Re: Metathion (fenitrothion)

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

Joe,

       One final word. The encephalitis thing is going to be a major
stumbling block to action to stop this madness. Encephalitis is a serious
viral agent, but the best thing to do to stop mosquitos is the usual stuff
you do to stop mosquitos (clean up abandoned cars and tires, etc), light
non-toxic oil spraying of stagnant water, and immune-system enhancement of
the population with ascorbate (vitamin C) supplementation. Maybe that is
asking too much...

Jon
----- Original Message -----
From: Jon Campbell <jon@cqs.com>
To: <JoeParrish@compuserve.com>; Multiple recipients of list DIOXIN-L
<dioxin-l@essential.org>
Sent: Monday, September 13, 1999 12:02 PM
Subject: Re: Metathion (fenitrothion)


> 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.
> >
>