* California methyl bromide ban overturned

On March 7, the California legislature approved a bill overturning a scheduled state ban on the widely used and highly toxic pesticide methyl bromide.

Methyl bromide was to be banned in California at the end of March; however, Governor Pete Wilson called a special session of the legislature for the express purpose of extending the deadline. After rejecting amendments to increase protection for people living near application sites and establish a phased reduction of the chemical, both the California Senate and the Assembly approved the bill.

These actions are sharply at odds with public opinion in the state, as evidenced by a recent survey of 1049 registered California voters, in which 79% said that California should ban, phase out or more strictly regulate pesticides suspected of causing cancer or reproductive harm (36% of those polled favoured banning such pesticides immediately).

An even greater number, 85%, said the state should establish goals for reducing the use of pesticides and create programs to help farmers and state agencies achieve these goals.

The poll was conducted for the California Coalition for Pesticide Use Reduction by Lake Research of Washington, D.C.

Lake found that more than 80% of Californians are worried about the effects of pesticides on pregnant women, children and farm workers.

Other findings of the survey:

• 68% said they often worry about pesticide residues in drinking water and food;

• 60% of Californians believe that the public health risks of pesticides outweigh the agricultural benefits;

• 49% believe that most pesticides, even when used responsibly, are dangerous to human health, versus 39% who believe most are safe when used properly.

• 76% believe it is practical, for both large and small farmers, to switch to farming without chemical pesticides.

Methyl bromide is an acutely toxic pesticide that also is a potent destroyer of the ozone layer. Methyl bromide exposure has been tied to birth defects in laboratory animals, and ozone depletion is linked to increasing rates of skin cancer. The state Department of Pesticide Regulation reports that in the last decade at least 18 Californians have died from methyl bromide exposure, hundreds have become ill and thousands have evacuated their homes because of methyl bromide accidents.
[From Pesticide Action Network North America Updates Service.]

From GLW issue 226