Document 18571

Transcript

, JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/SUMMER 2001 • VOL. 21, NO.2 • FRO M THE NORTHWEST EDITOR • As obvious as this idea may seem, it is hard to find objective evidence to support it. However, NCAP recently learned that the u.s. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviewed tests of genetic damage provided by pesticide manufacturers and those published in scientific journals.} Consider, for example, what the EPA review found for the herbicide atrazine. None of the manufacturer's studies showed that atrazine caused genetic damage, while fourteen studies from the published literature did. (See "Atrazine: Toxicology," p. 12.) It seems that the fable about the fox guarding the chicken coop clearly applies today to pesticide testing. -Caroline Cox 1. Dearfield, K.L., et al. 1993. A survey of EPAi OPP and open literature data on selected pesticide chemicals tested for mutagenicity. Mut. Res. 297:197-233. ANNOUNCEMENTS CELEBRATE! THANKS! NCAP's 24th annual meeting will be held on October 19th and 20th in Eugene, Oregon. One highlight of the meeting will be two performances of A Sense of Wonder, an inspiring play about the life and works of Rachel Carson. In addition, NCAP will present a workshop about the hazards pesticides pose for threatened and endangered species of salmon. Please lnark your calendars and let family and friends in the Eugene area know about these events. NCAP members in Oregon will be receiving more information from us later in the summer. Publication of JPR is partially funded by a donation from Royal Blue Organics, roasters and marketers of Cafe Mam. Cafe Mam is grown by the ISMAM Coop in Chiapas, Mexico. Two percent of Cafe Mam's sales are donated to NeAP. During the past 12 years, NCAP has received over $70,000 from Cafe Mam. If you would like to order this organic, ecologically sound, and socially responsible coffee, contact Cafe Mam by phone at 1888-CAFE-MAM, by mail at P.O. Box 21123 Eugene OR 97402, by e-mail [email protected]. or on the web at www.cafemam.com. SUNSET FLOAT! Jain NCAP for a Sunset Float of the Willamette River in Eugene, Oregon, on July 3rd from 5:30 to.9:30 P.M. The raft trip includes a guided tour of river ecology and a picnic dinner at Alton Baker Park. This event is to raise funds for NCAP and to introduce our newest campaign: Clean Water fa!- Salmon. The cost per person is $100 and space is limited. Contact Becky Long at (541) 344-5044 ext. 23 or e-mail [email protected] for more information or to reserve your space. FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES lOURNALOF PESTICIDE TESTING: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE Fox GUARDS THE CHICKEN COOp? As I write this editorial, schools around the world arc giving final exams, with all the work and anxiety that brings. But imagine, just for a moment, that schools worked the way that pesticide registration works. Students would write, take, and grade their own finals, then send them off to their teachers for review and evaluation. Would the results of the exams change? It's not hard to imagine that the answer to this question is yes. The u.s. pesticide regulatory system is based on testing requirements that set up a virtually guaranteed conflict of interest. Pesticide manufacturers, for the most part, conduct the tests that are used to determine the health and environmental hazard!; of the products they sell. Should we then be surprised that these tests miss important hazards? Hardly. COALITION PESTICIDE·REFORM SUM,MER .TABLE OF 2001 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 2 CONTENTS News from NCAP Food News Herbicide Factsheet . 2 6 12 Atrazine: Toxicology 2 3 l\1oney Matters.: Oregon's Pesticide Tracking Falters Thanks for All Your Snrvey . Responses! Spreading a Sustainable Message among Tie-dyes, Neck Ties, and Slide Ties 6 Roundup Tolerant Soybeans: More Pesticides, Fewer Beans Organic Agriculture Yields Tasty Fruit and Fertile Soil News from Around 7 News from the Northwest More Hazards of Pesticides for Children's Health Profile 4· "The Retriever" Promises Less Herbicide Use on Oregon Roads 4 Good News for Northwest Schools 5 Union Boycott Succeeds! 5 Pesticides Linked to Dedines of Threatened California Frogs 8 21 . "Inerts" and Health -22 Contracting for Pest Control Skills Services Reviews Restoring Wedands in West Eugene (Almost) without Pesticides . . 22 Chemical Pesticide Markets, Health Risks and Residues Letters to the Editor Alternatives 24 From Our Readers 10 Protection from Mosquito Bites NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES P.O. BOX t393; EUGENE, OREGON 97440-1393 The Journal of Pesticide Reform Is published by the Northwest Coalition for AlternatIves to Pesticides. NCAP is a nonprofit taxexempt organization. Donations are tax-deductible. The NCAP office is located at 1249 Willamette 81.; Eugene, OR 97401-. Phone: (541) 344-5044. E-mail: [email protected]. Fax: (541) 344-6923. NCAP's web page address is http://www.pesticide.org. JPR is printed on recycled paper. Permission Is granted to reproduce any information found in this publication, except reprinted or copyright articles. Please credit NCAP and the Journal of Pesticide Reform. Postmaster: Send address changes to NCAP, P.O., Box 1393, ~~~~~8~3~3~~tJ°-1393. Research Editor Caroline Cox Contributing Authors Kit Kirkpatrick, Jeff Levy, Mlnriie Sagar, Lucy Vtnis, Irene Wolansky, and NCAP staff Graphic Design and Production Kate Pryka Cover Artist Mary Rounds Contributing Photographers City of Eugene, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and NCAP members and staff NCAP Staff Norma Grier, Director Becky Long, Development Director Edward Winter, Financial Manager Kay Rumsey, Librarian . Aimee Code, Right to Know Pollyanna Lind, Clean Water Megan Kemple, Public Educatipn Jeff Rast, Sustainable Agriculture Caroline Cox, Editor and Staff Scientist NCAP's Board of Directors Jim Barngrover Dahinda Meda Lucy Rosas Jean Cameron Annie Fulkerson Erika Schreder Gail Gutsche Elizabeth Tan Kathy Hanson NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 97440 I (541)344-5044 ------ -I 1 ~OURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/ SUMMER 2001 • VOL. 21, NO.2 • NEWS FROM NeAP MONEY MATTERS: OREGON'S PESTICIDE TRACKING FALTERS Sitting at my desk on this quiet morning it is hard to believe I was submerged in fast paced budget discussions at the capitol yesterday. As I reflect on all I have learned working on Oregon's p'esticide tracking law far the past year, .one very vah.~able lesson rises to the top: It is extremely important to follow through on work until the end. That seems .obvious enough, but sometimes ,it is hard to determi;ne when the end is. In' the case of a law, passing the law is far from the end of the fight, especially for a complex program like The workgroup establish_ed by Oregon's govpesticide tracking. The law was signed ernor to implement the state pesticide tracking law has struggled with a variety of contentious by Oregon's -governor in September, issues this year, includh1g funding for the 1999, but almost two years later we program. are still fighting to assUre its ·impleimportance of funding was the theme mentation. Late last year one part of the work of Oregon Conservation Network's on the pesticide tracking program was Environmental Lobby Day' on May nearing closure; most of the reporting 14th, and it' rings true -for, many envimethods were decided. Yet, NCAP and ronmental laws. Pesticide tracking ,is its allies needed to remain focused no exception. As with so many laws, people who because the next phase was soon to come, funding. The funding of a pro- don't want to see the law implemented gram is a legislative test of whether .of . work to limit funding. Without suffinot a law will truly come to life. The cient funding the tracking program will do very little good for researchers or the general public who want to know about. pesticide use in, Oregon. AImee 'Code is NeAP's righl-to-know coordinator. • • NEW 5 FROM NeAP THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SURVEY RESPONSES! NCAPmembers who have provided us with an e-mail ~ddress received a survey about the journal of Pesticide Reform in May. The. purpose of the survey was to find out if NCAP mem- • Caroline Cox Is JPR's editor. 2 bers would like to see changes in our magazine and also to find out about topicS that could be covered in future issues of the magaZine that would interest our members. Many thanks to all NCAP members who responded to the s:unrey! ' The results of the. survey will be In January of this year, the Oregon Department of Agriculture proposed a budget for the pesticide tracking program far below the amount needed for a successful program. Then the department increased the budget to reflect the needs of the program but this action left it open to attack. People who do not want to see an effective pesticide tracking program took the opportunity tQ hack away at the substance of the program. Suddenly legislators began sending multiple recommendations to the department about how to cut costs. Each cut had severe repercussions. With every newly proposed budget cut we had to make sure that legislators, the governor, and all of our allies u-nderstood the ramifications of the suggested cuts. Many of NCAP's Oregon members helped Qut by sending letters to the governor and your legislators. Thank you . Your efforts made the needed impact. We are still in battle; but are hanging on and hoping that the program will guarantee that Oregonians know about the pesticides used in their neighborhoods,· at their local schools, and elsewhere. By the time you're reading this article, Oregon's legislative session will likely be over and the funding issues will be settled. The next part of implementing this law is administrative· rulemaking. We'll need your voices to ensure that all we have fought for does not slip away. You'll be hearing from us soon! -Aimee Code helpful as NCAP tries to make . the magazine something ti:!at all of our members find irreplaceable. The sections of the magaZine that members fQund most useful were the articles summarizing the health and environmental hazards of pesticides, articles summarizing nonchemical strategies for managing ~ommon household p~sts, and pesticide-related news articles. About two-thirds of our members prefer to continue receiving a paper and ink Journal and not an electronic one, although most of you would be happy if we could put more of the magazine on the web. NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P.O. BOX'1393, EUGENE, OREGON .97440/ (541)344-5044 ~OURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM) SUMMER 2001 • VOL. 21, NO.2 Topics proposed by members for future issues include' pest -,control techniques,-used in 'grocery stores; effects of pesticides on songbirds; brief articles about the hazards of pesticides t6 share with neighbors, s<;:hools, and others; foods likdy to be contaminated .'NEW$ FROM with pesticide reSidues; and nonchemical management of vegetation _on roadsides and utility rights of way, We hope to cover some' of these topiCS in the near future, ' If you did ,not receive a survey, send your e-mail address to NCAP at [email protected] and we'll send one to you. Or, if you prefer regular mail, send us a postcard and we'll mail you the sutvey. Thanks again for all your thoughtful and, informative responses. . -Caroline Cox NeAP SPREADING A SUSTAINABLE MESSAGE AMONG TIE-DYES, NECK TIES, AND SLIDE TIES Not that I consider