While U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is deciding whether or not to approve an application by Dow Chemical for its genetically engineered (GE) corn crop, over 140 groups and over 365,000 citizens from all over the country are requesting USDA to reject it. The reason they are opposed to the approval of the GE corn crop is because it is resistant to the hazardous herbicide 2,4-D and therefore its approval means to encourage famer to use this herbicide.
Vietnam War is reminded by several respects. 2,4-D is one of them. It was one of the main ingredients in Agent Orange, the chemical defoliant used by the U.S. army in the Vietnam War. 2,4-D was banned in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Quebec and scores of Canadian municipalities after numerous epidemiological studies affected by 2,4-D. It can disturb and suppress hormonal regulation like thyroid. As this hormone is a crucial in the development of the brain and little quantity of thyroid lack can harm fetal development. It is connected to the child’s learning and behavior disability.
It is also blamed for lowering sperm counts and spermatic abnormalities. Those areas which are exposed to the highest use of 2,4-D have recorded higher rates of birth defects. Besides, the more birth defect was observed among infants who were conceived in the spring, when herbicide use greatly.
2,4-D contains dioxin, which is a extremely toxic chemical known as persistent organic pollutants and known for a human carcinogen. It also causes a reproductive, developmental, immunological, and endocrine. Those children who were exposed have been associated with IQ deficits, psychomotor and neurodevelopment delays, and hyperactivity disorder.
At first, the public comment period was until February 27, but the USD extended the period on this harmful GE corn crop until the end of April 2012. Currently, 143 farm, environmental, health, fisheries group and companies, including the Center for Food Safety (CFS), Food & Water Watch, Food Democracy Now, the National Family Farm Coalition, Organic Farming Research Foundation, the Organic Consumers Association, SumOfUs.org, the Sierra Club, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, will submit a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to stem the approval of Dow GE corn crop when USDA’s public comment period ends this Friday, April 27.
They are warning to the approval of Dow’s corn, arguing that it will encourage farmer to use infamous herbicide 2,4-d, and Agent Orange ingredient with documented health human impacts-such as cancer, reproductive damage, birth deficiency.
Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety said that if USDA approve it, the areas where are occupied with Agent Orange will extended largely, but USDA has not estimated how much nor analyzed the serious harm to human health, the environment or neighboring farms. “This novel corn will foster resistant weeds that require more toxic pesticides to kill, followed by more resistance and more pesticides—a chemical arms race in which the only winners are pesticide/biotechnology firms”, he added.
Dr. Charles Benbrook, an agricultural scientist said widespread planting of 2,4-D resistant corn could trigger as much as a 30-fold increase in 2,4-D use on corn by the end of the decade, given 2,4-D’s limited use on corn at present. Overall 2,4-D use in American agriculture would rise from 27 million lbs.
In addition, because 2,4-D is a potent plant-killer, drift and runoff can harm the soils, plants and animal by destroying the plants they rely on for habitat and food. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Marine Fisheries Service have discovered that 2,4-D is inclined to influence on several species. While its use in corn has been extremely restricted, it is still used to eliminate weeds in cereal grains and laws. If USDA approves the 2,4-D resistant GE corn, It can foster the use this toxic herbicide. It can result push some endangered species to the brink of extinction.
Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, Senior Scientist at Pesticide Action Network, stressed the aspects of sales in the pesticide industry. “It’s clear that this new generation of GE herbicide-resistant seeds is the growth engine of the pesticide industry’s sales and marketing strategy.”
Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch also argued that “USDA must take these significant risks seriously and reject approval of this crop,” because many studies show that 2,4 D exposure is associated with various forms of cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, nerve damage, hormone disruption and birth defects.”
While farmers who have trouble with eliminating weeds are pleased with the approval of this new corn, American farmers are also predicted that this corn will threaten their crops. “In my experience, 2,4-D is an herbicide that can and does drift considerable distances to damage neighboring crops,” said Indiana farmer Troy Roush. “We can expect greatly increased use of 2,4-D with Dow’s new corn, and that could wreak havoc with soybeans, tomatoes and other crops my neighbors and I grow.”
Mae Wu, a health attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) disagree the approval of 2,4-D resistant GE corn. He said, “EPA recently denied our petition to ban or control 2,4-D, putting their head in the sand instead of protecting people and plants. If USDA now grants Dow’s application, farmers, gardeners, wildlife, and kids will all face even greater exposure to this toxic herbicide.”
USDA's public comment period on 2,4-D resistant corn is open until April 27, 2012.
