Last week the Environmental Protection Agency announced its final decision to give the go ahead to Dow Chemical Company’s toxic weed killer, Enlist Duo – despite strong warnings from 50 members of Congress, 35 doctors and scientists, and tens of thousands of activists.
Enlist Duo combines Dow’s widely used toxic herbicide 2,4-D and glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s own deadly herbicide, Roundup. This new product will be sprayed on millions of acres of genetically engineered crops across the US. The USDA projects the use of 2,4-D will TRIPLE by 2020. This will expose people, animals, the soil and bodies of water near the sprayed crop fields to EIGHT TIMES more chemicals than they’re exposed to today.
Dow’s 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid is a common systemic herbicide used in the control of broad leaf weeds. It is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world and is the third most commonly used herbicide in North America. (Wikipedia, 9/20/2014). Among these consequences: 2,4-D has been linked to increased risks of Parkinson’s disease, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, suppressed immune function and other serious health problems. (Environmental Working Group, 2014)
Glyphosate is an antibiotic, chelator and endocrine disruptor known to weaken the immune system and cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as birth defects. It also wreaks havoc on the soil microbiome, the health of our water supplies, and the health of the environment in general. (MomsAcrossAmerica, 2014).
The EPA’s unfortunate decision will have dire consequences for public health.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) fought against this recent approval and lost the battle. Now the EWG is preparing to fight the bigger war – for TOXICS AND CHEMICAL REFORM. Please give EWG whatever support you can to accomplish this work. Donate now to EWG’s rapid response team to provide them the resources they need to fight back against Big Ag’s flagrant disregard for the safety of our food supply, human and animal health, and the health of our planet. Click here right now to rush $25, $45 or more to EWG before midnight tonight so they can fight back against Big Ag! The Environmental Working Group is an American environmental organization that specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of toxic chemicals, agricultural subsidies, public lands, and corporate accountability. Here’s other work the EWG is engaged in to keep us safe from pesticides: EWG and pesticide safety. (Environmental Working Group, 2014)
Somehow, after all the reading I’ve done about pesticides and other toxic chemicals pronounced safe by the US EPA, I don’t feel very protected by them.
If you wish to read more about the dire consequences of EPA and USDA approved genetically engineered crops and Monsanto’s Roundup, developed as an herbicide to use on the company’s GE crops, here are some other posts on this blog:
Moms to EPA: Recall Monsanto’s Roundup
Genetically Modified Organisms – Our Food
The Soil’s Microbiome
REFERENCES Environmental Working Group. (2014). Pesticides. See: http://www.ewg.org/key-issues/toxics/pesticides Moms Across America. (2014). Glyphosate Testing Full Report: Findings in American Mothers’ Breast Milk, Urine and Water. See: http://www.momsacrossamerica.com/glyphosate_testing_results Wikipedia. (9/20/2014). 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic_acid © Copyright 2014 Joan Rothchild Hardin. All Rights Reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this site or blog is intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.