Pesticide approval reviewed in face of scientific concerns

DPR moving ahead on methyl iodide use despite “significant” public health threat

SACRAMENTO – Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter) will hold a hearing of the Senate Food and Agriculture Committee on Thursday, evaluating a report by top scientists which indicates a serious public health threat posed by methyl iodide, a cancer-causing pesticide the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is set to approve for use on California strawberries in just weeks.

Members of a scientific panel commissioned by DPR itself to assess the risks of methyl iodide before approval of its use will discuss their findings – findings which Florez believes are clearly being overlooked in a rush decision.  Top DPR officials will also testify on their decision. 

Among other things, the panel wrote that methyl iodide may cause a “significant adverse impact on the public health” and that adequate control of human exposure would be “difficult, if not impossible” to achieve.  The chemical has been used in the laboratory to generate cancer cells and causes both neurological and fetal damage. 

Use of methyl iodide is expected to be allowed in California once a public comment period on pending approval ends on June 29.  Florez believes approval should not be pushed through by an outgoing Governor, but should be considered by the incoming Administration which will ultimately be responsible for the outcomes.

“Our Governor seems to be in a hurry to bestow one last gift on some of his biggest supporters in agriculture, but this move will certainly not be in the best interest of California farmworkers or the growing number of Californians who live in close proximity to farmland,” Florez said.

California’s ultimate decision on methyl iodide may have wider implications, as the Environmental Protection Agency has indicated the outcome may influence federal policy on use of the hazardous pesticide nationwide.

Thursday’s hearing will be held at 2 p.m. in Room 3191 of the California State Capitol.

*** MEDIA ADVISORY *** MEDIA ADVISORY *** MEDIA ADVISORY ***

WHO:             Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter)

                        Director and staff of the Department of Pesticide Regulation

                        Members of DPR’s Methyl Iodide Scientific Review Panel

WHAT:           Follow-up Methyl Iodide Hearing: Evaluating the Report of the Scientific Review Committee on Methyl Iodide to DPR

WHEN:           Thursday, June 17, 2010; 2:00 p.m.

WHERE:         State Capitol, Room 3191; Sacramento, CA

http://dist16.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={5E36B143-3FBF-4945-AD03-0BAE9ED9CB67}&DE={3BE31A3A-5B22-4ED5-B113-EF7007B54E51}