On July 10th, 2008 U.S. EPA announced their decision on the Fumigant Cluster Assessment, and on July 16th it was published in the Federal Register.The decision affects all the fumigants but methyl iodide, which wasonly recently registered, and Telone, which was evaluated in 1998. EPA will revisit all the registered fumigants again in2013.
Raising costs of using hazardous technologies in agriculture may force folks to internalize the externalities of air pollution, people’s exposure, and may spur a movement to alternative technologies. Read More »
On this page:
- What are fumigant pesticides?
- Fumigants poison communities and workers
- Why a campaign on fumigants?
- How to get involved
- Resources
What are fumigant pesticides?
Fumigants are highly toxic pesticides that are used to sterilize soil before planting many crops like strawberries, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, potatoes, and tobacco. These pesticides are also used to fumigate structures, stored food, greenhouses and imported goods. Application rates for soil fumigants are 50-400 pounds per acre, as compared to more typical rates of 1-5 pounds per acre for other pesticides. Due to their gaseous state and high application rates, fumigants pose risks to workers and nearby communities for several days and up to several weeks after the application.
Fumigants poisonings of communities and workers
Fumigant pesticides are among the most toxic chemicals used in agriculture and account for about 10% of all pesticides used in the U.S. Communities and farmworkers near agricultural fields face serious risks of acute pesticide poisoning from drifting fumigants. In 1998, 38 metam sodium poisonings occurred in Florida, California, Texas, Oregon, New York, Louisiana, and Arizona. Between 1992 and 2001, 94 methyl bromide poisoning incidents occurred nationwide. As recently as October 2005, at least 300 people, including paramedics, were poisoned by chloropicrin when a strawberry field a quarter-mile away was fumigated in Salinas, California. Long-lasting effects have been observed from these incidents, including chronic bronchitis, damaged eyesight, nervous system toxicity, and asthma. Find out more about fumigant health effects.Why a campaign on fumigants?
"Sometimes I couldn't stand how my eyes were watering and my throathurt; I couldn't stand the gas. I would run outside the field to getsome air. Now I can't breathe well, and my vision is blurry." -- Jorge Fernandez, farmworker poisoned by methyl bromide. Salinas, CAThe U.S. EPA is currently evaluating all fumigant pesticides for possible re-registration, including methyl bromide, metam sodium, chloropicrin and telone. U.S. EPA's Fumigant Cluster Assessment process has provided newly available toxicity data and exposure estimates that show that fumigant pesticides are too hazardous for current use patterns to continue. The Fumigant Cluster Assessment process provides an oppportunity for the public to provide input to U.S. EPA. Find out more about the fumigant review process.
PANNA, together with motivated partners and an active network, is committed to protecting workers, communities and the environment from fumigants use, and promoting a transition to sustainable alternatives.
How to get involved-Fumigant Cluster Assessment
This section needs updating. For more current information, please refer to our fumigant cluster assessment review page.
Join communities, public health experts, and sustainable growers to tell EPA to protect workers and communities from fumigants, and to provide funding for research and incentives to help farmers adopt sustainable soil pest management methods.
- View the options being considered by EPA to reduce exposures to fumigants on their web site. Then sign PANNA's Petition [English / Español] to EPA to request an eventual phaseout of these toxic chemicals and implement strong protective measures in the interim time period. Note however, that EPA's official comment period closed on November 3rd, 2007, and they are not required to consider comments submitted now, although they probably will consider commentary received until approximately May, 2008.
- Recurring drift incidents continue to put the hazards of fumigant use under scrutiny. We will be linking affected communities with organizations that can help them understand, document and recover from these incidents, and work together to decrease the chance of harm from fumigant drift. You can contact the to link up with other groups in your area.
- The following meetings have already occurred:
- Washington Meeting -- May 22, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific) at the Federal Building, 825 Jadwin Avenue, Richland, WA 99352
- Florida Meeting -- June 6, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern) at the Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe Street, Ft. Myers, FL 33901
- California Meeting -- May 30, 2007, held by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, focusing on California's risk management proposals for metam sodium/potassium.
We will be identifying additional opportunities and forums in which to meaningfully give more input to U.S. EPA.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us:
Phone: (415) 981-1771
Email:
Resources
A Community Guide to Recognizing & Reporting Pesticide Problems: DPR Handbook
Spring 2006 PAN Magazine: Fumigants Must Go!
PANNA's main Fumigants page: Fumigant Pesticides Up for Review
U.S. EPA's Fumigant Cluster Assessment main page: Soil Fumigant Assessments