Dow AgroSciences is seeking U.S. Department of Agriculture and EPA approval for their new genetically-modified corn resistant to 2,4-D — a chemical that can be used as a high-powered herbicide, but which was also an ingredient in the notorious Vietnam-era defoliant known as Agent Orange. Dow says that the new corn – officially called “Enlist,” but known to critics as “Agent Orange Corn” – is necessary for farmers because invasive weeds have developed immunities to traditional herbicides.
Critics are concerned that the use of 2,4-D herbicides on American crops would pose a serious public health risk, pointing to research on Agent Orange exposure that links the chemical to certain kinds of cancer, Parkinson’s disease and other health conditions.
Proponents of “Enlist” say that the campaign against “Agent Orange Corn” is just a scare tactic environmentalists are using to exploit public sympathy for Vietnam veterans, citing that the chemicals 2,4,5-T and dioxin were the ingredients in Agent Orange responsible for the litany of health conditions associated with exposure to the defoliant, not 2,4-D.
Both 2,4,5-T and dioxin are off the market; 2,4-D, however, is EPA-approved for home lawn care and has not been officially classified as a human carcinogen.
To learn more about the issue, check out New York Times coverage by clicking here.
So what do you think?
Please read THE IOM REPORT minor Rev. 3 Jan. 2012 (yes,that's minor Rev. 2012). Also read the effects of agent orange. Then, consider the health of our children today. IT can take 20 to 40 years for symptoms and/or illnesses to surface...after exposed to agent orange. And, instead of living to a healthier 90+ years old, one is to suffer to live between 50 to 70... to then die.
ReplyDeleteEveryone that applies Scott's Weed and Feed lawn fertilizer comes in direct contact with 2,4-D. States so right on the bag. Supposedly safe if handled properly.
ReplyDeleteI say let the weeds grow and the lawn die rather than use this product. Put in a rock garden! That is dangerous stuff. Is a beautiful green weed free lawn worth it? I say NO. Agent Orange has also been linked to particular health problems in the children of Vets. There are many articles on the internet about it. It is bad enough they "showered' our troops in it, now even our children are paying the price. Let the grass fend for itself. Just instinct should have told them if it 'defoliates' trees/plants..it couldn't be good for humans to get it on them.
ReplyDeleteWhile 2,4-D has it's own issues they are not anywhere near the issues 2,4,5-T has. The extreme hazards of 2,4,5-T are the reasons it was banned and it was the major contributor to the production of TCDD during the manufacture of Agent Orange. Do not confuse them.
ReplyDeleteDrinking those multiple cases of colas are more than likely worse for your body than 2,4-D is, if it's applied as directed.
2,4-D is relatively safe if used as directed and additional safety measure won't hurt.
Wear goggles and a particle mask designed for it (not the standard dust mask you can buy for $5.00 for 100 masks. My goodness, you'll probably have to pay three or four bucks for one mask. Wear appropriate gloves. (not the fifty nine cent cotton gloves.) Use chemical resistant gloves. Don't wear shorts and flip flops when you spread 2,4-D, wear full shoes/boots, socks and it won't hurt to tie the bottoms of the jean/pant legs.
Use your head for something besides a hat rack when you use herbicides and fertilizers on your lawn and you'll be just fine.
As for the article... I feel that the Vietnam Veterans got all they can handle dealing with fallout from the chemicals that were sprayed on or around them. Let them live out their lives in peace, without having to worry about our own people/country trying to kill or poison other Americans with chemicals for food.I think that the farmers should go back to the basic and stop puttiing chemical on the food that we as Americans eat.
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