I suggest that there is something less than theory in that statement, Dale.
I think it is more sensible to adopt the cautionary approach from product
information, as below. Note that the list is of symptom outcomes, without
discussion of the systemic derangement causing symptoms. The symptoms do not
arise out of the air and some theoretical discussion of systemic causes is
important.
Or you can discuss with the Agent Orange crowd, for a blizzard of contrary
argument.
I really don't understand an agenda of dismissing what are sensible
community concerns about a deteriorating chemical environment as a result of
chemical treatments for narrow purposes, lacking regard for holistic
scientific perspectives. Or do you question the foundation of that - that we
are confronted with a massive increase in industrially produced chemicals in
the environment?
All science is theory; the great errors arise when theory is taught as fact,
when fact is treated as dogma and becomes the basic assumptions of new
research and hypothesis. It is not extremist, but sensibly scientific to
question the broader ecological impact of products produced and marketed
with very narrow 'scientific' claims as to their benefits. We stopped
x-raying children's feet and tonsils way back, as we stopped bathing people
in DDT; we've stopped dumping chemicals under houses. I don't think the room
for hindsight has vanished. I don't think it helps when a case is made for
the 'safety' of products which does not EVEN match the official product
warnings. That can only make people doubt more.
Dennis
======
The Hazard Summary http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/cancer/24d.txt reads:
HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION
Acute Health Effects
The following acute (short term) health effects may occur
immediately or shortly after exposure to 2,4-D:
* Skin or eye contact can cause irritation.
* Overexposure can irritate the throat and lower airways.
Symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite,
sweating, fever and diarrhea. Muscle damage with tenderness,
weakness and twitching can occur. Other effects include damage
to the kidneys and liver and effects on the nerves to the arms
and legs, with weakness and poor coordination.
Chronic Health Effects
The following chronic (long term) health effects can occur at some
time after exposure to 2,4-D and can last for months or years:
Cancer Hazard
* 2,4-D causes MUTATIONS (genetic changes). Such chemicals may
have a cancer or reproductive risk. In fact there is limited
evidence that 2,4-D causes cancer of the breast and other
sites in animals. Non Hodgkin's lymphoma have been observed in
farmers occupationally exposed to 2,4, D.
* Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure to
a carcinogen. Such substances may also have the potential for
causing reproductive damage in humans.
Reproductive Hazard
* 2,4-D may damage the developing fetus.
* There is limited evidence that 2,4-D is a teratogen in humans
and animals. Until further testing has been done, it should be
treated as a possible teratogen in humans.
* 2,4-D may decrease fertility in males.
Other Long Term Effects
* Skin allergy to 2,4-D may develop. If this happens, even low
future exposure can lead to rash and itching.
* Repeated exposure can lead to patchy areas of loss of skin
pigment, and to kidney and liver damage. Lung effects (airway
narrowing, emphysema) have also been reported. Thinning of the
lining of the throat (atrophy) can also occur from the
repeated irritation.
[and from the end of the document]
DISTRIBUTION AND PERSISTENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT
2,4-D is moderately persistent in water, with a half-life of
between 20 to 200 days. The half-life of a pollutant is the amount
of time it takes for one-half of the chemical to be degraded.
About 91.7% of 2,4-D will eventually end up in water; about 3.3%
will end up in aquatic sediments; about 3.5% will end up in
terrestrial soil; and the rest will end up in the air.
BIOACCUMULATION IN AQUATIC ORGANISMS
Some substances increase in concentration, or bioaccumulate, in
living organisms as they breathe contaminated air, drink
contaminated water, or eat contaminated food. These
chemicals can become concentrated in the tissues and internal
organs of animals and humans.
The concentration of 2,4-D found in fish tissues is expected to be
much higher than the average concentration of 2,4-D in the water
from which the fish was taken.
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