. Cranberries; : the national cranberry magazine. Cranberries. 2,4,5-T PESTICIDE BEING REVIEWED BY EPA A weed and brush killing pesti- cide commonly used on forests, rangeland, rice paddies, and rights- of-way areas such as highways and electric lines is being reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency to determine whether these uses should continue, be restricted, or stopped altogether. The pesticide is 2,4,5-T herbi- cide, produced in the since 1948 but the subject of controversy in recent years. Environmentalists contend the compound may cause birth defects and cancer. EPA re- cen
. Cranberries; : the national cranberry magazine. Cranberries. 2,4,5-T PESTICIDE BEING REVIEWED BY EPA A weed and brush killing pesti- cide commonly used on forests, rangeland, rice paddies, and rights- of-way areas such as highways and electric lines is being reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency to determine whether these uses should continue, be restricted, or stopped altogether. The pesticide is 2,4,5-T herbi- cide, produced in the since 1948 but the subject of controversy in recent years. Environmentalists contend the compound may cause birth defects and cancer. EPA re- cently received some 450 letters from citizens and environmental groups, such as the Citizens Against Toxic Sprays, protesting use of the chemical. On the other hand, many pesti- cide, agriculture, and forestry of- ficials argue the weed killer is not a serious hazard but the only ef- fective, economical weapon for controlling unwanted plant life. Of special concern is a chemical contaminant sometimes found in 2,4,5-T products called "dioxin" or "; This is one of th most toxic chemicals known, capable of killing laboratory animals in ex- tremely small (parts per billion) amounts. Dioxin is created as a by-product during the 2,4,5-T manufacturing process. Producers of the herbicide have reduced dioxin levels from 30 to 40 parts per million (ppm) in the late 1960's to less than the current EPA requirement of ppm. greatly reducing the potential hazard. "EPA's investigation of 2,4,5-T and dioxin mainly will concern their potential for causing cancer or birth defects in people over long periods of time," said EPA Deputy Administrator Barbara Blum. "The Agency does not think current use of the chemical poses an imminent or emergency threat to people or the ; EPA's review of the chemical is technically called a "rebuttable pre- sumption against ; This means that the Agency has found scientific evidence of
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