This clip from the September 1977 joint agency press conference on DBCP focused mostly on the worker safety portions and covers many issues still being debated today on regulating chemical exposures in the US. The DBCP (1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane) problem came to light as a result of a long effort the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers International Union (OCAW). The Union had distributed a health and safety questionnaire to workers in the Agricultural Chemical Department of the Occidental Chemical plant in Lathrop where DBCP was being produced. The union analyzed the results of the worker survey and presented to management a series of specific demands for improvements in working conditions, based on the workers' reports. The union also requested from management the identities of the chemical materials being used in the formulation of the pesticide, plus all relevant toxicological and industrial hygiene information. Occidental Chemical divulged nothing at this time. In March 1977 management formally denied the union's request for a workplace industrial hygiene evaluation and for the medical monitoring of individual workers. In the spring of 1977, the union brought the problem to the attention of a group of filmmakers interested in producing a documentary on occupational health and safety issues. Together the local union and the filmmakers obtained semen samples and had them analyzed. When the initial samples revealed sterility, the union requested an investigation by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). It was at this point that public attention focused on the issue and that the plant management changed its position to one of full cooperation in testing for health effects. Based on the NIOSH HHE (available at http://www2a.cdc.gov/hhe/select.asp?PjtName=2471&bFlag=0&ID=795) , OCAW formally requested that that OSHA take immediate steps to prevent worker exposure to DBCP and that a broad testing program be implemented to locate incidences of cancer and sterility among workers. OSHA issued an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) in August 1977 and a final standard was issued in March 1978 (see the final standard at http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p... ). At the same time, the Washington- based Health Research Group, a Ralph Nader affiliate, petitioned Environmental Protection Agency administrator Douglas M. Costle for an immediate suspension of the pesticide registration for DBCP to prevent further sale of the product. Before 1977, DBCP was used as a soil fumigant and nematocide on crops; it is no longer used except as an intermediate in chemical synthesis. Acute (short-term) exposure to DBCP in humans results in moderate depression of the central nervous system (CNS) and pulmonary congestion from inhalation, and gastrointestinal distress and pulmonary edema from oral exposure. Chronic (long-term) exposure to DBCP in humans causes male reproductive effects, such as decreased sperm counts. Testicular effects and decreased sperm counts were observed in animals chronically exposed to DBCP by inhalation. EPA has classified DBCP as a probable human carcinogen. Until 1977, DBCP was used as a soil fumigant and nematocide on over 40 different crops in the United States. From 1977 to 1979, EPA suspended registration for all DBCP-containing products except for use on pineapples in Hawaii. In 1985, EPA issued an intent to cancel all registrations for DBCP. However, just because a chemical is banned in the U.S. does not mean there are restrictions abroad. In this case, DBCP is sold to Coast Rica, Honduras and Ecuador for use on banana plantations and then that produce is sent back to the U.S. for consumption. Dole recently made the news with a lawsuit from banana plantation workers related to sterility from DBCP; it's still being used in banana production today. For more information on DBCP, go to http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=850&tid=166 . This was clipped from the videotape, OSHA-USFDA AND THE OFFICE OF PESTICIDE PROGRAMS PC. ON DIBROMOCHLOROPROPANE (DBPC), 09/08/1977, available at the US Archives in College Park, Maryland.
Loading...
9:38
Poisoned Water-Poisoned Wells Part 1by dfrankcsuf93 views
Link to this comment:
All Comments (0)