MEDIA RELEASE
From Fluoride Action Network (FAN)
http://www.fluoridealert.org/
For
more information:
Paul Connett, FAN: 315-379-9200
Karen Kaufmann, NYS AG’s Office: 518 486-4550
Richard Wiles, EWG: 202- 667-6982
Jay Feldman, Beyond Pesticides: 202-543-5450
August 7, 2006
NYS
Attorney General supports revocation of all food tolerances of
Dow AgroSciences fumigant sulfuryl fluoride.
On August 4, the Office
of NYS Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, submitted comments to
the US Environmental Protection Agency in support of the revocation
of the use of Dow AgroSciences food fumigant sulfuryl fluoride
(ProFume®).
Three groups (Fluoride
Action Network, Environmental Working Group, Beyond Pesticides)
petitioned EPA in June 2006 to revoke all food tolerances of Dow’s
sulfuryl fluoride. The petition was submitted to EPA by the groups'
attorney Perry Wallace of the international law firm Zelle, Hofmann,
Voebel, Mason and Gette.
EPA solicited comments
to the groups' petition in the July 5, 2006, Federal Register.
Spitzer’s office
responded in support of the groups' petition stating: “…
EPA’s decision to establish food residue tolerances for
sulfuryl fluoride suffers from a number of serious legal, scientific
and logical flaws… The tolerances fail to meet the requirements
or intent of the FQPA [Food Quality Protection Act] to establish
tolerances that protect the health of infants and children.”
Other shortcomings
of EPA’s assessment noted by Spitzer’s office:
-- Failure to adequately
assess aggregate and cumulative exposures to fluoride.
-- Failure to set protective tolerances.
-- Lack of monitoring data to adequately characterize fluoride
levels in food and feed
Other comments to EPA
in support of the groups petition include:
-- 4,700 people signed
online letter organized by Fluoride Action Network.
-- Environmental Working Group submitted letters from 3,517
people
-- Statement from Union representing professionals at EPA’s
Washington DC office
-- Online letters organized by Beyond Pesticides, Organic Consumers'
Association, and Pesticide Action Network.
According to Dr. Paul
Connett, Director of FAN, “Our children are already getting
too much fluoride in their water: they don't need any more in
their food. The EPA created ‘safe’ dosages of fluoride
residues for infants which are ten times higher than for adults.
This is preposterous. The law requires them to do the very opposite."
Connett added, “Sulfuryl
fluoride is an alternative fumigant to methyl bromide, which creates
holes in the ozone layer. The problem with sulfuryl fluoride is
that it creates holes in the brain. Neither should be acceptable
in a civilized society.”
Background documents:
June 2006 Petition to EPA to revoke all food tolerances for sulfuryl
fluoride
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/sf.petition.june.2006.pdf
August 4, 2006. The Office of the NYS Attorney General submission
to US EPA
http://www.fluoridealert.org/nyag-sf.pdf
July 25, 2006: Letter from union at EPA’s office in Washington
DC.
http://www.fluoridealert.org/sf-union.pdf
July 5, 2006: EPA’s solicitation of public comments in
Federal Register
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2006/July/Day-05/p10454.htm
Other documents on sulfuryl fluoride:
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/sf.documents.html