Bellerophontes and Chlorpyrifos

I am concerned about reports that I have heard that the Environmental Protection Agency has rejected a legal challenge to the continued use of chlorpyrifos. This is another example of the overextension of relegated power provide to a government agency. The Environmental Protection Agency, in this case, performed this action in perfunctory manner.

I am concerned about this for various reasons. First of all political critics have fastened upon this item as a political point maker rather than the serious issue that it is and represents. In fact it was reported that Ken Cook, head of the ‘Environmental Working Group’, which is an environmental advocacy organization stated “as long as the Trump administration is in charge, this EPA will favor the interests of the chemical lobby over children’s safety”. I don’t believe that. I do believe, however, that the chemical lobby and certain agriculture interests and quasi-governmental marketing boards have weighed in on this and continue to pressure regulatory bodies in an effort to lower costs and raise profits.

The problem with these chemical lobby and certain agriculture interests and quasi-governmental marketing boards attempting to do that is that they effectively halt advancement and limit manufacturing to a small segment of the population and market which actually leads to a decline in jobs, innovation and erodes our lead in agricultural production. The cotton segment, for example, is a heavy user of chlorpyrifos. They are a customer and not a chemical or pesticide innovator and manufacturer. If we look at just that marketing board, the Cotton Board, or others like the California Avocado Commission or the Potato Board or the Idaho-Eastern Onion Committee we see a collection of individuals who may or may not have a solid grounding in agriculture and many who have active roles in advertising but very few, in some cases none, with any expertise in chemicals and chemistry.

Chlorpyrifos is an aged product that was invented by the DOW Corporation in the 1950’s. It generated a lot of money. It is a known chemical, easy to prepare, store, ship and apply – but it has become apparent that it is a dangerous chemical that harms the cognitive and physical development of children, impacts the human fetus. It is a cheap, deadly chemical that is being applied using ideas and concepts that are nearly 70 years old. These ideas and concepts are out of date.

I am also concerned about the way that the EPA performed this work. They have effectively permitted and approved the continued use of this dangerous chemical by denying any challenge to its use.

The fact is, that even if it should continue to be used into the foreseeable future it is not being used correctly. The current modes of delivery and the amounts being dispersed have nothing to do at all with the actual patterns associated with insect growth and dispersion. Because it is not being used correctly and the EPA, along with the USDA, is supposed to be in charge of ensuring that farmers use this dangerous chemical correctly have failed in their duties. 

The idea that marketing boards and small farmers can determine the direction of the American chemical industry is at once both frightening in aspect and ridiculous in practice. They don’t control the American chemical industry. The American chemical industry, like many other American industries has fallen on hard times. From a purely profit generating viewpoint they would be foolish to abandon a cash-cow like chloypyrifos. They don’t have to do any new research, work or change their behaviors.

From a human standpoint and considering that children are impacted and harmed and their life development is changed so that we end up with adults who might have been stronger and smarter and been able to have their own children then their position is disturbing.

American industry is in competition with each other, international corporations and, in some case, with entire countries as they compete against nationalized interests. Chlorpyrifos presents one of those instances where American industry is failing. The continued hawking of this outdated and dangerous chemical which harms even the people who think they are profiting from it blocks American ingenuity. Rather than being a mark of excellence that everyone can point to as American leadership it has been a rotten timber to which drowning rats refuse to let go.

Where are the new generations of insectides? Chlorpyrifos blocks them.

Where are the new modes of insecticide application? Chlorpyrifos blocks them.

Where are the new tools to be used to apply insecticides? Chlorpyrifos blocks them.

Where are the new vehicles to be used to apply insectides? Chlorpyrifos blocks them.

As if all that were not enough, and these days work and manufacturing and innovation and research seem to be dirty words in the United States, where are the technological advances that would increase efficacy and efficiency in the application of pesticides – like 3D mapping, robotic application, genetic manipulation and some very simple techniques that farmers could use to reduce insect impact on their crops and bottom lines? Chlorpyrifos blocks them.

I am also requesting that public comment be put up immediately for the continued widespread use of chlorpyrifos. I would like to make clear my position on the continued use of a mutagenic (monster maker) chemical that is being applied to apples, wheat, barley, hops and which is showing up in beer and Mom’s Apple Pie.

It's not much to ask. Chlorpyrifos is a wicked chemical that should not be used in great quantities across large swaths of the United States. It reduces productivity in the long run. It reduces competition in the short run. I look forward to seeing this chemical and its derivatives phased out. It did good work and now that we know about the horrendous harm it causes it needs to go.