-- Larry Holden Monsanto AG lrhold@ccmail.monsanto.com==== ===== ====
In a previous posting questioning the saftey of glyphosate surfactants, Jim Dixon, jdixon@ogopogo.educ.sfu.ca, concluded with: >I invite Mr. Hoogheem to get the facts by writing to me at 1476 Water Street, >Kelowna, B.C., Canada V1Y 1J5. In my opinion, it is incumbent upon the >manufacturer when providing details of their product to include _all_ of >the information and not just the lose data.
------ Jim, give me your telephone number and I will be glad to call you. I do not sidestep anything. First, the surfactant DOES NOT BREAK DOWN INTO 1,4-DIOXANE. No one but you has EVER made that accusation. The surfactant is POEA, polyethoxylated tallow amine. Animal fat is ethoxylated to make the surfactant, the same as is done for soap, detergents, and shampoos, among over thousands of such goods registered in the world. 1,4-dioxane is a contaminant formed in the ethoxylation process; the contaminant is also contained in these thousands of such goods. Regardless, when you and your group made this an issue when you analyzed Vision a number of years ago, I went to our surfactant suppliers and asked if they could remove the contaminant. They said they could and have done so.
Thus when you talk about being responsible just remember- on this issue regulatory agencies said 1,4- dioxane was not a problem and it remains in many products most people intentional put all over them regularly. However when groups such as yours make it an issue with my product, we tried and fixed it.
Next, we have told people about our surfactant for a number of years now. The information was sent to a number of people, including by registered mail to your friends down at NCAP. Interesting that they felt they should sue EPA to get that same information.....
Next, Rodeo does not even have a surfactant in it. Again- who has the facts?
To say the facts ain't straight sounds strange coming from someone who claims the surfactant breaks down into 1,4-dioxane and that Rodeo has a surfactant in it. If you want the facts on Roundup and glyphosate, simply write or call EPA. They have just issued a document that is called "The Reregistration Eligibility Document for Glyphosate". Guess what? Their review is based solely on non IBT and Craven data and we are ready to be reregistered and meet all current data requirements. You also might write the World Health Organization. Check and see what they say. When you talk about the surfactant being more toxic, what type are you referring to? The surfactant does have a higher acute oral LD50 than glyphosate, not surprising when you think what soap would do to the walls of your stomach. Also, the surfactant is more acutely toxic to fish. Again not surprising when you think what soap does to a fish's gills and it's ability to transfer oxygen.
Sorry Jim, but you are going to have to come up with a lot more FACTS when you are dealing with this product. And if you use INTERNET, I'll be watching to make sure you are indeed factual. Thomas J. Hoogheem tjhoog@ccmail.monsanto.com