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Directories Int'l Realty US Realty
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Dursban - Why Can Some Commercial Uses Continue? In a perfect world our health and environment laws would be grounded in science, and big business and lobbyists would have no control over the law-making process. But this is the real world, one in which environmental laws are politically grounded, not health based. Take, for example the Dursban ban, which is really the imposition of additional controls on a product called chlorpyrifos. While everyone is saying is that Dursban was banned, take a closer look. This product, also referred to as Lorsban and other trade names, was not totally banned, just partially banned. Nobody is being forced to remove chlorpyrifos from the shelves, which means chlorpyrifos will be available for home use for some time to come. For home use, the ban is near total. You cannot use chlorpyrifos on home lawns and you can not use it outdoors around your home. You also cannot use chlorpyrifos inside to spray in cracks and crevices. And most termite applications have also been "canceled", a fancy word for a no longer allowed use. But, look at this loopholes. For example, in indoor and outdoor areas where children may be exposed, such as schools and playgrounds, it cannot be used. Query: who will decide where children are usually found? How about shopping malls? How about movie theaters? How about sports arenas? And the chemical is still allowed in certain manufacturing operations including "food processing plants." It is also allowed on golf courses, other outdoor applications, to kill mosquitos anywhere, and it still can be used in many agricultural operations. So, how bad is this stuff? We can't have it in our homes. But, we can have it in food processing plants, and it can be sprayed on apples, grapes, and other vegetables. Does this sound right to you? Forget the law, for a moment. If it is bad, wouldn't common sense say get rid of it all together. When fat cat money is involved, forget common sense. Recently, substantial concerns have been raised about the levels of pesticides reaching our dinner tables. Groups as noteworthy as the Consumers Union, and others, have published reports indicating potential toxic levels of pesticide residues on vegetables that reach our dinner tables. In light of these concerns about pesticides reaching our dinner table, how is it that this unsafe chlorpyrifos can still be sprayed on vegetables that we will be eating? Does this make a lot of sense to you? According to the EPA, the health effects associated with chlorpyrifos vary. Exposure can over stimulate the nervous system which can lead to a host of problems such as nausea, dizziness, and confusion. The EPA also says that at certain levels, exposure can be fatal. This is the EPA talking, not some biased group with an agenda. Even professionals who apply this material are at risk, and the EPA says the risk is there even if appropriate precautions are followed. So exterminators need to watch their health and make sure they do not have any problems. When we see critters, we have all been quick to run to the hardware store to pick up whatever seems to work. Now, look at the mess we created. And rather than just getting rid of a substance that does not seem to be that healthy for us, our EPA seems to have made another bad deal with big business. You need to protect yourself, because in the long run, no one else will do that for you.
Stuart Lieberman, Esq.,
The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.
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