State Dept Helps Monsanto Cover Up Fallout

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State Dept Helps Monsanto Cover Up Fallout from Biowarfare in Colombia

60 Minutes: Herbicide Problems

Congressman Decries Spraying Of Herbicide In Colombia

Says Practice Is A Health Hazard And Waste Of Tax-Payers'

Money Steve Kroft Reports Sunday at 7 P.M. ET/PT

NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2002

(CBS) Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) tells Steve Kroft that spraying herbicide

on Colombian coca plants not only fails to curb cocaine production, but it may

also pose a health hazard to thousands of innocent people living near the

fields. Kroft's report on the controversial practice - the centerpiece of

America's $1.3 billion aid package to Colombia - will be broadcast on 60

MINUTES Sunday, Jan. 13 at 7PM, ET/PT

The spraying program has destroyed hundreds of square miles of coca fields,

yet production continues to rise. " Once a field is destroyed, they just go

deeper into the forest and they start all over again, " says McGovern. " We

are not stopping the production.and to me that's a colossal waste of money. "

On his visit to Colombia, Kroft found people suffering from rashes that a

Colombian health department worker believes were caused by the spraying.

The worker, , also says illnesses like fever, diarrhea and

allergies were up 100 percent in the spraying areas and that 2,300 families

have complained of sicknesses.

A recent U.S. State Department report said that the main ingredient in the

herbicide, glyphosate, was no more irritating than baby shampoo or salt.

Rand Beers, the State Department official in charge of the spraying, admits

that the herbicide, brand named Roundup in the U.S., can be harmful to

humans in high concentrations, but said his program uses concentrations well

within safety levels.

Scientists working for the State Department could find no link between the

spraying and illnesses. They attributed symptoms to unsanitary conditions,

common infections in the region and to chemicals used in the cultivation and

processing of coca.

Elsa Nivia, a Colombian agronomist who opposes spraying, tells Kroft her

research indicates a much more dangerous concentration of Roundup. " They

are applying concentrations up to 26 times higher than what is recommended

for agricultural use, " she tells Kroft. " Also, they are applying Cosmo-Flux,

which quadruples the biological action. " Cosmo-flux makes the herbicide more

effective by increasing its sticking and penetration power. It is known as a

surfactant, something Roundup's producer, Monsanto, specifically warns its

customers against using. Cosmo-flux has never been approved by the EPA for

use in the U.S. and its ingredients are a trade secret of its Colombian

manufacturer.

Says McGovern, " [The herbicide] is powerful stuff and I think it's

ridiculous to say that we shouldn't worry about the health impacts.Nobody

really can tell me what the health effects of this spray might be. "