myself a Johnny Appleseed of sustainable agriculture, but it just seems to work out that way. Wherever I go, I scatter the seed. And this year, -my journeys have taken me literally from coast to coast, and from one unique culture ,to another. I started my travels in January at . the ever-motivating Ecological Farming Conference Ca. k! a: EcoFarm) in Pacific Grove, California. Via an educational display, I pmmoted NCAP's sustainable agriculture work with the Fort Hall Shoshone-Bannock reservation and our outreach ptograms associated with the Magic Valley Farmer Network. On Valentine's Day, I headed to Washington, D.C. to help develop a final draft of national policy recommendation~ to- promote, agricultural sustainability. Funded by the Kellogg Foundation, this project is directed by the Henry A. Wallace Center for Agricultural and Environmental Policy, part of the nonprofit organization Winrock International. As a regional co-coordinator, l' was invited to help complete this national effort. The report 'is entitled "Making Changes-Turning Lo'cal Visions into National Solutions."" You can learn more about the report by checking Winrock's web site. at www.winrockorg. In March, I spoke about our Fort Hall sustainable cropping systems· project at the Northwest Intertribal Agriculture Cbuncil Conference in "eft Rast is NeAP's . gram coordinator. • su~tainable ' agriCUlture pro- NeAP and Idaho Organic Alliance board member Kathy Hanson at the Eagle Island Experience. Pocatello, Idaho. The conference ing organic foods and food system isbrought in representatives from pu- . sues. Culturally, the event had strong merous tribes throughout the United hippie roots. Being a master of disStates. Following my presentation, a guise, though, I dre'ssed in "normal" couple of people asked' what would Idaho clothes. But at the end of the be involved in establishing similar festival, one of the organizers gave projects on their reservations. me an official tie-dye shirt so that I And the most recent stop on my could be more appropriately dressed Johnny Appleseed meanderings was next time. the Eagle Island Experience near Boise, What a journey! It didn't matter Idaho. This first annual two-day event whether the people were wearing exfeatured dIverse cultural entertainment - pensive silk ties, tie-dye t-shirts or slide as well as educational exhibits on sus- ties with beadwork, all audiences -Were tainable living such as solar power, receptive. The seeds of agricultural straw bale construction, and the like. sustainabllity are finding good soll and In addition to promoting NCAP, I also are beginning to bear fruit. helped with several exhibits highlight-jeff Rast ' NORTHWEST COALITION FORALTERNATIVES'TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P. O. BOX '·393, E W G ENE, 0 REG 0 N 97440 I (54 1 ) 3 4 4 - 5044 3 ~OURNAL ~OURNAL OF PESTICIOE REFORM/SUMMER 2001· VOL. 21, NO.2 • NEW S FROM THE NORTHWEST "THE RETRIEVER" PROMISES LESS HERBICIDE USE ON OREGON ROADS The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is using a new tool called "The Retriever" to control roadside vegetation and condition road shoulders. The Retriever promises to reduce the amount of. pesticides used by the state agency by improving techniques for roadside management. The Retriever is attached to a tractoe It churns and mulches roadside soil and vegetation with a set of rotating disks. Material is then pulled up onto the shoulder and put into position by a mounted blade. Material left on the. pavement is cleaned up by a sweeping vehicle that follows behind. A standard shoulder conditioning operation requires three separate passes, one to churn roadside material, one to pull it to the edge of the shoulder, and one to sweep off the road. The Retriever cuts thts down to • .Jeff Levy is an intern at NeAP. The Retriever. two. passes! it churns, ,mulches, and distributes' material in one pass and is followed by a sweeping vehicle, By adding a mulching step to the operation, the Retriever reduces or' eliminates the use of contact herbicides. According to ODOT research coordinator Betty Coste, the machine will reduce ODOT's use of the herbicide Roundup. The Retriever offers a variety of advantages over more common methods of roadside vegetation management. While drastically reducing the need for usage of a contact herbicide in some areas, the Retriever also does the job faster and cheaper. The Retriever moves more than twice as fast and costs 'about one-third the price of conventional machinery. In addition,_ it alIQws for work to be done on much steeper grades and can be installed quickly and easily onto a variety of equipment. ODOT Corvallis area maintenance coordinator Alan Mitchell is pushing for use of The Retriever statewide. Currently, only one ODOT district owns a Retriever. Mitchell says the cost of the Retriever is reasonable and it could easily pay for itself in four years with the money saved in herbicide reduction. Currently, however, ODOT has no plans to purchase more Retrievers although the reduction in cost, time, and herbicide usage makes this a possibility. Mitchell has invited interested parties to come and watch the Retriever in action td' promote expansion of its use. -jeff Levy Oregon Department of Transportation. 2001. Improving maintenance practices. ODOT Research Notes RSN 01-05, ·Mar. www.odot.oLus/tddresearch . • NEW S FROM NEWS FROM THE THE NORTHWEST UNION BOYCOTT SUCCEEDS! Bon Appetit, the fourth largest food service provider in the U.S., agreed iri May to stop using products marketed by the Oregon vegetable cooperative NORPAC. NORPAC has been the target of a boycott by Pineros y Campesinos Unldos del Noroeste (PCUN), Oregon's farmworker union. 1 Bon Appetit proVides foop service for 70 universities across the country, • NEW S FROM THE as well as in the dining facilities of many corpo.rate headquarters. 1 PCUN asks its supporters to boycott NORPAC to support ,the union's efforts to organize workers at Kraemer Farms, a prominent NORPAC grower.2 Several university campuses had earlier agreed not to use NORP AC products, including California State University Monterey Bay and Southern Oregon University. However, ,Bon NORTHWEST PESTICIDES LINKED TO DECLINES OF THREATENED CALIFORNIA FROGS A new study iinplicates agricultural pesticides a~ a cause of declining popUlations of the California redlegged frog. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis, the U.S. Geological • Caroline Cox Is JPR's editor. • OF PESTICIOE REFORM/ SUMMER 2001 • VOL. 21, NO.2 Survey, and the California Academy of Sciences, "strongly suggests that windborne agrochemicals may be an important factor in declines." The study also found evidence that increases in ultraviolet radiation due to' the deplec tion of stratospheric ozone and urbanization of frog habitat are factors in the decline of frog populations. NORTHWEST policy for the district. The policy requires the district-to "reduce and eliminate where feasible the use of chemical pesticides.'" Principals will be told about planned applications so that they can "notify the school community by notice and posting"2 before and' after schools. Schools must notify parents pesticide treatments. 2 Certainly the Washington law and and employees annually about their pest control practices. In addition, the Portland policy could go further schools must, notify interested parents in protecting children from toxic before treatments are made' and post chemicals. However, as the Washingsigns when applkations are made. ton Toxics Coalition,' a leader in get-There are some exemptions: notifica- ting the Washington law passed, wrote, tion is not required for baits, nor if . such laws and policies are "an excel-Caroline Cox school will not be in session for two lent first step."3 days following treatment. Records of pesticide applications must be avail- 1. State of Washington Substitute Senate Bill 5533. www.leg.wa.gov: able to parents l 2 Portland Public Schools. 2001. Sustainable busi-. ness practices. (Policy.) Adopted May 21. In Portland, on May 21, 2001, the www.pps.k12.6r.us. school board adopted a sustainable 3. Washington Toxics Coalition. 2001. Governor business practices policy that e'stabsigns children's pesticide rlght-to-know bill, May 15. www.watoxics.org. lishes an integrated pest managen:ent GoOD NEWS FOR NORIHWEST SCHOOLS The state of Washington and the Portland (Oregon) school district have recently taken steps that will improve communication with parents about the pesticides used in school buildings and on school grounds 1,' Both the state and the district deserve congratulations for taking these steps. In Washington, on May 15, 2001, Governor Gary LocKe signed, into law a -bill that requires notification and posting of pesticide applications in licensed day care centers and public • Caroline Cox Is JPR's editor. 4 NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIOES/NCAP P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 97440 I (541)344~5044 The California red~leggedl frog, a threatened species, has disappeared from much of its historic range. A new analysis sHows that pesticides may be an ,important ca,use. Appetit is the first food service company to stop using NORP AC products company-wide. 1 NCAP supports the PCU]\[ boycott because farmworkers have Significant exposure to many of the pestiCides_ that are used in conventional agriculture. Union contracts are one of the few avenues for farmworkers to protect themselves from these chemicals. -Caroline Cox 1. 2. Pineros y Campesinos Unidos' del Noroeste. 2001. Bon Appetit no longer uses any NORPAC products. Woodburn OR. www.pcun.org. "California-based lood service firm will stop carrying NORPAC prod~cts. " 2001. The .oregonian, May ,1 B. The California red-legged frog was once abundant, but now has disappeared from about seventy percent of its former range. It is listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act as a threatened species. Dr. Carlos Davidson and his colleagues looked at 237 sites across California where red-legged frogs had been observed prior to 1975. On about half of the sites, red-legged frogs were now absent. The researchers then looked at the percentage of agricultural land in a triangle 150 kilometers (90 miles)long . upwind of the red"legged frog site. They compared this percentage in sites' where the frog had disappeared and in sites where the frog survived'. There was 6.5 times _more upwind agricultural land near sites where the frog was absent than near 'sites where, the frog was present. To test whether habitat changes due to agriculture were responsible, rather than pesticides or other agrochemicals that are transported by wind, the re- . searchers did a similar _analysis using triangles oriented in random rather than upwind directions. No association with frog declines was found when ra,ndom directions were used. The study provides sobering evidence of the complex damage caused by agricultural pesticides. -Caroline -Cox Davidsoll, C., H.B. Shaffer, and M.R. Jennings. 