Biochemist’s warning about weedkiller

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32676, 4 August 1971, Page 15

Biochemist’s warning about weedkiller

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 3. ' The weedkiller, 2,4,5-T, currently being used in New Zealand, might cause a thalidomide-like disaster, according to a lecturer in biochemistry at Auckland University, Dr R. Mann.

“Our Government ought to J support, immediately, re-'' search into the dangers of] 1 2,4,5-T,” said Dr Mann at an J Auckland Rotary Club lunch-'i eon meeting today. In the meantime the Government should ban sales of the weedkiller for use around the home, he said. When there was strong evidence from experiments an animals that a substance might well be harming humans the proper procedure was to restrict human exposure, not to continue spreading around a risk which the public had not been told about “The misleading assurances on 2,4,5-T should be rescinded and substituted by appropriate stem warnings," said Dr Mann. Dr Mann said that in October, 1969, President Nixon’s scientific adviser announced that 2,4,5-T would be banned for use on crops and around the home. It was also announced that the aerial spraying of Vietnam would be stopped because a Governmentsponsored study by independent scientists had shown commercial 2,4,5-T to be very potent in causing deformed foetuses of mice and rats. In April last year experts from several branches of the United States Government (giving evidence before an environmental sub-committee) described experiments which showed that the herbicide might cause deformed human babies. The findings of the

study were partly attributed to a ; relatively high level of an imi purity called dioxin, an inj evitable by-product of the manufacturing process.