Sunday, October 28, 2007

Consider Methyl Iodide on your strawberries

Methyl iodide affects the nervous system, the lungs, liver, and kidneys. Symptoms of acute poisoning from inhalation include dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, diarrhea, slurred speech, lack of coordination, and muscle convulsions. Vapors of methyl iodide induce DNA damage and are “mutagenic to bacteria in the presence or absence of an exogenous metabolic system” (according to the Ames test). The EPA has listed methyl iodide as a Hazardous Air Pollutant generally known or suspected to cause serious health problems. Why then have they approved Methyl Iodide, agricultural fumigant chemical chloropicrin, for application on food crops? The Iodomethane Risk Assessment, EPA-HQ-OPP-2005-00252 is under the direction of Ms. Mary L. Waller, Product Manager; Registration Division (7505C); Office of Pesticide Programs; Environmental Protection Agency; 1200 Pennsylvania Av NW; Washington, DC 20460-0001; (703) 308-9354; (703) 308-1825(fax); waller.mary@epa.gov Contact Ms Waller and Arnold Schwarzenegger as California’s agriculture department has not yet approved Methyl Iodide.