2001. Declines of the California red-legged frog: Climate, UV-B, habitat, and pesllcides hypotheses. Ecol. Appf. 11 (2): 464-479. NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 97440 I (54i)344~5044 5 dOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/ SUMMER 2001 • VOL. 21, NO.2 •. F 0 0 D JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/ SUMMER 2001 • VOL. r---~c_---------------,~~ NEWS o • OJ ::J ROUNDUP TOLERANT SOYBEANS: MORE PFSTICIDFS, FEWER BEANS multiple Roundup applications and ap-' plications of multiple herbicides. The end result is more herbicide use. Benbrook_ also reviewed soybean yield trials conducted by agricultural researchers in Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Overall, most studies show that Roundup tolerant soybeans have lower yields than conventional varieties. In the highest yielding varieties this "yield drag" is up to ten percent, Finally, Benbrook reviewed new research that explains the causes of the yield drag. Applications of Roundup to young Roundup tolerant soybeans reduce. the ability of the plants to fix nitrogen (transform nitrogen into a usable form). In addition, a 1999 study at the University of Missouri showed that Roundup treatment of Roundup tolerant soybeans increases their sus- • 20 percent higher in the organic plots than in the conventional plots. Yields . were similar, but taste tests found the , organic apples to be sweeter. Cumulative energy input (labor, fuel, fertilizers, and pest control) were about 15 percent less fcir the organic plots than post, mulches, mowing,' cultivation, the conventional plots. The organic plots were more profinsecticidal bacteria, mating disruption, . itable than the conventional ones beand manual thinning. The organic system outperfo1111ed. cause prices for organic apples ,averthe' conventional system in a variety aged about 50 percent more than of ways. Soil quality ratings were about ,prices for, coiwentional apples. However, the authors calculated that the price premium that would be required in order for organic production to be as profitable as conventional produc. tion was only 12 percent. . The Nature article concludes by urging policy makers to take up thechallenge of "supporting food producers in their attempts to employ both economically and environmentally sustainable practices." -Caroline Cox N E W.S ceptibility to disease-causing fungi. Both problems will reduce yield. "In managing weeds," concluded Benbrook, "keeping a few steps ahead of Mother Nature is the ultimate measure of succ.ess and one that appears beyond the reach of today's RR [Roundup tolerant! soybean system." -Caroline Cox Benbrook, C. M. 2001. Troubled times amid commercial success for Roundup Ready soybeans. AgBioTech InfoNet Tech. Paper No.4, May 21. www.biotech-Info.net. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE YIELDS TASTY FRUIT AND FERTILE SOIL Organic apple prodUction produces sweeter apples than conventiorial practices, is more profitable, requires less energy,. and results in higher soil quality. These conclusions of a new study from Washington State University are good news for organic growers and for people who buy and eat their produce. The new study, published in the prestigious journal Nature, looked at six years of apple production 09941999} in an experimental orchard. The conventional plots used synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and chemical fruit thinners. The organic plots used com- • Caroline Cox is JPR's editor. 6 FROM NO.2 study was able to look specifically at applications made during the part of pregnancy (the third to the eighth , week) when orga.l!-s are forming. The largest risks for fetal and newborn death due to birth defects were found when pesticide exposure occurred during this' time. 2 cide applications and fatal birth deIn addition, because the reporting fects, was conducted in ten agricul- system has relatively precise geographitural California countie.s, California has cal information; the study_ was able to several state programs that make this 109k at several definitions of "proxim-, kind of study possible, a reporting sys- ity." Narrowing the potential area of tem to track pesticide',applications and exposure to the square mile surtOl.,mda vital statistics registry that provides ing the mother's home produced a information about the cause of death. stronger association than when the potential area .of exposure was a nine ' "'§ square mile area. 2 ~ A major stre(1gth of this study is jg that the assessment of pesticide expo:E sure' did not use a questionnaire or ~ interview that relied on parents' reg calL (This is commOn in many studies ::J of pesticide exposure and' disease.) Instead" the state reporting system provided an objective method for estimating of each mother's exposure. 2 The, concerns raised -by these two studies are intensified by monitOring results released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in March. The monitoring was the first ever conducted in U.S. residents for five chemicals that are breakdown products of organophosphate insecticides. The CDC survey found that three of the five breakdown products were found in over 90 percent of the people tested. 3 Since the 'monit9ring study looked at people from the ages of 6 to 59, this suggests that exposure of children and pregnant mothers to pesticides may be startlingly common. There is growing 'concern about the effects of pe.sticides on children's health. , The simplest way to summarize these new studies is just to call them The study looked at all deaths caused a call to, action. For all children's sake, by birth defects of fetuses in the last it's time to put an end to our chemihaif of pregnancy and infants who died cally dependent pest management. in the first day after birth. Overall, the - Caroline Cox study found that "in ten agricultural Daniels, J.L. et al. 2001 . .Residential pesticide counties of 'California, proximity to 1. exposure and neurobla'stoma. Epidemiology commercial pesticide applications was 12:20-27. associated with an elevated rate of fe- 2. BaH, E.M., I. Herza-Picciotto, and J.J. Beaumont. 2001. A case-control study of pesticides and fetal death due to congenital abnormalital death due to congenital, anomalies. Epidemi· ties [birth defects!.'" ology 12:148-156 . Because the' California reporting sys- 3. Centers for Disease Contr.ol and Prevention. 2001. National report on hUman exposure to tern has inforination about the day' environmental chemicals. Atlanta, GA, Mar. when each application was made, the www.cdc.gov. AROUND MORE HAzARDs OF PESTICIDFS FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH A new analysis of 1].S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other research data shows that soybeans genetically engineered to be tolerant of the herbicide Roundup, used on 60 percent of U.S. soybean acreage, require more herbicides than conventional soybeans and produce fewer bushels of beans per acre. Charles Benbrook, from the Northwest Science and Environmental Policy Center, is the author of the analysis. Using data collected by. USDA in' 1998, Benbrook showed, on average, that thirteen percent more herbicides (measured as pounds per acre) were applied to Roundup tolerant soybeans than conventional soybeans. Due t6 a shift in the species of weeds found in Roundup tolerant soybean fields, and the development of weed resistance to Roundup" farmers are having to usc: F 0 0 D NEWS ~1, I I I I How do pesticides damage chilc;lren's health? Fatal birth defects and a childhood' cancer are 'recent- additions to, the growing list of answers to~ this questions. According to two studies recently published in the journal Epidemiology,I,2 use of home and garden pesticides' is associated with an increased incidence of neuroblastoma, a nervous system cancer, and -living near agricultural pesticide applic;atibns is associated with an increased risk of fatal birth defects. Neuroblastoma is the most common cancer in children under one year of age. One of the new studies looked at over 500 children diagnosed with neuroblastoma between 1992 and 1994 throughout the U.S. and Canada. The parents of. these children were interviewed about any :home and garden pesticide treatments made from the time just before conception until the diagnosis of 'neuroblastoma. 1 Over all, home pesticide use, garden pesticide use, and use of professional -exterminators were all associated with neurobJastoma. -The m'ost common home pesticide treatments were for ants and roaches; these treatments were specifically associated with neuroblastoma. In the garden, herbicide use was morv strongly associated with neuroblastoma than insecticide :use. The strongest associations between neuroblastoma and pesticide use were for children diagnosed after one year in age. 1 The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute and done in cooperation with the Children's Cancer Group and the Pediatric Oncology Group, clinical trial groups that see nearly 95 percent of children diagnosed with neuroblastoma in the U.S 1 The. second study, looking. at the association between agricultural pesti- Re'ganold, J.P. et al. 2001. Sustainability of three apple production systems. Nature 410: 926-930. Caroline Cox Is JPR's editor. NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P.O. BOX 1393, E,UGENE, OREGON 97440./ (541)344-5044 NORTHWEST COALITION .FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 97440/ (541)344-5044 7 ~OURNAL OF PESTICIOE REFORM/ SUMMER 2001 • VOL. 21, NO.2 • PROFILE REsTORING WETLANDS IN WEST EUGENE (ALMOST) WITHOUT PESTICIDES In the 1970s two government mandates headed for a collision in west Eugene. The 2500 acre area, now shared by three owners, the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) , the City of Eugene, and The Nature Conservancy, is the home of the Fender's blue butterfly, a federally listed endangered species, and includes one of the last remnants of Willamette Valley prairie. But nobody knew that in the 1970s. "The area was the future for Eugene's economic <,ievelopment expansion," recalls Scott Duckett of Eugene's engineering ,depart~ent. About the same • Lucy Vinls is a Iree lance writer. time that the city was developing its growth plans, the federal government enacted the Clean Water Act stipulating that cities with a population greater than 100,000 develop plans for reducing pollutant discharges in water. A key feature _of stormwater protection is the enhancement of wetlands, which can filter pollutants, cool water temperatures, and help break down pesticides. At the time, no one really thought west Eugene had wetlands. The area looks like a dry, grassy wasteland to the lay person. "In 1987, our consultant went out there' and said 'I see a Jot of wetlands.' We knew in the future we were going to face an issue/' says Duckett. dOURNAL OF PESTICIOE REFORM/SUMMER 2001· VOL. 21, NO.2 Not only was the city faced with the demand to protect the wetlands from too much development, they needed to restore sections that were no longer functioning effectively as water filters because of fill and the invasion of nonnative species. Enter The Nature Conse'rvancy and the city's integrated pest management program. "In a lot of places,· creating new wetlands is a popular strategy for improving runoff quality," says Duckett. "But we focus on the restoration and enhancement of existing wetlands." Tools for Restoration According to Duckett, the on-the-· ground t6'01s for restoration vary by scale and, ownership in west Eu,gene. On BLM land, the use of pesticides is not an option, For both the city and The Nature Conservancy "pesticides are in the tool bag of options," says Duckett, but they are rarely used. The city had adopted an integrated pest management ([PM) prQgram for all of its parks in 1980, so "they ci'me with an IPM lens,'! recalls Duckett. Under restoration activities, Duckett lists the use of heavy earth moving equipment like bulldozers and excavators that' can remove fill material, or fill in a ditch. Enhancement activities focus on the composition of the plant community and require a more methodical, time-consuming, and longrange commitment. Mowing, mechanical removal, and controlled burns all come into play. But so do hours of surveying, hand weeding, and seed collection. Different areas of the wetlands are troubled by different problems. In some areas, according to Ed Alverson, project director for The Nature Conservancy, "the biggest issue is the ecological succession 'which has, proceeded in the absence of tire and other factors that previously prevented woody species from developing." In mostcases, these trees, which include English hawthorn and fruit trees like apple and pear, are temoved by crews with hand saws or chain saws. In some cases, larger groves of trees might be cleared with heavy equipment. ' Preventing Spread of Problem Species The city's ownership includes many An aerial view of west Eugene's wetlands. -Photographs courtesy Cify of Eugene. 