Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)

I just received this emergency email from the American Bird Conservancy.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is poised to make a decision on whether to ban the bird-killing pesticide, carbofuran. This is the most deadly pesticide to birds currently being used in the United States. It is more toxic than DDT. A single drop is enough to kill a bird.

The ABC just learned that because of pressure from the manufacturer, FMC corporation, the EPA may make act like a bunch of governmental whores by making the wrong decision to elect to keep this pesticide on the market. We have 24 hours to counteract the industry pressure. BIRDS need your help.

The ABC urges you to click this link to send an email to the EPA (or email to carbofuran@epa.gov) telling them to ban carbofuran now because of its danger to birds, other wildlife, and people. Your email can be brief. Use the talking points provided below the fold to write your comments. The most important thing is that you tell them in your own words that you do not want carbofuran to be used in the United States. Be sure to mention that alternatives exist that are equally effective that are not deadly to birds. So basically, there is no defendable reason to keep carbofuran registered.

Deadline: You must send your email before Wednesday August 2, 2006 at 5pm!

Alternatively, you can fax your comments to 202-564-0512.

Thank you thank you thank you for taking this emergency action on behalf of birds and wildlife.

ABC provides the following talking points to help you tell the EPA the reasons that this chemical must be banned:

1. All legal uses of carbofuran kill birds resulting in potential violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) every time it is applied. Farmers are placed in jeopardy of violating the MBTA whenever carbofuran is used, even if they follow the label directions.
2. Carbofuran is very toxic to people. Human risk assessments have been done three times and they show greater risks to farm workers each time they are refined. These studies indicate that carbofuran is too dangerous to use.
3. Carbofuran is so toxic it kills all beneficial insects (for example, pollinating insects like bees), as well as pest insects, with the result that integrated pest management cannot be done.
4. Carbofuran is so toxic that no crop rotation can be performed for ten months after application. This eliminates the possibility of crop rotation as a tool for reducing insect damage to crops.
5. Alternative chemicals exist for all crops except artichokes. Many alternatives exist for corn. Only a very small percentage of corn produced in the U.S. uses carbofuran now because of its environmental effects and safety issues.
6. New insecticides have been developed for rice, cotton, corn, and other crops specifically to replace carbofuran. Most of these are reduced risk chemicals presenting much less bird, wildlife, and human health risks.
7. Transgenic corn has been developed specifically for resistance to corn rootworm and European corn borer, further reducing the need for conventional pesticides.
8. The United States is a world leader in pesticide regulation. Cancellation of carbofuran will send a strong message to Latin America, Canada, and Mexico about the dangers of this pesticide. This will help save birds in those countries when they phase out carbofuran. Canceling the tolerances of pesticide residues on foods will immediately limit the use of carbofuran in all countries that export to the US.

(all italicized and parenthetical comments are mine).