An encouraging and unusual part of the story is the direct quote by
the Novartis head of insecticides that the company's new reduced risk and
biopesticide products will give farmers new tools to deal with essentially
all the pests the older products are still used on.
A Canadian pesticide ecotoxicity specialist, Dr. Pierre Mineau, has
assessed the risks posed by one of the Novartis products that will be phased
out -- monocrotophos. This very toxic OP is the pesticide responsible for
the Swainson's Hawk kills in Argentina. In a statement, Mineau praises
Novartis for their decision, and challenges other monocrotophos registrants
to follow suit. American Cyanamid is the other major U.S. based registrant.
The Asgrow piece and Mineau's statement have been placed on the PMAC
page at <http://www.pmac.net/dietrisk.htm>. Background information on the
Swainson's Hawk kills is also on the page at <http://www.pmac.net/swainson.htm>.
Charles Benbrook 208-263-5236 (voice)
Benbrook Consulting Services 208-263-7342 (fax)
5085 Upper Pack River Road benbrook@hillnet.com [e-mail]
Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 http://www.pmac.net
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