8 NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES:rO PESTICIOES/tiCAP P. O. B a x 1 393, E U G ENE, 0 REG a N 97440 / (54 1 ) 344 - 5 044 small tracts and narrow strips of land. They include "lo\s of edge" says Alverson, and face ~ bigger issue with nonnative sp~cie§ than does The Nature Conservancy. "Our biggest problems," says Duckett, "are commercial agricultural crops like. ryegrass. Grass seed is aggressive and dominant and can be nearly impossible to . remove short bf digging up all the top soil. " Last year the city contracted with a graduate student from Oregon State University to map the ryegrass incursions and enable the city to target areas where the grass is likely to spread. "Ol,.lr goal is to minimize the spread to newly restored areas," he says. "There are over 100 nonnative species out there, but really only a small A Northwest Youth Corps employee removes nonnative vegetation from a wetland area. sub~et of those are potentially habitat modifying," explains Alverson, "Prevention is the key-chaving a pretty good "The crews have to tover tens of process for identifying the problem acres," says Duckett. "it's really labor species and dealing with them before intensive. It might be a higher cost, they become problems. If you do that, but it's certainly' more selective." then you're less likely to be put in a In addition to weeding, many of situation where you have no choice." the areas require reseeding with naMost weeds, whether ryegrass or tive species. "We've restored between Scotch broom, are weeded by hand. 400 and 500 acres, but we're limited The city contracts with seasonal ,em- by the seed/' note.":! Duckett. 'Trews ployees and youth crews who work collect seed by hand from within 20 in ~eams of between four and six un- . miles of wetlands to create specific der the supervision of a trained bota- mixes." At a rate of 40 to 60 newly nist. The youth crews are affiliated with restored acres per year, the task keeps a local organization, the -Northwest growing. "It's a long-term commitment, Youth Corps, that proVides outdoor so we have to.. be careful about how employment opportunities for teens. much we bite off." -Lucy Vinis NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO. PESTICIDES/NCAP P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 97440/ (541 )344-5044 9 JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/SUMMER 2001· VOL. 21, NO.2 JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/SUMMER 2001 • VOL. 21, NO.2 • plastics, rayon, spandex, other synthetic fabrics" leather, and painted or varnished surfaces. 1 ALTERNATIVES PROTECTION FROM MOSQUITO BITES By MEGAN KEMPLE MSqUitoes can keep us indoors on a lovely summer evening, or keep us from venturing to our favorite wilderness area or campground. The standard approach to personal protection from mosquitoes has been the use of repellents, which can be toxic and. are usually applied directly to the' skin. This article provides information about how to protect yourself from mosquito bites using prevention or avoidance of large mosquito populations, netting, traps, and least toxic repellents. as" they are in other areas. 4,5 Co~thu­ nity control of mosquitoes, and common sense are the best protection ,against mosquito-borne disease. Prevention If you have a mosquito problem around your hqme,_, chances are the mosquitoes are breeding 'in your yard. The elimination of all standing water 1s the best way to reduce populations. Empty containers which colled -rainwater such as buckets, wading pools, clogged gutters, and bird baths.' Biology Mosquitoes require stagnan't water for their eggs and juvenile stages. 1 This can be a puddle, a swampy, area, a children's wading pool, a birdbath, or a clogged gutter. Offspring don't stray far from this water source even as adults.' Adult females bite because they need blood to produce their eggs, They are attracted to humans by compounds that are released from our breath and . skin, including carbon dioxide and lactic acld,l Three .con.unon kinds ,of mosquitoes are Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex. Anopheles are common in the Pacific Northwest at low elevations, Aedes are common in the mountains, and northwest Culex feed primarily on birds. 3 Mosquitoes and~ Disease In some parts of the world mosqui-· toes are a serious health threat. They transmit malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, epidemic polyarthritis, and several forms of enc~phalitisl Two mosquito-borne diseases, st. Louis encephalitis and western equine encephalitiS, have been reported in the Pacific Northwest, but they are not as common • Megan Kemple is NCAP's public education coordinator. 10 of the bed. The net must either be tucked in beneath the 'mattress or be in complete contact with the floor, so that mosquitoes aren't able to get in. It is also possible, especially if the netting size 'is too large, for mosquitoes to ,bite if- a person sleeps up against the nettlngY Traps The Dragonfly is' a mosqUito control device which combines a heat source and a lure that releases carbon dioxide and octenoL It was developed in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. lO In field tests, it captured mosquitoes as well as standard mosquito ttaps which use a pesticid,e stripY Because of its lure, the Dragonfly attracts mostly mosquitoes and midges .. It uses a low pulse of electricity, so there is no splattering of insect parts into the air.10 The Dragonfly is produced by BioSensory, Inc. and sells for $645 (for the standard mo(lel).12 DEET A familiar pest at work. To prevent mosquitoes from entering your home, make sure window screens' and screen doors seal well 'and are free from holes 6 When camping choose a campsite away from stagnant wate.!.? Clothing and Netting When mosquitoes are a problem, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, and keep ankles and feet covered. Use light-colored clothing 8 Clothes made of mosquito netting are available from outdoor stores. These include head nets, hats with pull-down netting, netted shirts and pants. Bed nets are' a,lso, effective if used properly. Mosquito netting can be~hung over a bed, using four posts at each comer to support the net or using a single su pport hung above the center DEET (N, N-cliethyl-meta-toluamide) is a commonly used repellent. The u.s. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that about 30 percent of the United States population uses DEET every yearl3 Health problems from use of DEET include irritation of eyes, skin' blisters, (followed by severe s'carritig in some cases); and toxic encepalopathy. ·Symptoms of the toxic encepalopathy, which occurs mainly in children who have been "intensively treated,,,14 include headaches, irritability, loss of consciousness, and seizures.1 4 EPA recommends that "great caution should . be exercised in using DEET on children" and that "applications should be limited to exposed areas of 'skin, using as little repellent as possible and washing off after use.,,14 In ac;ldition to' being toxic, repellents containing DEET can damage NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NeAP P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 97440 I (541)344.5044 Alternatives. to DEET Citronella is a common ingredient in natural mosquito repellents. Studies testing whether citronella is an effective mosqUito repellent have variable results. Tests by manufacturers of citronella products show that they are effective, but their repellency lasts for a shorter time than DEET, ' Repellency is greatest in the first 40 minutes after application. Similar'results were found by Consumers Union when this nonprofit consumer group tested mosqu'ito repellents. '5 Backpacker (an outdoor magazine), in a small test, found a citronella product to be as effective as lower-concentration DEET products 16 However, a study using yellow fever mosquitoes found "essentially no repellency" for two citronella products 17 Citronella has not been extenSively tested for its health hazards, but is mildly irritating to the skin, mouth, and' throat. It can be a sensitizing agent and -act as a sedative. I8 Eucalyptus is another natural mosqUito repellent. NCAP reviewed four studies which' indicated that components in Eucalyptus oil (in particular the compounds p-menthane-3,8-diols and eucamol) a're as ~ffective as DEET.19~22 One medical 'review indicates that eucalyptus oils may cause seizures, one of the toxicological problerns caused by DEET.'3 Eucalyptus oils have also caused skin irritation and sensitization. 24 ,25 Take Care with Natural Products Net clothes and window screens offer effective, nonchemical protection from mosquitoes. ingr~dients" or doesn't identify all ingredients, choose another product. Summary You can c'ope with mosquitoes without poisons! If you have a mosquito problem, firs( consider how you can get rid of any standing water. Empty containers, and drain puddles or other water bodies. Clothing and screens are effective, nonchemical protection from mosquito bites. Use repellents. only when necessary. ... References 1. 2. 3. 4. Caution should be taken when purchaSing and using any repellents. As a pesticide EPA has classified as "minimal risk," citronella is exempt from registration, which also makes it -exempt from the testing for health and environmental hazards _nonnally done on pesticides. 26 Eucalyptus oil is resgistered, but has not been tested for its ability to cause cancer or reproductive effects: 25 NCAP does not (recommend purchasing products un tess all ingredients are identified. If the label lists "inert 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Fradin, M.S. 1998. MosqUitoes and mosquito repellents: A clinician's guide. Ann. Intorn. Med. 128:931-940. Service, MW. 1999. Medical entomology for stu· dents. Cambridge, U.K.,: Cambridge Univ. Press. p.12. Persor:l.al communication with Phil ROSSignol, Oregon State Unlv. Dept. of Entomology, May 2000. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Genter for Infectious Diseases. -Division of Veclor·Borne Infectious Diseases. Undated. Human SI. Louis ,encephalllls cases by state, 1964-1998. www.cdc.gov. . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Infecllous Diseases. Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases. Undated. Confirmed WEE cases, human, United States, 1964-1997, by state. www.cdc.gov. U.S. EPA. Office of Pesticide Programs. 1998. Mosquitoes: How 'to control them. www.epa.gov/ pesticides, Apr.-28. Grainger, J. and C. Moore. 