bromide is classified by the EPA as a Category I acute
toxin, the most potent class of toxic chemicals. The known
effects of repeated, sub-lethal exposure include damage to
the brain, nervous system, respiratory system, kidneys,
liver, eyes, nose, throat, lungs and skin. Methyl bromide is
also a potent ozone depleter.
Sources: Ventura County Star Free Press, August 26, 1996;
Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 23, 1996; Monterey County Herald,
August 22, 1996; Los Angeles Times, August 23, 1996; RToxic
Farm Fumigants Drifting Into California Neighborhoods,S EWG,
August 22, 1996.
Contact: Environmental Working Group, 1718 Connecticut
Avenue, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20009; phone (202) 667-
6982; fax (202) 232-2592; email ewg@ewg.org; WWW
http://www.ewg.org/.
===========================================================
| Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) |
| |
| Phone:(415) 541-9140 Fax:(415) 541-9253 |
| Email: panna@panna.org http://www.panna.org/panna/|
| PANNA, 116 New Montgomery, #810, San Francisco, CA 94105 |
| |
|*To subscribe to PANUPS send email to MAJORDOMO@igc.apc.org|
| with the following text on one line: subscribe panups |
| To unsubscribe send the following: unsubscribe panups |
| |
|*For basic information about PANNA, send an email message |
| to panna-info@igc.apc.org |
===========================================================