2,4-D. WHO Class II moderately toxic and a U. S. restricted-use pesticide widely used as a herbicide poison. Chronically it is a immunotoxin, carcinogen, suspect mutagen, teratogen, suspect fetotoxin that causes anoxexia and damages to liver, kidney and central nervous system; other health effects are vomiting,diarrhea, anorexia, ulcers of the mouth and pharynx; its transformation products include at least 4 dioxins and TCDD. TCDD - The National Research Council noted in ”Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children:” In rats, for example, the developing immune system has been shown to be more vulnerable to the effects of the dioxin TCDD, compared to a mature immune system. A letter from Michael Yanchuks, U. S. EPA, to Farrel Vance, National Resource Defence Council, 9/13/94 noted that TCDD suppressed the developing immune system of neonatal rats but not of adult rats. TCDD has been found as a contaminant in two forms of the common herbicide 2,4-D and is suspected as a contaminant in at least thirteen other pesticides. See chloroneb.
In 1987, in a federal District Court in Marshall, Texas a jury for the first time concluded that 2,4-D was linked to a Worker’s death; it awarded the family of a former forestry worker $1.5 million.
Per Rachel’s Hazardous Waste News #3, December 15, 1986, “A study
by the National Cancer Institute and the University of Kansas has linked exposure
to herbicides with nonHodgkins lymphoma, lymphatic cancers besides Hodgkins
disease. The study was based on the health histories of 948 male Kansas farmers
who had cancer and an equal number of non-cancer victims for comparison....The
higher cancer risk was found to be particularly associated with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic
acid, or 2,4-D, a chemical compound used in a variety of herbicides. Agent Orange,
the herbicide sprayed in Vietnam that is the focus of lawsuits filed by exposed
veterans, contains 2,4-D...” And from Rachel’s Environment &
Health Weekly #250, September 11, 1991, “Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas--the
kind dogs are reported to get most often from exposure to 2,4-D--have been the
second fastest-growing cancer in humans in the U. S. during the past 15 years.”
2,4-D is a herbicide poison with reproductive and endocrine-disrupting effects
and is associated with a whole host of diseases, including cancer of the kidney,
testicles, stomach, colon, prostrate and liver; also known to cause adverse
psychological effects, immune system disorders, gastrointestinal ulcers and
altered liquid metabolism. Paul Gottlich of www.envirolink.org and an environmental
study group for the Montessori Academy held a 3/4/98 meeting wherein Tru Green
gave an “IPM” presentation.
Through the entire presentation there was no mention of IPM. Tru Green noted
they would not use 2,4-D because their certified toxicologist, Dr. Roger Yeary,
advised them not to because of published health reports. Tru Green proposed
using the “alternative” herbicide, Trimec 959, which contains the
chemicals MCPA, MCPP and dicamba instead. Paul told the group that dicamba also
contains 2,4-D. Paul pointed out this is a tactic used by pesticide (poison)
companies to switch to a different chemical (poison) after the one they use
has proven to be a major problem. The ingredients are not explained and parents
would not know the “switch” is useless because 2,4-D is still in
the proposed “alternative” herbicide. MCPA and MCPP are also of
concern, but there is little or no testing of these done yet. When the Tru Green
Representatives were asked to guarantee the safety of our children, staff, pregnant
mothers, birds, squirrels and pesticide applicators, they said they could not
guarantee safety, that there was some risk involved with the use of pesticides
(poisons). Paul Goettlich noted, “These representatives, trying to sell
us pesticides (poisons), tell us there is a
‘risk’ is an understatement. Pesticides poisons are not safe!”
2,4-D is the most widely used herbicide in the world.
TCDD - See 2,4-D.
“At the Source: Guide to Causes and Prevention of Breast Cancer” by Janette D. Sherman, M.D. states: If only TCDD (tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), the most toxic of the dioxins is assayed, the total biological load and effect of dioxin exposure is greatly underestimated. Except under controlled laboratory conditions, formation of a single dioxin or dibenzofuran is not the case. Depending upon the original chemical mixture, heat, and absence or presence of oxygen, dioxins and furans formation is a random process, with potential for creation of any combination of 210 congeners.
Several forms of a furan containing three chlorine atoms are “being investigated
as a compound which may be clinically useful for the treatment of mammary cancer”.
The question arises if this is just another product, patentable and profitable,
not concerned with
remediation and primary prevention?
Products contaminated with dioxins and furans include the chlorinated phenoxy herbicides 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D and 2,4,5-T). Used in combination in Vietnam (as Agent Orange) and linked to several documented adverse effects, use continues world-wide on range lands, rice fields, forests, crops, and as home “lawn care" products.