1991. Natural'insect repellents for pets, people and plants. Austin, TX: The Herb Bar. p. 29. Bales, M. 1949. The natural hIstory of mosqul· toes. New York: Tht;! Macmillan Co. p.70. Rozendaal. J. 1997. Vector control: Methods for use by individuals find communities. Geneva, Switzerland~ World Health Organization. Pp.75-77. 10. Agricultural Research Service, 1999. New mos· quito trap in time for summer. News release. www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/1999/990713.htm 11. Bi0Sensory. Undated. Summary of findings. Vero Beach Florida. Dragonfly. www.biosensory.com. 12. Bios_ensory. 20q1. Products. www.biosensory.com. 13. U.S. EPA. Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1998. Reregistration' eligibility decision (RED): DEET. p.3. 14. Reigart, J.R., and J.R. Roberts. 1999. Recognition, and management of pestiCide pOisonings. Washington, D.C: U.S. EPA. Office' of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. pp. 80-81. 15. Consumers Union. 2000. Buzz off! Consumer Reports (June): 14-17. 16. Holmes, H. 1996. The battle of the bug. Backpacker (Apr.): 68-72. 17. Chou, J.T., PA. ROSSignol, and JW. Ayres. 1997. Evaluation of commercial insect repellents on' human skin against Aedes aegypt/ (Dpltera: Culicidae). J, Med. Entomol. 34:624-680. 18.' Hazardous Substances Data Bank. 2001. Clt~ ronella!. http://toxnE!l.nim.nih.gov. , 19. Watanabe, K. et al. 1993. New mosqUito repellent from Eucalyptus camaldulensis. J. Agric. Food. Chem. 41: 2164-2166. 20. Satoh, A. et al. 1995. Absolute configuration of a new mosqUito repellent, (+)-eucambl and the repellen~ activity' of its epimer. Biosci. Biotech. Biochem.59:1139-1141. 21. Trigg, J.K. 1996. Evaluation of a eucalyptusbased repellent against Anopheles spp. in Tanzania. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc. 12:243-246. (Abstract.) 22. Schreck, C.E.' and B.A. Leonhardt. 1991. Efficacy assessment of Quwenllng, a mosquito repellent from China. J. Am. Mosq. Control Assoc: 7:433-436. (Abstract.) 23. Burkhard, P.R. 1999. Plant-induced seizures: reappearance of an old 'problem. J. Neurol. 246:667-670. 24. Schaller, M. and H.C. Korting. 1995. Allergic airbome contact dermatitis from essential oils used in aromatherapy. Clin. Exper. Dermatal. 20:143-145. 25. ,U.S. EPA. 2000. Blopesllclde rereglstration'eliglbllity document: p-menthane·3,8-diol. www.epa.gov/pesticides . 26. U.S. EPA. 2000. Pesticide registration notice 20006. Minimum risk pesticides exempted under FIFRA Section 2S(b) clarification of Issues. Washington, D.C., ,May 7. www.epa.gov/pesticides. NORTHWEST COALITION FOR AL TERNATI\lES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 97440 I (541)344·5044 11 ~OURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/ SUMMER 2001 • VaL. 21, Na. 2 ~OURNAL OF PESTICIOE Rl'FORM( SUMMER 2001 • V.QL. 21, Na. 2 • WDG, Atrazine Plus, and several "we~d and feed" fl.trazine praducts "cause eye irritatian"; and Atrazine 90DF Atrazine 90, Atrazine 4L, Atia-5, Atr~zine 80, Atrazlne 80W, and Atrazine SF cause "mDderate eye irritatian.,,4 FACT SHEET HERBICIDE ATRAZINE: TOXICOLOGY Atrazine, a triazine herbicide, is one of the two most ~ommonly used agricultural pesticides in the U.S. According to the National Toxicology p~ogram, atrazine is "immunotoxic," disrupting the function of the immune system. For example, it decreased the production of interferon, a molecule that fights viral infection. Exposure to atrazine also disrupts hormone systems. Detailed research, much of it done by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), showed that testosteronll, prolactin, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, estrogen, and a thyroid hormone are all affected by atrazine. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Iowa found that more babil's were born with low birth weight (for their gestati'onal age) and birth defects in Iowa communities whose water supply was contaminated with abaz.ine than in other Iowa towns. The atrazine contamination did not exceed EPA drinking water standards. In laboratory tests, atrazine delays puberty. In addition, inflamed prostates occur more often in the offspring of mother animals that were fed atrazine while they were nursing than in the offspring of unexposed mothers. Atrazine has caused genetic damage in a variety of labor'atory studies. -For eXCimple, researchers from the University of Illinois found that atrazine at concentr_alions found in drinking water increases chromosome damage in hamster cells. In addition, a study of workers at -an atrazine production facility found that "occupational exposure to atrazine causes a significant increase in the percentage of chromosomal damage" -in the workers' blood cells. Whether or not atrazine causes cancer has be.en a controversial subject. Although both laboratory studies and studies of exposed people have found an association between atrazine exposure and the incidence of certain' cancers, EPA and an international agency disagree about how to classify its ability to cau·se cancer. plant is unable to grow and dies 7 By CARaLINE Cax Figure 1 Atrazine Figu~e Arazine (see 1) is a widely used herbicide in the triazine family. Certain crops (primarily corn and related crops) are tolerant of atrazine, and it is used to kill weeds without c~ap death in thase situations. I Atra~ine was first registered in the U.S. in 1959 2 Currently, the major' manufacturer is Syngenta (formerly Novartis Crop Pratectian, Inc.),3 'but it is marketed by many companies 4 Use of atrazine has been the subject of sig. niflcant cancerns because it is .one of the; mast cammaniy detected pesticide cantaminants .of rivers, streams, and wells" Use Atrazine is "one .of the twa mast widely used agricultural pesticides in • Caroline Cox is NCAP's staff scientist. 12 Although herbicides, including atrazine, are nat generally expected ta be toxic to the nervaus system, researchers at the University of Sassari in Italy demanstrated that "atrazine exerts a taxjc action on [the] ce1.1tra1 .nervaus system, ,,8 Atrazine treatment .of rats decreased the electrical activity of certain' cells in the cerebellum (the part of the brain cancerned with matar function, the contral of muscle tone and .me maintenance of balance9), and Effects on the Immune decreased the electrical respanse of System the sam.e cells when they were stimuFDur, studies have shown that atralated by a nerve. These effects oc- zine can disrupt narmal immune syscurred following a dose of 100 milli- ,tern functian, enhancing the risk .of grams per kilogram (mg/kg), the only infectiaus dlsea'se .or cancer. dase tested. R In 'ra~s fed atrazine for three weeks, Figure 2 . Atrazine Reduces the Activity of the Immune System 100 Inert Ingredients CI N).,N CH 3CH,HN Effects on the Nervous System Atrazine alsa has effe,cts an the nervous system that are related ta the major effects'the herbicide has an-harmane systems. (See "Effects on Harmanes," p.14.) Atrazine alters central nervous system, production .of twa chemkals, dapamine ?-nd riarepinephrine.lO Bath transmit nerve impulses between nervaus system cells, and act as hDrmanes. 9 Altered' praductian of these chemicals, in turn, alters levels a~ twa hormanes, prolactin and lutein~ izing harmone,lo The major breakdown products of atrazine (hydroxyatrazine, deethylatrazine, deisoprapylatrazine, and diaminachlarotriazine) alsa alter the synthesis of dopamine and norepinephrine in the central nervaus system. 11 )l,J..,. N NHCH(CH 3), 2-chloro-4-elhylamino-6-isopropylaminos-triazine ' the U.S.',6 according to the u.s. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Estimated annual use is between 64 and 75 million pounds. The primary crops an which atrazine is used are carn, sorghum, and sugar cane. 6 Mode of Action Atrazine kills plants by blocking photosynthesis, the process by which green plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide (from the atmosphere), and water ta make sugars and related molecules. Without this "food," the Like most pesticide products, commercial atrazine prac;lucts 'contain ingredients other than atrazine. Misleadingly called "inerts," the identity of most of these compounds is nat publicly available. For toxicological informatian about _some' inert ingredients that have been identified, see "Inert Hazards," p. 13. Most of the taxicDlagical tests used in the registration, of a pesticide are dane with the active ingredi~nt only; when possible, the following summary of atrazine's toxicology will identify whether a particular study used atrazine alane .or was dane with cammercial products (atrazine plus inerts). Eye Injury Some atrazine-cantaining herbicides cause eye injury. Atrazine 90DF causes "substantial but temporary eye irritatian"; Atrazine 80 WP, Atrazine 90 NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP p.a. Bax 139.3, EUGENE, aRE.GaN 97'440 I (541)344-5044 o Unexposed Exposed to atrazine 6.5 65 650 (concentration in parts per billion) Source: Hooghe, R.J., S. Devos, and E.L. Hooghe-Peters. 2000. Effects of selected herbicides on cytokine production in vitro. Life Sci. 66: 2519-2525. I . . trazlne reduces the production of interferon by blood cells. Interferon is a protein used' by the A Immune system to fight viral infections. ' lymphopenia (a reduction in the number of white blood cells, cells that fight infectiDn and disease9) was "pronounced"l2 at a dose of 100 fig/kg per day, the lowest dose tested 12 This study cDmpared immune systerp_ effects .of 17 pesticides, and atrazine was one .of five pesticides to which the immune system was most sensitive. 12 In human 'blaad cells, treatment with atr 4 zine decreased the praductian of interleukin,13 a regulatary pratein in the immune system 9 ; interferan,13 an immune system pratein that fights viral -infectiDns 9 ; and tumor necrosis factar, 13 a pratein that kills tumor cells.' (See Figure 2.) INERT HAzARDs Publicly identified inerts in atrazine, products include ethoxylated nonyl phenol, ethylene glycol, and,sadium sulfite. 1 ,2 -These chemicals pase the follawing haz:.. ards: Ethoxylated nonyl phenols reduce fertility in labaratary tests 3 and act as ca-carcinagens,· in. creasing the patencies of other carcinDgenic cDmpounds. 3 Ethylene glycol can reduce fertility, damage nerves, and damage the kidney. Symptoms of expasure include nausea and headaches.' . Sodium sulfite may cause vamiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and intestinal bleeding. Ex, pasure ta small amDunts can cause severe allergic reactions. s 1. U.S. EPA. 2001. LeUer from Calvin Furlow to Caroline Cox,_'May 1. 2. Novartis Crop Protection, Inc. 2000. Material safety data sheet: Aatrex Noneo Herbicide. www.cdms.net. 3. Talmage, S.S. 1994. Environmental and human safety of major surfactanfs: alcohol ethoxylates and alkylphenol ethoxylates. Boca Raton: Lewis Publishers. Pp. 311315, 320~321 4. Sigma Chemical Co. -1998. Material safety data sheel: Ethylene glycol. St. Louis MO. www.sigma-aldrich.com. 5. Hazardous Substance Database. 