FYI. When I went to the conference on the environment and PD at NIEHS last fall, one person there presented a poster on the possible formation of MTPP-like substances (which have been linked to PD) in the chemical reactions occurring when meat is cooked. Imagine that if this is shown to be true, AND the beef is ALREADY contaminated with MTPP-like substances from the pesticides described below, those who eat beef are getting a double whammy. Worthy of future research relative to PD? Maybe. WT ************* In a message dated 96-05-21 07:49:34 EDT, [log in to unmask] (PANNA InfoPubs) writes: >/ --------------------- Forwarded message: From: [log in to unmask] (PANNA InfoPubs) To: [log in to unmask] (Recipients of conference) Date: 96-05-21 07:49:34 EDT ===================================== P A N U P S *** Pesticide Action Network North America Updates Service http://www.panna.org/panna/ ===================================== Cotton Insecticide Contaminates Calves May 20, 1996 Newborn calves in Australia are still being contaminated with hazardous levels of the insecticide Helix (chlorfluazuron), two years after cattle were fed cotton trash containing residues of the pesticide. After finding high levels of Helix in the cattle, several countries suspended beef imports from Australia. Government inspectors believe that the pesticide is being passed to calves through suckling. Due to a drought in 1994, many Australian farmers were forced to feed cattle alternative feeds, which in some cases included cotton trash containing chlorfluazuron residues. National Toxics Network, an Australian public interest group, states that Helix was given special government approval for use on cotton despite being provisionally registered due to concerns about its persistence in the environment. Recent research by the Meat Research Corporation (Australia) found that Helix residues may never disappear from older cattle, and that farmers may be able to sell contaminated cattle only for pet food. In 1995, cattle farmers filed a class action suit against the Australian government and Crop Care Australasia, the company that marketed Helix in Australia. The suit seeks compensation for losses in beef sales resulting from the initial pesticide contamination, and was filed before anyone knew that losses would continue in the next generation of cattle. The suit, which represents approximately 460 cattle farmers, alleges that chlorfluazuron was registered without adequate testing. Crop Care Australasia announced last year that it was withdrawing the pesticide from the Australian market as an "act of good faith." Farmers in New South Wales and Queensland may file a similar lawsuit against the Australian government due to cattle contamination by the organochlorine insecticide endosulfan. The farmers' lawyer charged that the Australian National Registration Authority labeled endosulfan inadequately. Approximately 23 farms were placed in quarantine after inspectors discovered the insecticide in beef cattle at levels above the maximum residue limit, possibly due to spray drift contaminating grazing land. In Australia, endosulfan is used primarily on cotton. Endosulfan has been targeted for global phaseout by pesticide reform groups worldwide due to its extreme toxicity (see PANUPS June 16, 1995 and June 16, 1994). It has also been identified as an endocrine disruptor. National Toxics Network stated that the endosulfan and chlorfluazuron cases are not the first reports of Australian cattle being contaminated with pesticides. In 1987, organochlorine residues were detected in beef shipped to the U.S., and since that time Australian beef exporters have lost millions of dollars due to concerns about chemical contamination. Sources: Agrow, February 16, 1996; January 19, 1996; February 3, 1995; National Toxics Network Sentinel, February 1995. Contacts: PANNA; National Toxics Network Community Information System, 47 Eugenia Street, Rivett, ACT 2611, Australia; email [log in to unmask] =========================================================== | Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) | | | | Phone:(415) 541-9140 Fax:(415) 541-9253 | | Email: [log in to unmask] http://www.panna.org/panna/| | PANNA, 116 New Montgomery, #810, San Francisco, CA 94105 | | | |*To subscribe to PANUPS send email to [log in to unmask] | with the following text on one line: subscribe panups | | To unsubscribe send the following: unsubscribe panups | | | |*For basic information about PANNA, send an email message | | to [log in to unmask] | ===========================================================