U.S. BAN ON D.D.T. APPROACHING

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32145, 14 November 1969, Page 20

U.S. BAN ON D.D.T. APPROACHING

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, November 12.

Mr R. Finch, the United States Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, today recommended that all use of the pesticide D.D.T. should be eliminated within two years because of health hazards.

Mr Finch said D.D.T. should be use 4 only where it was found to be essential to the preservation of human health or welfare, and this would have to be approved unanimously by himself and the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior.

But Mr Finch pointed out that he did not have authority over the use of D.D.T., which rests with Mr C. Hardin, the Secretary of Agriculture. An Agriculture Depart ment spokesman, Dr R. J. Anderson, said he expected Mr Hardin to issue an order shortly restricting the use of D. Dr Anderson said he expected D.D.T. would be permitted only where there was an urgent need for pest control and where no other satisfactory method was available. Mr Finch released a report by a special commission set up to investigate pesticides, and endorsed by him. Laboratory Mice

The report analysed National Cancer Institute data which showed that D.D.T.

produced tumours in 50 per cent of laboratory mice on a diet containing 140 parts per million of the pesticide. Average Americans now carry 12 to 14 parts per million of D.D.T. in their bodies, but the report contended that some foodstuffs, such as certain fish, contained 30 parts per million. The commission said that although experiments on laboratory animals had produced some forms of cancer and birth defects it was not known whether pesticides now in use could produce such results in humans. But the report said these experiments were cause for concern and careful evaluation. Other Countries If all food which contained D.D.T. shown to be capable of inducing cancer in experimental animals were removed from sale, the United States would be left with a diet of limited vegetable foods, Mr Finch said. Mr Finch said many foreign countries still considered the use of D.D.T. essential for the control of insects, therefore the American manufacture and export of D.D.T. would - not be banned under the present recommendations. A residue of D.D.T. would continue to be found in American food for 10 years or longer, he said.

The commission also named other pesticides which it said could cause contamination and health dangers and which should be restricted. These included aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, chlordane, benzene hexachlroide, lindans and compounds containing arsenic, lead or mercury. The commission recommended more research into pesticides and their use and incentives to industry to encourage development of more specific pest control chemicals.

The superintendent of agricultural, chemicals, Agriculture Department (Mr F. B. Thompson) said in Wellington yesterday that he had spoken to Mr Finch by telephone in Washington concerning the reported statement that D.D.T. was being banned in the United States.

Th» New Zealand Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Chemicals Board would be closely following the developments in the United States, said Mr Thompson.

“The uses of D.D.T. in New Zealand have been under continual review for several years and many restrictions have already been placed on its use,” he said.