2001. Emergency medical _treatment: Sodium sulfite. hL1p:lltoxnet.nim.nih.gov. NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P. a. B a x 1 393, E U G ENE, aRE G a N 97440 I (541) 3 44- 5 044 13 ----- -----~-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------,----------------------------------------------------------~----------------- dOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/SUMMER 2001' VOL. 21, NO.2 Cultures of spleen cells treated with atrazine produced fewer ~-lympho­ cytes,14 immune system cells that pr:oduce antibodies,15 than untreated cells.14 A National Toxicology Program study of immune system function in mice concluded that "atrazine was found to adversely affect the immune system and, thus, is considered to be an immunotoxic compound. ,,16 . Effects on the Liver and Kidneys Atrazine can damage both the- liver and kidneys. In a study of female pigs fed atrazine at a dose of 2 mg/kg per day for 19 days, researchers noted degeneration of the liver.17 Liver degeneration also occurred in experiments with rats, but at higher doses, IS A study of kidney function found evidence of dysfunction, an increase in the protein con~ent 6f the urine, in rats treated for 14 days with 10 mg! kg of atrazine per day 19 Effects on the Heart The "major treatment-related findings" in a dog feeding study were related to the heart. Electrocardiograms were altered, and degeneration of the heart muscles occurred. 20 The atrazine breakdown prod~ct diaminochlorotriazine also damages the heart. In a dog feeding study, adverse effects included enlargement and softening of the heart, thickened valves, and lesions. 21 Effects on Hormones The impact that environmental pollutants can have: on the normal function of human and animal hormone systems has been a significant concern, in the past -decade. 22 Hormones are biologically active molecules that control growth, development, behavior, and reproduction and thus are crucial to many important life functions. 23 Atrazine disruptS a stunning variety of hormone systems includirig the following: Figure .3 Effect of Atrazine on a Hormone.transforming Enzyme 2.4 0; 0 .c Qica.'a:; "15 w 2.0 ~ iO'E"- ~~~ ca C = Q) 1.6 i!:! ~ t3-;c; 1iic~ E 0 o E~ <~~ oE 1.2 .8 EQi 0"- 0 E ~ .4 0 0 2 4 Concent'ration of atrazine (ppm) 6 Source: Sanderson, J.T. et at. 2000. 2-chloro-s-triazine herbicides induce-aromatase (CYP19) activity in,H295R human adrenocortical carcinoma cells; A novel mechanism for estrogenicity? Toxieol. Sci. 54: 121-127. Atrazine, in cultures of human cells, increases the activity of aromatase, an enzyme that transforms androgens (male sex hormones) i.nto estrogens (female sex hormones). 14 • Testosterone. Often called the "male" sex hormorie, testosterone promotes the development of male sex characteristics. 24 It is converted into biologically active forms in various organs. A series of studies showed that atraZine inhibits this conversion in 'male, laboratory animals, reducing the amount of the active forms in the pitutitary25,26 and the hypothalamus,2, A single dose of 1 mg/kg was sufficient .to cause this inhibition,25 and the atrazine breakdown product deethylatrazine had similar effects.'6 In addition, the number of -testosterone receptors in the prostate gland was reduced by atrazine exposure 27 in both young adult'rats and older rats. 28 Atrazine also reduces the abiiity of an active 'form of testosterone to bind to receptor molecules in the prostate. 29 , Atrazine exposure, of mothers dur-: ing pregnancy and nursing affects testosterone levels in their offspring: exposure during pregnancy increases the amount of the active form of testosterone in the pituitary of the female offspring, but exposure during bmh pregnancy and nursing reduces these levels in male offsprihg. In addition, exposure to either atrazine or deethylatrazine during nursing decreased t,he number of test-: osterQne receptors in the prostate of male offspring.30 • Prolactin. Prolactin stimulates the production of breast milk in nursing females. 9 Atrazine inhibits "surges" of prolactin that occur during nursing .and in response to release of estrogen, ("female" sex harmones);31,_32 • Progesterone. Involved in the regulation of,menstruation, progesterone also is important during pregnancy.,24 In female rats, exposure to atrazine induced "pseudopregnancies" in which, although the rats were not pregnant, their progesterone levels were high and the animals did not cycle through sexually active phases as they usually do. 33 • .Luteinlzing honnone. Luteinizing hormone is produced in the pituitary gland and regulates the secretion of other sex hormones. 24 Atrazine blocks the "surge" of luteinizing hor- NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P.O" BOX 1 39 3, E U GENE, 0 REG 0 N 97440 / (54 1 ) 3 4 4 - 5 044 dOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/SUMMER 2001' VOL. 21, NO.2 mone that occurs before ovulation. 33 ,31 Figure 4 Associations between Atrazine.contami~ated I)rinking Water, • Estrogens, Often called "female" Birth Defects, and Low Birth Weight sex hormones, estrogens regulate the development of sex characteristics and the menstrual cycle, help mainCommunities with Birth Defects tain pregnancy, and prepare the uncontaminated 24 water breasts for nursirig. Atrazine is not estrogeniC; that is, it does not cause certain physiological activities that Communities with estrogens cause. Atrazine does not atrazinecause increases in uterus weight, as contaminated water estrogens do, nor does it cause cell division that normally occurs in response to estrogens. 3S However, atraCommunities with zine does have estrogen-related acLow Birth Weight uncontaminated tiviti~s. It increases the activity of an water (based on 'enzyme called aromatase that congestational age) verts testosterone' and related hormones to estrogens, and thus could Communities with increase estrogen levels. 36 . (See Figatrazine· contaminated ure 3.) In a yeast that was genetiwater cally modified to produce the hu-, man estrogen receptor, atrazine dis2 3 o placed estrogens from the estrogen Relative Risk receptor at low estrogen concentraSources: Munger, R. et al. 1992. Birth defects and pesticide·cdntaminated water supplies in Iowa. Amer. tions, but not at high ones. 37 In adJ. Epidemiol. 136:959. (Abstract.) \ dition, the atrazine,breakdown prodMunger, R. et al. 1997. Intrauterine growth retardation In Iowa communities with herbicidecontaminated drinking water supplies'. Environ. Health Persp. 105:.308·314. uct, deethylatra~ine, has some estrogenic activity.3H • Thyroid hormones. In rats, atra- Birth defects and low birth weight babies (based on their gestational age) were more common in zine caused a decrease in the blood Iowa communities with atrazine-contaminated drinking water than in other Iowa communities. levels. of the thyroid hormone tri- The average atrazine contamination was less than EPA's drinki~g water standard. iodothyronine,39 a hormone that Iowa water supplies. The average atra- found atrazine in breast milk and cerregulates metab,olism and growth. zine ,contamination level in this reser": vical muCus in 20 percent (2/10) of Effects on· Reproduction voir was 2.2 parts per billion (ppb), the subjects tested. 43 Studies of exposed people and labo- just below the federal drinking water . Effects on reproduction have also ratory tests show that atrazine and atra- standarc;l of 3 ppb. Elsewhere in the been demonstrated in female laborazine-containing herbicides reduce the state levels averaged 0.6 ppb. Research- tory animals. Female rabbits which ers found that the incidence of what were fed atrazine had smaller litters ability to reproduce successfully. Studies of exposed people have is 'called intrauterine growth retarda- and more miscarriages than unexposed looked both at farmers and' residents tion (IUGR), babies with low birth rabbits. The lowest dose causing these weight for their gestational age, was effects was 75 mg/kg per day. In mulof agricultural areas . In the Ontario [Canada] Farm Fam, , about double the incidence of IUGR tigenerati6nal studies with rats, aniily Health Study, the incidence of pre- in towns with less contaminated wa- mals fed atrazine had offspring which mature birth in families in which the ter.41 In a companion study, research- weighed less than the offspring of unI father applied atrazine on the farm ers found that the incidence of birth exposed animals. The lowest dose was nearly double that of families in defects was more than double that in causing these effects was 40 mg/kg which the father was not exposed to towns with less contamin;;:tted water. per day.44 At slightly higher doses (50 pesticides. 40 The incidence of prema- (See Figure 4.) The incidence of limb mg/kg per day), atrazine caused comture birth was even higher in families reduction defects increased the mosr.!J2 pletepregnancy loss (loss of the full A study that documented atrazine litter) in rats of one laboratory strain where atrazme was used in the yard. 40 Another study, conducted by the contamination of various tissues related (F344); similar results in other strains University of Iowa, studied communi- to reproduction 'increases the concerns occurred at higher doses, 45 Atrazine also disrupts the normal ties whose drinking \water came from raised by the research summarized in an Iowa reservoir that was more con- the previous paragraphs. Researchers function of the male reproductive sysLaminated with herbicides than other at the University of Bonn.in Germany tem in laboratory animals. In rats, NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P. O. BOX 1 3 9 3, E U G ENE, 0 REG 0 N 97440 / (541) 344 - 5 0 4 4 15 JQURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/SUMMER 2001.• VOL. 21, NO.2 Figure 5 Atrazine and Prostate Inflammation w JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/SUMMER 2001· VOL. 21,.NO. 2 Figure 6 Atrazine and Chromosome Damage 50 3.5 ID ~ ID" N~ e 0"0 ID E ro "iii 40 ~ ~ e:g 30 fiE 3.3 -e o~ cu ~ c ·c 0W >to 0 0_ +=>0 ro_ ";:: c roo 3.2 >0 -E '<;ro cw .9:'! ~ Uo 3.1 [i:(/) ID" OID 20 ID "'0E C 10 ID ~ ID "- (\j IDE Ero 3.4 0"0 WID °E Eo ".s o o 3.0 6.25 12.5 25 50 Atrazine (mglkg) given to mothers twice Unexposed daily, during nursing Source: Stoker, T.E., C.L. Robinette, and R.L. Cooper. Maternal exposure tp alrazine during lactation suppresses suckling-induced prolactin release and results in prostatitis. Taxicol. Sci. 52:68-79. Exposed (3 ppb of atrazine) Source;: Taets, C., S. Aref, and A. L. Rayburn. 1998. The clastogenic potential of triazine herbicide combinations found in potable wate(supplies; Environ. Health Persp. 106:197-201. Exposure to atrazine during nursing causes inflamed prostates in the offspring. In addition, exposure of cells to concentrations of atrazine allowed in drinking water causes chromosome damage. atrazine caused a reduction in the abil- exposure to atrazine before birth.48 pregnant rats were exposed to atraity of sperm to move and a reduction Becau~e feeding atrazine at relatively zine between the fifteenth and ninein the number of sperm in the epid- high doses reduces the weight of labo- teenth day of their pregnancies, their idymis, the part of the testes in which ratory animals, it is possible that these male offspring also developed inflamed sperm mature. These effects were effects on development could be re- prostates. 51 caused by a dose of 60mg/kg given lated to reduced body weight rather twice a week. 46 - than a direct effect of atrazine. To. test Mutagenicity The atrazine breakdown product this possibility, the EPA researchers in EPA recently evaluated tests of diaminochlorotriazine also reduces suc- the studies of delayed puberty included atrazine's' mutagenicity, its ability to cessful reproduction, -Rats fed diamino- in their experiments rats whose food cause genetic damage. This 'review inchlorotriazine during pregnancy had was reduced so that their weight would cluded tests submitted to the agency offspring that weighed less than off- match the weight of the atrazine-fed as part of the registration process andspring of unexposed mothers and their animals. In males, puberty was not -tests published in the scientific literabone development W;;tS also altered. 