We have an opportunity to protect farm workers, rural communities, and, ultimately, the health of Florida residents! To do this, we must vigorously oppose the approval of Methyl Iodide from use in Florida. We need to make our voices heard loud and clear.
Please date and sign the letter and put it in an envelope and send it to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS). Also, so that we can keep a tally on how many letters DACS is receiving, please let us know when you send your letter by emailing yaya@nfwm.org or calling 386-214-1006. It will help a lot if you can get others - in your church, at your work, at school, in your community, in various organizations - to sign on to the letter, too.
What is Methyl Iodide?
Methyl Iodide is a fumigant pesticide registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on October 5th, 2007, to replace methyl bromide for soil fumigant applications. Methyl iodide is much more reactive than methyl bromide, reacting with air and water before it can be transported to the stratospheric ozone layer. For this reason, methyl iodide is not an ozone-depleting chemical; nevertheless, there are a number of reasons why EPA should have refused the registration of this chemical.
WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED WITH METHYL IODIDE USE?
- Public Health Will Be Endangered if Methyl Iodide Begins to be Used
Unhealthy concentrations of fumigant gas build up over the field and then slowly drift into neighboring communities . Farmworkers, rural communities, and new suburbanites whose properties face or abut fields will be at risk.
- Methyl Iodide is Chemically Reactive
Methyl iodide reacts readily with biomolecules like DNA, the genetic material in cells, in a process that alters the structure of DNA and leads to mutations .
- Methyl Iodide Will Contaminate Air and Water
Soil fumigation with methyl iodide poses a risk of groundwater contamination as well. Tarping increases downward movement of the pesticide into the soil, which increased leaching into groundwater. This is very dangerous for Florida!
- Methyl Iodide is Acutely Toxic:
Methyl iodide affects the nervous system, the lungs, liver, and kidneys. Symptoms of acute poisoning from inhalation include dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, diarrhea, slurred speech, lack of coordination, and muscle convulsions. Methyl iodide is six times more acutely toxic than methyl bromide.
- Methyl Iodide is a Carcinogen
Methyl iodide induces DNA damage and is commonly used to create mutant mammalian cell lines in the laboratory. Other toxic effects noted by EPA include respiratory tract and salivary gland lesions, neurological toxicity, reduced body weight, and developmental toxicity (manifested as fetal losses and decreased live births).
- Methyl Iodide Interferes with Metabolic Processes
