Environmental organizations claim
that new food tolerances for the fluoride-based pesticide
sulfuryl fluoride could be potentially damaging to public
health.
The new
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tolerances were
requested by
Dow
AgroSciences following the firm's expansion of its
pesticide sulfuryl
fluoride
- trade name ProFume - which is used to fumigate food
processing facilities and storage areas.
The product targets stored product pests, as well as those
insects that may be transported from the field on food
commodities. But some environmental groups argue that the
new levels are potentially dangerous.
Indeed, the Environmental Working Group, Beyond Pesticides
and the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) said that the
maximum legal limits for the fluoride-based pesticide in
foods have been set at levels that dwarf the amount
allowed in tap water.
For example, the
EPA
is allowing 900 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride in
dried eggs, as opposed to the maximum 4 ppm allowed in tap
water. One third of the nation's eggs are sold and
consumed in dried, reconstituted form.
The groups also noted that 900 ppm set for dried eggs is
extremely close to that used in toothpaste (1,000 ppm), a
level that is considered toxic if consumed in greater than
pea sized portions.
"How can the EPA consider 900 ppm in eggs safe, while
the Food and Drug Administration directs parents to call
poison control centers if their children consume more than
a pea sized portion of toothpaste with fluoride at 1,000
ppm?" asked Paul Connett, executive director of FAN.
"Unlike toothpaste, eggs are meant to be eaten, not
spat out."
It isn't just powdered eggs that could contain
dangerous but legal levels of fluoride under the new
regime. Fluoride Action Network (FAN) researcher Chris
Neurath claims that all processed foods will be allowed 70
ppm fluoride residues, including everything from breakfast
cereal to cake mix.
"Wheat flour is allowed up to 125 ppm," he said.
"For comparison, the maximum level of fluoride allowed in
drinking water is 4 ppm and the natural level of fluoride
in mothers' milk is approximately 0.008 ppm. The potential
for a significant number of acute poisoning cases every
year is very real."
Dow AgroSciences however believes that the
establishment of new accepted fluoride levels is great
news for millers and food processors. "With the label
amendments and additional tolerances, ProFume brings
unprecedented flexibility and effective, reliable control
of stored product pests to more markets segments and
broadens its use pattern," said Drew Ratterman,
marketing specialist, Dow AgroSciences.
"We appreciate the continued support of many throughout
the industry during this registration process and are
pleased to be able to offer a product that meets their
fumigation needs."
However Richard Wiles, senior vice-president of the
Environmental Working Group (EWG,), contends that EPA is
relying on outdated science to support this increase in
fluoride exposure.
"In our view [the EPA] has not discharged its legal
duty to thoroughly consider the effects of fluoride on
infants and children, from all routes of exposure, based
on a thorough review of the most recent peer-reviewed
science," he said.
