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P A N U P S
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Pesticide Action Network
North America
Updates Service
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U.S. EPA Starts Special Review of Triazine Pesticides
November 29, 1994
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on
November 10, 1994, that it has begun a Special Review of
three of the most widely used herbicides in the U.S. --
atrazine, cyanazine and simazine -- because of concerns that
they may present serious health risks. Between 90-120 million
pounds of these herbicides, known collectively as triazines,
are applied to U.S. crops each year. The EPA cited concerns
that long-term exposure to these pesticides in food and
drinking water may pose a risk of cancer to the U.S.
population. The Special Review will examine the risks and
benefits of the pesticides, estimate the costs of shifting to
alternatives, and determine whether the pesticides should be
canceled, further restricted or allowed to be used as before.
In the November press release, the EPA stated that recently-
published human epidemiological studies provide "conflicting
but, in some cases, suggestive evidence" that exposure to
environmental toxins such as pesticides may contribute to the
increasing rates of breast cancer in U.S. women. The press
release further states that "while EPA does not have
information which supports a link between exposure to the
triazine herbicides and human breast cancer, the Agency
cannot dismiss the possibility that such an association could
exist."
According to "Tap Water Blues," a report released recently by
the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Physicians for
Social Responsibility (PSR), more than 14 million people in
the U.S. routinely drink water that is contaminated with five
major agricultural herbicides, including the triazine
pesticides. The authors of "Tap Water Blues" argue that the
triazines can cause cancer in animals and may pose other
health risks as well, especially to infants and children.
Because of these risks, the EWG and PSR demanded that the
U.S. EPA and U.S. Department of Agriculture phase-out the use
of triazines within two years. (See PANUPS, Nov. 10, 1994.)
The triazine pesticides being reviewed by the EPA are
primarily used as pre-emergent herbicides on field corn, but
are also used on sorghum as well as other crops. The EPA has
taken actions previously to restrict use of triazine
products. In 1990, for example, use of atrazine was
restricted to certified applicators (except for certain home
turf products), application rates were reduced, protective
clothing for agricultural workers was added as a label
requirement, and application near wells was prohibited.
Ciba-Geigy of Greensboro, N.C. is the principal registrant
and manufacturer of atrazine (first registered in 1959) and
simazine (first registered in 1957). Du Pont Agricultural
Products of Wilmington, Delaware and Ciba-Geigy are principal
registrants of cyanazine (registered in 1971 under the trade
name Bladex).
Sources: U.S. EPA Press Release, November 10, 1994: "EPA
Begins Special Review of Triazine Pesticides"; Wall Street
Journal, November 11, 1994; Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News,
November 16, 1994.
Contact: Environmental Working Group, 1718 Connecticut
Avenue NW, Suite 600, Washington DC 20009; phone (202) 667-
6982; fax (202) 232-2592; email ewg@igx.apc.org.
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