Re: Metathion (fenitrothion)

["Jon Campbell" <jon@cqs.com>]

Joe,

      Metathion: That is METHYL PARATHION, one of the most documented
nastiest organophosphate agricultural pesticides, with reams of documented
health effects for over 30 years. I have a really old copy of RTECS, and it
has a teratogenic (birth defect) citation for mice, LD50 of 3 mg/kg for
rats. PANNA would probably have lots of citations of this stuff, because it
is primarily an agricultural pesticide. The ethyl variety, ethyl parathion
(or just called parathion) has a Lethal Dose human citation of 240 ug/kg
(repeat: micrograms per kilogram body weight) and has dozens of other
toxicological citations, including one cancer citation (equivocal
tumorigenic agent). I'm certain that more current research would have found
much more.

     I can't believe that in 1999 the City of New York is exposing its
entire population to a powerful agricultural organophosphate colinesterase
inhibitor. The problem with these pesticides is that they rely on a liver
enzyme to quickly detoxify the body of the nerve poison; since insects don't
have this enzyme, the nerve poison kills them. But there are hundreds of
thousands of NYC residents who have impaired liver functioning (anyone with
any kind of liver damage through disease, old age, or past long-term use of
alcohol) that will not produce the enzyme as quickly, and will therefore get
the full force of the poison with no detoxification. A lot of people will
probably die as a resu;t of this spraying unless health authorities are
notified about this detox system and measures can be taken at emergency
rooms.

Jon
----- Original Message -----
From: Joseph R Parrish Jr <JoeParrish@compuserve.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list DIOXIN-L <dioxin-l@essential.org>
Sent: Monday, September 13, 1999 10:18 AM
Subject: Metathion (fenitrothion)


> We have an urgent request for information about metathion,
> generic name fenitrothion, with an LD50 in rats of 250mg/kg,
> a cholinesterase inhibitor similar to some types of nerve gases.
> This insecticide/pesticide is being sprayed at the present time
> over a huge population of over 6 million as a measure for
> inhibiting a mosquito suspected of carrying encephalitis
> in New York City.  What human side effects may be seen
> when this is used?  What toxicities and allergic responses
> have been observed?
> Thank you for your kind and prompt response.
> Sincerely,
> Joe Parrish
> NY/NJ Environmental Watch
> 300 East 56th Street
> New York, NY 10022
> JoeParrish@compuserve.com
> and
> 61 Broad Street
> Elizabeth, NJ 07201
> September 13,  1999
>
> Re:
> Woodruff, TJ / Kyle, AD / Bois, FY.   Dec 1994.   Evaluating health risks
> from occupational exposure to pesticides and the regulatory response.
> Environmental Health Perspectives.   102(12).   1088-1096.   None of the
> pesticides identified as priorities in this study has been found to meet
> current standards for review (though four have been canceled). Only three
> of the nine pesticides subjected to special review because of concerns
> about cancer resulted in additional protective provisions. For chronic
> effects, few reviews have been intiated and completed. Key risk reduction
> measures are based on acute risks. The proposed personal protective
> equipment requirements are generally tied to acute toxicity. This means
> that significant, preventable exposures to pesticides with chronic or
> cancer effects may occur without protection.
>