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Fwd: PANUPS: Action Alert: Stop Use of Pesticide Highly Toxic to Birds

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> ===========================================

> P A N U P S

> Pesticide Action Network Updates Service

> ===========================================

> Action Alert: Stop Use of Pesticide Highly Toxic to Birds

>

> June 6, 2003

>

> Three U.S. states have applied for an emergency exemption to use the

highly toxic pesticide carbofuran--an insecticide known to be extremely

toxic to birds and other wildlife--on up to 2.4 million acres of cotton.

>

> The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) is considering

granting a Section 18 emergency exemption in Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma

for use of a flowable form of carbofuran to treat cotton aphids. U.S. EPA is

reviewing this request even though safer and equally effective alternatives

are available, and will rule on the exemption without consulting federal and

state wildlife agencies. Write EPA and tell them that alternatives exist and

that the Agency should not permit use of this dangerous chemical.

>

> In the early 1990's, during a U.S. EPA Special Review of the granular form

of carbofuran, the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. FWS)

wrote multiple letters urging cancellation of all formulations of

carbofuran. At that time, U.S. FWS wrote, " Laboratory data verify that

carbofuran is among the most highly toxic pesticides to birds... Birds can

be lethally exposed to carbofuran even when it is applied with great care...

Despite extensive study, it has not been demonstrated that there are any

conditions under which carbofuran can be used without killing birds. "

Scientists from around the U.S. concurred with these viewpoints. Nothing has

occurred in the past 10 years to reduce the risks associated with carbofuran

or to change those opinions.

>

> As a result of the Special Review, almost all uses of the granular

formulation were withdrawn from the market because of its high toxicity to

birds. Given the high level of toxicity of all formulations and the

similarities in exposure routes, the American Bird Conservancy suggests that

the risks posed by the flowable form are as great, if not greater than those

posed by the granular formulation. Animals can be exposed via ingestion of

contaminated insects, soil or vegetation; by swimming or bathing or

ingesting contaminated water; through respiratory inhalation; through dermal

absorption from direct spray or contact with exposed foliage or soil; and

via secondary poisoning when a predator or scavenger ingests another animal

that has been exposed.

>

> Carbofuran is also one of the pesticides most frequently reported in

farmworker poisonings, with cotton one of the top five crops associated with

worker poisonings. Carborufan, a chemical in the carbamate class, (see the

PAN Chemical Database

http://www.pesticideinfo.org/PCW/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC35055) is

considered highly acutely toxic because exposure to this nerve toxin can

cause immediate severe poisoning symptoms, including headache, nausea,

vomiting, blurred vision and, in severe cases, seizures, cardio respiratory

depression, and coma. The American Bird Conservatory reports that chemical

and non-chemical alternatives to carbofuran are available and are safer,

more effective, and economically feasible.

>

> Birds killed by carbofuran include a large number of species protected

under the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The act

requires U.S. EPA to consult with the U.S. FWS to assess the impacts on

threatened and endangered species. U.S. EPA has not requested the required

consultation for the current exemption request, nor has it consulted with

wildlife agencies in these states to determine what species will be at risk.

>

> Over 180 species of birds have been known to visit cotton fields. If the

emergency exemption is granted, the impact on wildlife could be devastating

because of the vast amount of acreage (up to 2.4 million acres), the amount

of pesticide applied (up to 1.2 million pounds), the numbers of federally

and state listed species likely to be present, the persistence of

carbofuran- it can remain in the environment for up to 120 days, and the

timing and location of the applications. Millions of migratory birds will be

moving south during late summer and early fall along the Central Flyway,

traversing Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma.

>

> Last July, without consultation with U.S. FWS or other agencies, U.S. EPA

granted a permit for use of carbofuran on 10,000 acres of rice in Louisiana.

Conservation groups quickly mobilized (see PANUPS, Stop Carbofuran Use, July

3, 2002). U.S. EPA then reduced the permit to 2,500 acres, and promised to

open a public comment period before any further use was considered.

>

> The public comment period for the current emergency exemption officially

closed on June 5, 2003; however, given the extreme toxicity of this

pesticide and the public interest in this matter, U.S. EPA has agreed to

keep the public docket open until Thursday June 12, 2003. It is especially

important that U.S. EPA hear from the public because the agency will soon

review all formulations of carbofuran for re-registration. Interested

organizations can sign onto a group letter by contacting the American Bird

Conservancy.

>

> Please submit comments to opp-docket@.... The subject line must

include the docket number OPP-2003-0167.

>

> Sources: American Bird Conservancy, PANUPS, July 3, 2002.

>

> Contact: American Bird Conservancy, P.O. Box 249, The Plains, VA 20198;

phone (540) 253-5780; fax (540) 253-5782; email: pbright@..., web

site: http://www.abcbirds.org.

>

> PANUPS is a weekly email news service providing resource guides and

reporting on pesticide issues that don't always get coverage by the

mainstream media. It's produced by Pesticide Action Network North America, a

non-profit and non-governmental organization working to advance sustainable

alternatives to pesticides worldwide.

>

> You can join our efforts! We gladly accept donations for our work and all

contributions are tax deductible in the United States. Visit

http://www.panna.org/donate.

>

> ===========================================

> Back issues of PANUPS are available online at:

> http://www.panna.org/resources/panups.html

>

> Please note: responses to this message will not be read.

> To comment, send an email to:

> panna@...

>

> To subscribe, send a blank email to:

> PANUPS-subscribe@...

>

> Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA)

> 49 St., Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA

> Phone: (415) 981-1771

> Fax: (415) 981-1991

> Email: panna@...

> Web: http://www.panna.org

> ===========================================

>

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