Chemical Herbicides – Are they For You?

Reader Contribution by Bruce Mcelmurray

When writing about something like 2,4-D Amine 4 or other chemical pesticides, I believe it is only proper to state right up front that I am not a scientist, toxicologist, nor do I represent any entity.I am just an average person who has taken the time to research this product and base my comments on information which has been furnished to me by the EPA, USDA and those who have studied this product in depth.Therefore if you happen to be a scientist or toxicologist please address the document textprovided by our government; as I am not qualified to debate the subject.

My first concern was justhow accurate is the testing process prior to the release of chemicals by the EPA.I started my study by going to a publication from the EPA itself. Simply stated the report deals with the reliability of the scientific tests on many chemicals.The EPA requires a certain minimum set of studies for different kinds of toxicity before the chemical is registered.The EPA includes certain standards that are required from the chemical producer, but the EPA does not necessarily run its own tests and relies on the manufacturer to do these tests.They also lack some important considerations in my opinion. Most tests are carried out on rats, mice, rabbits, dogs and other animals.Humans are not necessarily similar to rats and other laboratory animals. Therefore the EPA sometimes requires testing on two different speciesto determine acceptable standards for humans. This level of testing assumes that all warm blooded species are alike. The EPA also generally concludes that children are approximately 10 times more susceptible to chemicals than adult humans. A variable standard at best.

Lab ratshave the ability to pass some toxins through their system without harm, but other warm blooded species do not have that ability.So when 2, 4-D Amine 4 is considered moderately toxic to rats it could be seriously toxic to other species.Then to compound this even further certain humans are more susceptible to toxic chemicals than other humans.The range of human susceptibility is not actually known so this factor may not be sufficiently protective.

Another consideration is that the test animal is only exposed to a single chemical.In the environment the human is exposed to multiple toxins simultaneously which can lead to cumulative effects. Also not all types of toxicity are studied in detail.The increase in the last 30+ years with diseases linked to chemical exposure are growing.Such as ADD, ADHD, asthma, early onset of menstruation, chemical sensitivity,immune issues, reproduction, and systemic dysfunction to name a few.The EPA relies on the chemical industry to do the testing and the criteria it demands leaves potential risk assessment nebulous, incomplete or uncertain.

The process of which chemicals actually get tested for toxicity such as carcinogens and reproductive toxins can be either scientific or political which is why not all chemicals receive extensive scrutiny or any scrutiny at all.Chemicals can also be approved for use before being registered and the toxic effects may not be fully known for 20 years or longer.The EPA attempts to compensate for many of these factors by adding an ‘uncertainty factor,’ to establish what is acceptable. To me the entire testing process appears to

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368