47 delayed in the food-deprived animals ture. 52 EPA concluded that "the availas much as it was in the atrazine-fed able evidence did not indicate a muEffects on Development animals 48 Puberty of food-deprived tagenic effect of atrazine exposure. "53 Recent studies have shown that atrJ.- females was not delayed. 49 Thus, a~a­ 'However, the EPA review omitted zine can affect juveniles as they de- zine directly affects the timing of pu- studies that raise serious' concerns velop into adults. In studies conducted 'berty. about atrazine's mutagenicity. A 1998 by EPA scientists, sexual maturity is In addition, atrazine can affect the study of chromosome damage in blood delayed in rats fed atrazine from the development of the prostate. When cells of workers in an ,atrazine protime they are weaned until puberty. mother rats were treated with atrazine duction facility found that "occupaIn males a dose of 12.5 mg/kg de- for the first four days after they gave . tional exposure to atrazine causes a layed puberty while a higher dose (50 birth (this is during the time that they significant increase in the percentage mg/kg per day) was required to cause are nursing their offspring), their male of chromosomal damage. ") a delay in females. 48,4Y In males, the offspring were more likely to develop Also omitted from the EPA analysis primary breakdown products of atra- prostate i~flammation. The dose re- were studies that looked at the ability zine have caused the same delay in quired to cause inflammation wa's, 25 of atrazine to cause genetic damage at puberty that atrazine doesso 'as has mg/kg per day 31 (See Figure 5,) When the concentrations at ,which atrazine 16 NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 97440/ (541)344-5044 has been measured in drinking water. The studies used cultures of cells from hamster ovaries, a standard cell culture for mutagenicity tests. The first study found that the incidence of chromosome breakage increased at concentrations less. than -3 parts per billion,55 the legally enforceable public drinking water standard 56 A second ~ study, using a similar protocol, found increased breakage of the largest chromosome at an- atrazine concentration of 3 ppb (with borderline statistical significance) and a statistically significant increase at a concentration of 18 ppb. The highest atrazine concentration detected in Illinois water samples is . 18 ppb. 57 The third study in this series found similar results: atrazine increased the frequency of chromo,. ,some damage at concentrations of both 3 and 18 ppb 58 (See Figure 6,) These studies measured a kind of genetic damage not studied- in any research included in the EPA analysis. The EPA analysis omitted consideration of the role that "inert" ingredients play in the mutagenicity of atrazine-containing herbicides. The tests submitted to EPA as part of the atrazine regIstration process are all te~ts using atrazine alone, 59 as are most of the publishe<;l studies. NCAP has identified one 'study that compares: a commercial atrazine product with atrazine alone. In this study, the commercial product caused about tWice as many mutations as did atrazine. 60 In addition, EPA failed to consider the implications of the atrazine derivative called N-nitrosoatrazine. Nnitrosoatrazine. is fonned in the human digestive system when both atrazine and nitrate are present. 61 Because both compounds are common water contaminants 62 , "there 'is much coricern that' this will increase the exposure to nitrosamines [N-nitrosoatrazine]. ,,63 Both atr:izine and N-nitrosoatrazine can damage chromosomes in -human blood cells. However, while concentrations of 1 part per million (ppm) of atrazine caused damage, much lower levels (0.1 ppb) of N-nitrosoatrazine caused damage. 63 N-nitrosoatrazine was also "strongly mutagenic"iin hamster cells. 64 EPA also omitted consideration of synergistic effects with other herbi- cides. In a study in which human blood cells were exposed to low concentrations of Hnuron and atrazine (indiVidually and together), both atrazine (at 1 ppb) and linuron (at 1 ppm) increased the frequency of broken "One study compares a commercial atrazine product with atrazine alone. In this study, the commercial product caused about·twice as many mut.ations as did atrazine." chromosomes, but not significantly. The combination, at lower concentrations (0.5 ppm oflinuron and 0.5 ppb of atrazine), caused a significant increase in broken chromosomes. 65 A study of chromosome breaks in the bone marrow cells of mice drinking water containing atrazine and/or the herbicide alachlor had similar results. Neither atrazine and alachlor alone (at concentrations of 20 ppm) caused chromosome damage, but the combination (10 ppm of each) did 66 Like atrazine, alachlor, is a common water contaminant. 5 Although tests on cells from humans 'or - other mammals should be most relevant to human hazards, EPA has given little consideration to the type of organism used in the mutagenicity studies they evaluated. In the tests using bacteria' and yeast! only a few (5/23) ,were positive (showed genetic damage). However,.in the tests using cells from humans or rodents a much larger proportion (10/23) were positive. 52 An older (1980) review for the Europe¥' Community of a smaller number of studies also noted that the type of organism was important: most positive result& in this -review were in mammals and in whole-animal rather than 'cell culture tests. 67 Finally, the differences between daDl provided EPA by atrazine manufacturers and data available in the published scientific literature are striking. A . review published by EPA in 1993 found that all of the 8 studies submitted for registration purposes were negative, but 14 out of 39 published studies were positive 68 (See Figure 7.) Figure 7 . Comparing the Results of Mutagenicity Studies Conducted by , Atrllzine Manufacturers and Published Studies o Studies conducted by atrazine manufacturers no evidence of genetic damage Studies published in scientific journals • evidence of genetiC aamage Source: Dearfield, K.L., et al. 1993. A survey of EPA/OPP and open literature data on selected pesticide chemicals tested ,for mutage~iclty. Mut. Res. 297:197-233. An' 1993 EPA teview of atrazine mutagenicity studies found that while studies conducted by atrazine manufacturers showed no evidence of genetic damage, many (14/39) studies published in 'scientific Journals found that atrazine did cause genetic damage, NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P.O. BOX 1393, EUGENE, OREGON 97440/ (541)344-5044 17 ----~------~----------------------------------------~--~--------~----~--------~---------------------1 JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/ SUMMER 2001 • VOL. 21, NO.2 JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/ SUMMER 2001 • VOL. 21, NO.2 Supporting evidence for the' mutagenicity of atrazine comes from a study of a protein called p53 in rats fed relatively low doses of atrazine (2.7 mg/kg per day). This protein plays a central role in "DNA repair and survival after DNA damage." (DNA is the molecule from which genetic material is made.) The percentage of blood cells containing the p53 protein increased dramatically (about 20-fold) in the animals that were fed atrazine. 69 cancer as 'unexposed womenJo of wells and drinking water and the • Researchers from the University of incidence of six types of cancer in Kentucky studied the association beOntario, Canada. They found the intween the incidence of breast cane cidence of stomach cancer in both cer in Kentucky and a composite males and females increased with measure of triazine exposure. (The increasing atrazine water contamiindex was based on well and drinknation. 73 ing water contamination data,. acreAtrazine has caused cancer in the age of corn production, and esti- following laboratory studies: mates of triazine. use.) The study .• In the Sprague-Dawley strain of labofound that breast cancer risk was rq,tory rats, atrazine caused breast higher Cl.I'l.2-fold) in counties with tumors in females.7 4 medium and high levels of triazine • In the F344 strain of rats, atrazine Carcinogenicity exposure than it was in counties with caused breast tumors in males. In -Whether Of 'not atrazine is carcinolow exposure. 71 (See Figure 8.) females, atrazine call-sed cancers of genic (causes cancer) is a controver- • The Cancer Registry of Central Calithe uterus, leukemia, and lymsial subject that. has been studied in fornia looke4 at correlations between phoma. 75 (Another study 0\ F344 rats, both people and laboratory animals. atrazine use in California (by county) submitted as part of atrazine's regiSStudies of exposed farmers and and the incidence of six types of tration found no increases in tumors farmworkers that have demonstrated cancer. The study found that for His-or cancer?4) an association between atraZine expopanic males, the incidence of leukeOne final laboratory study is not a sure ,and cancet include the following: mia was associated with the' use of standard carcinogenicity study but • Researchers from the Italian National 'atrazine. ;For black men, the' inci- rather a study of cancer-causing mechaCancer Institute studied the associadence of brain and testicular cancer nisms. In this study, using cell cultion between triazine use and ovawas associated with the use of .atra- tures from rat intestines and human zine,72 . rian cancer in women corn f~rmers. colons, atrazine caused cells to prolifThey found that women who applied .. Researchers from the University of erate, to increase in number. Human triazlnes, Of cultivated fields where Prince Edward Island and the Uni- cells were more sensitive to atrazine triazines had been used, were more versity of Guelph studied associa- than rat cells. Proliferation of colon or than twice as likely have ovarian tions between atrazine contamination intestinal cells is part of the develotment of colon or intestinal cancer? EPA's evaluation· of these studies Figure 8 concluded thatatrazine is "not likely Triazine Water Contamination and Breast Cancer in Kentucky to be carcinogenic in humans." With respect to_ the studies of exposed 1.2 people, the .agency stated that "there is no supporting evidence or a sound argument of biological plausibility that these cancers may result from exposure to atrazine. Also, the, lack of confirming studies indicates that the human investigations by themselves do not make a strong case for an association between atrazine" exposure and human cancer."77 Note: With respect to the laboratory studAn odds ratio of one indicates ies, EPA concluded, based on detailed no increased risk studies, that "it is unlikely that atrazine's mode of cancer action in SD [Sprague-Dawley] rats is operative O.BL----;---~-"_ _ _ _ _-'-_~_:_---J in humans." The agency' believes that Low Medium High atrazine causes cancer in Sprague(summary index of triazine exposure, by. county) Dawley rats by weakening surges of Source: luteiniiing hormone (See "Effects on Kettles, MA et al. 1997. Triazine herbicide exposure and breast Cancer incidence: an ecologic Hormones," p. 14). This initiates the study of Kentucky coun~ies. Environ. Hearth Persp. 