Endangered salmon vs. popular pesticides
Use of the pesticides malathion, diazinon and chlorpyrifos could soon be somewhat restricted in a move to protect 28 species of endangered or threatened salmon in the Western United States.
The popular pesticides -- collectively known as organophosphates -- play havoc with salmons' sense of smell, blocking their ability to find food and mates, or to avoid predators. The chemicals can also kill salmon if they are exposed to high enough levels.
The U.S. Geological Survey has found the chemicals in rivers and drinking water supplies throughout the West.
Long banned from most household uses, the chemicals remain in heavy use as pesticides for commercial crops.
Under the new ruling from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, farmers will have to expand the existing buffer zones between their crops and nearby streams. Previous buffer zones required 60 feet for ground spraying and 300 feet for aerial spraying; they have now been expanded to 500 feet and 1,000 feet.
If these new rules are enacted -- a decision that's up to the EPA -- farmers will also be restricted from spraying during high winds or when rainstorms are expected.
The ruling comes as the result of an environmental lawsuit, and represents the first three chemicals of 37 that must be evaluated in the next four years.
Obviously, farming groups aren't happy about this decision. CropLife International, a federation "representing the plant science industry," called the NOAA's report "flawed." Go figure.
The popular pesticides -- collectively known as organophosphates -- play havoc with salmons' sense of smell, blocking their ability to find food and mates, or to avoid predators. The chemicals can also kill salmon if they are exposed to high enough levels.
The U.S. Geological Survey has found the chemicals in rivers and drinking water supplies throughout the West.
Long banned from most household uses, the chemicals remain in heavy use as pesticides for commercial crops.
Under the new ruling from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, farmers will have to expand the existing buffer zones between their crops and nearby streams. Previous buffer zones required 60 feet for ground spraying and 300 feet for aerial spraying; they have now been expanded to 500 feet and 1,000 feet.
If these new rules are enacted -- a decision that's up to the EPA -- farmers will also be restricted from spraying during high winds or when rainstorms are expected.
The ruling comes as the result of an environmental lawsuit, and represents the first three chemicals of 37 that must be evaluated in the next four years.
Obviously, farming groups aren't happy about this decision. CropLife International, a federation "representing the plant science industry," called the NOAA's report "flawed." Go figure.
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Comments
We continue to dangerously tamper with nature to stimulate crop production. The 34 other artificial chemicals to nature should also be banned, before all native salmon are extinct.
www.strategicbookpublishing.com/ZEROGreenhouseEmissions.html
Posted by:BobW |November 20, 2008 11:49 PM