105: 1222-1227. equivalent of menopause earlier than it occurs in unexposed rats. During Breast cancer risk is increased'in Kentucky counties where triazine-contaminated water is common. "menopause" in the Sprague-Dawley to Figure 9 Absorption of .Atrazine through .Iuvenile an!! Adult Skin 10 B '0 m -eozwc .em ~~ Co. 6 5E' '" 4 2 adult juvenile Source: Shah, P.V. et al. 1987. Comparison of the penetration of 14 pesticides lhrough the skin of young and adult rats. J. Taxieol. Environ. Health 21: 353-366. Skin of juvenile laboratory animals absorbs more atrazine than adult skin. This suggests that children may be particularly at' risk from activities that bring their skin into contact with atrazine, such as taking a shower in'contaminated water. with other herbicides than ,it does alone. Another example con.cerns dinitrotoluene, a chemical that is transformed in the intestine of laboratory animals into' carcinogenic and mutageniC comSpecial Susceptibility of pounds. Exposure to atraz.ine increased Children the formation of these mutagenic Atrazine may pose particular haz-' molecules. 83 "+ ards to children, not only because of Jhe effects on reproduction and devel- References 1. Ware, G.W. 2000. The pesticide book. Fresno opment identified abov~, but because CA: Thomson Publications. p. 129. they are more exposed to this herbi2. U.S. EPA. 1994. Atrazine, simazine, and cyan-. cide. A laboratory study conducted by azine: notice of initIation of special review. Fed. Reg. 5.9: 60412-60443. EPA researchers found that absorption 3. U.S: EPA. Office of Prevention', Pesticides and of atrazine through the skin was greater Toxic Substances. 2000. Transmission of preliminary human health risk assessment for atrafor juveniles than for adults. 79 (See Figzine in supporL of the reregistration, tolerance ure 9.) This is the kind of exposure reassessment, and special review. LeHer from R. that might occur if, for example, a Dumas, EPA, to J. McFarland, Syngenta, Dec. 1. child bathed in atrazine-contaminated 4. U.S. EPA. 2001. California Environmental Protectlon Agency - Dept. of Pesticide Regulation: water .. USEPAJOPP pesticide product database query. The same study also showed that a www.cdpr.ca.gov/epa/m2.htm. 5. U.S. Geological Survey. 1999. The quality of higher proportion of the atrazine was our nations's waters-nutrLenls and pesticides. absorbed when low concentrations of USGS Circular 1225'. Pp. 60·61. atrazine touched the skin,- as opposed 6. U.S.' EPA. 2001. Atrazine: HED's revised preliminary human health risk assessment for the to medh)m or high concentrations?9 reregistratlon eligibility decision (RED). WashChildren are als.o exposed to more ington D.C. Pp. 5,7. www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/ reregistration/atrazine/index.htm. atrazine -than 'adults because, for their 7. Ref. #1, p. 194. . size, they drink more water than adults. 8. Podda, M.V. et al. 1997. Effe_ct of atrazine adAccording to EPA's standard estimates ministration on spontaneous and evoked cerebellar activity in the rat. Pharmacol. Res. 36: for water consumption children's con199-202. sumption is 126 percent of an adult 9. CancerWeb. 1995-1998. The on-line medical dicmale, and infants' consumption is 540 tionary. www.graylab.ac.uk. 10. Das, P.C., W.K. McElroy, and R.L. Cooper. 2000. percent of an adult male 80 Differential modulation of catecholamlnes by open for further studies. NCAP believes that IARe's conel,llsion is more appropriate and more protective of human health than EPA's conclusion. I Synergy rat levels of the hormone estrogen ar~ high, which causes breast tumors. In humans,' menopause causes low levels of estrogen, so that the SpragueDawley rat results are not relevant. 77 EPA's analysis leaves a critical qu'estion unanswered: if the hormonal effects of atrazine that cause breast cancer in Sprague-Dawley rats do not occur in humans, what is the effect' on humans of this compound which appears to cam~e such sJgnificant disruption of hormone systems? What 'experiments can answer this question? Before giving atrazine a "not likely" cancer classification, shouldn't EPA find out what the "effects in humans are likely to be? The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARe) evaluated ~ssential1y the same set of studies and concluded that "atrazine is· not chissifiable as i to its carcinogenicity to humans, ,,7H leaving the door Synergy occurs when the combination of two chemicals is more toxic than either chemical alone. In terms of acute toxidty, atra~ine is synetgistic with a common class of insecticides, the organophosphates. A study using fruit' flies as ,a test animal found that atrazine was synergistic with the organophosphate insecticides paratbion, diaiinon, dyfonate, and phorate. 81 A second study, using aquatic midges as a test animal, found that atrazine was synergistic with the organophosphates trichlorfon, malathion, chlorpyrifos, and methyl-parathion. 82 An insecticide in another chemical family, carbofuran, was' also synergiStically toxic with atrazine to fruit flies. 81 Atrazine can,laiso act synergistically with respect to effects other than acute toxicity. As mentioned' above (see "Mutagenicity," p. 17), atrazine causes more genetic damage in combination 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. thlorotriazine herbicldes In pheochromocytoma (PC12) ,cells in vitro. Toxicol. Sci. 5\3.324-331. Das, P.C., W.K. McElroy, and R.L:Cooper. 2001. Alteration of catecholamines in pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells in vitro by the metabolites of chlorolriazine herbicide. Toxicol. Sci. 59:127-137. Vos, J.G. and E.1. Krajnic. 1983. Immunotoxicily of pesticides. In Hayes, A.W., R.C. Schnell, and T.S. Miya. (eds.) Developments in the science and 'practice of toxicology. Proceedings of lhe 3rd International Congress on Toxicology, San J OIego CA, USA. Aug. 28 - Sept. 3,1983. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier Scientific Publishers. Pp. 229-240. Hooghe, R.J., S. Devos,and E.L. Hooghe-Peters. 2000. Effects of selected herbicides on cytokine production in vitro. Life Sci. 66: 25192525. Bacher, M., T. Boldicke, and F. Sasse. 1993. Cytotoxic eHect of atrazine on murine B-Iymphocytes in vitro. Sci. Tot. Environ. 132: 429433. U.S. EPA. Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. 1998, Health effects tests guideline.s: OPPTS -870.7800 immunotoxici1y. Washington, ·D,C. www. epa.gov/pesticides. National Toxicology Program. 1994. NTP report on the immunotoxiclly of atrazine (CAS no. 191224-9) in female 86C3F1 mice (IMM94002). http:/ /ntp-server. ni e hs. ni h. gov/htdocsJlT -studi es/ IMM94002.html. Gojmerac, T. et al. ,1995. Serum biochemlca.1 and histopathological changes 'related to the hepatic function in pigs following atrazine treat- NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP 18 NORTHWEST COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES/NCAP P. O. 8 OX 1393, E U G ENE, 0 R E GO N 97440.1 (541) 344-5 044 P. O. BOX 1 393, E U G ENE, 0 REG 0 N9 7 4 4 0 / (541) 344 - 5 04 4 19 dOURNAL OF PESTICIDE REFORM/SUMMER 2001' VOL. 21, NO.2 ment. J. Appl. Taxico/. 15: 233-236. 18. Santa Maria, C., J. MorslJo, and JL LopezCampos. 1987. Hepatotoxicity induced by the herbicide atrazine in the rat. J. Appl. Taxicol: 7:373-378. 19. Santa Maria, C., e1 al. 1986. Subacute alrazine treatment effects on Jat renal functions. Bu/{. 38. Environ. Cantem. TaxieD!. 36:325-331. 20. U.S. EPA. Office of'Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. Office of Pesticide Programs. Health Effects Division. 2001. Atrazine PC'Code 080803: Toxicology disciplinary chapter for the reregistration eligibility decision document. Washington, D.C. www.epa.gov/oppsrrdl! 39. 40. reregistrallon/atrazine/index.htrn. pp. 14-15. 21. Ref. #20; p. 45. 22. National Research Council. Commission on Life Sciences. Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology. Committee on Hormonally ,Active Agents In the I;:nvironment. 1999. Hormonally active agents in the environment. Washington, D.C,: National Academy Press, p. 10. 23. U.S. EPA. Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program. 2000.· Report to Congress. Washington, D.C. www.epa.gov/scipoly/oscpendollndex.htm. p. 4. 24. Eubanks, M.W. 1997. Hormones and health. Environ. Health Persp. 105: 482-487. 25. Kniewald, J., p, Mildner, and Z. Kniewald. 1979. Effects of s-triazin'e herbicides on hormone-receptor complex formaUon, 5a.-reductase and 30;hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity at the anterior pituitary level. J. Ster. Biochem. 11 :833838. 26. Babic-GoJmerac. 1989. Testosterone metabolism in neuroendocrine organs in male rats under atrazlne and deethylatrazlne influence. J. Ster. Bioehem.33:141-146. , 27. Kniewald, J. et a!. 1995. Effect of s-triazine compounds on testosterone metabolism in the ral prostate. J. Appl. Toxieol. 15:215-218. 28. Slmlc, B. et al. 1991. Reversibility of the inhibltqry effect 01 atrazine and lindane on cytosol 5a-dihydrolestosterone receptor complex formation in rat prostate. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 46:92-99. 29. Danzo, B.J. 1997. Environmental xenobiotics may disrupt normal endocrine fUnction by interfering with the binding of phYSiological ligands to stf;!roid receptors ,and binding prolelns. Environ. Health Persp. 105:294.301. 30. Kniewald, J. et al. 1@87. Indirect influence of stralzines on rat gonadotropic mechanism at early post natal period. J. $ter. Biochem. 27: 100951100. 31. Stoker, T.E., C.L. Robinette, and R.L. Cooper. 1999. Maternal exposure 10 atrazine during lactation suppresses suckling-induced prolactin release and results in prostatills in the adult offspring. Toxicol. ScI: 52:68-79. 32. Cooper, R.L. et al. 2000. Atrazlne disrupts .Ihe hypothalamic conlrol 01 pituitary-ovarian funcIlon. Toxicol. Sci. 53:297-307. 33. Cooper, R.L. at al. 1996. Effect of atrazine on ovarian function in the rat. Repro. Toxlcol. 10: 257-264. 34. Cooper, R.L., J.M. Goldman, and T.E. Stoker. 1999. Neuroendocrine and reproductive effects 01 contemporary-use pesticides. Toxlco!. !ndust. Health 15:26-36. 35. Connor, K. at al. 1996. Failure 01 chloro~s-Irlaz­ ine-derived compounds. to induce receptor-mediated responses in vivo and in vitro. Fund. App!. Toxico!. 30:93-101. 36. Sanderson, J:T. et al. 2000. 2-chloro-s-lriazine herbIcides induce aromatase (CYP1.9) activity in H295R.human adrenocortical carcinoma cells: A novel mechanism for estrogenicity? Toxlcol. Sci. 54: 121-127. 37. Tran, D.O.' et al. 1996. The inhibition of estrogen receptor-mediated respOnses by chloro-s- 20 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. triazine-derived compounds is dependent on estradiol concentration in yeast. Siochem. Biophys. Res. Comm.227:140-146. Hanioka, N.. et al. 1999. In vitro metabolism of slmazine, atrazine, and propazine by hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes of rat, fnouse and guinea pig, and oestrogenic activity 01 chlorotrlazines and their main metabolites. ,Xenobiotiea 29:1213-1226. Kornilovskaya; I.N. 1~94. Thyroid·mast cell heterogeneity in rat functional properties in response to the herbicide atrazine In rat. Eur. J. Endocrino!. 130 (Suppl. 2): 129. (Abstract.) Savl.tz, D.A. et al. 1997. Male pregnancy exposure and pregnancy outcome. Amer. J. Epidemiol. 1"46: 1025-1036. ' Munger, R. et at 1997. Intrauterine growth retardation in Iowa communities with herbicldecontaminated drinking waler supplies. fEnviron. Health Persp. 105:308-314. Munger, R. et aL 1992. Birth delects and pesticide-contaminated water supplies In Iowa. Amer. J. Epldem/ol. 136:959. (Abstract.) Wagner, U. et al. 1990. Detectlon 01 phosphate ester pesticides and Ihe triazine herbicide "atrazine" in human milk, cervical mucus, follicularand sperm fluid. Fresenfus J. Anal. Chern. 337: 77-78. Ref. #20, pp. 9-11. Narots.l