Maker of 2,4,5-T deplores emotion

Press, 9 April 1980, Page 5

Maker of 2,4,5-T deplores emotion

PA Wellington The maker in New Zealand of 2,4,5-T has said that it had no intention of allowing political innuendo, bad <science, or unsubstantiated claims to drive safe and necessary products from the market.

The managing director of Ivon Watkins-Dow (Mr R. F. Bollen) made a plea for “rational, dispassionate examination of all the evidence” concerning 2,4,5-T.

The time had come, he said, for reason and objectivity to replace emotion. “My company and its directom are extremely concerned that the wave of emotive and dramatic stories in the news media about 2,4, 5-T is causing quite unnecessary fear, anxiety, and suspicion,” Mr Bollen said.

“We do not deny the right of the news media to cover What has clearly become a significant public is-sue, but We are worried that a continuing stream of dramatic and negative material is creating a climate of emotion that will inhibit reasonable, dispassionate discussion,” he said. ' Mr Bollen said there had

been a story about a Whakatane pharmacist who claimed to have found a link between 2,4,5-T and diseased animal tissue. “The story provided no evidence for this, nor has the pharmacist been prepared to make his evidence available for scientific assessment.” There had been a story about a Paeroa farmer who believed dioxin was transjmitted to humans by honey I from bees which fed on sprayed flowers. “The fact is,” said Mr Bollen, “that there is ample evidence to show that dioxin is not cumulative in the food chain.” A Wellington City councillor had publicly claimed to) have identified a cluster of: birth deformities in a rural area outside the city. ! "We are still waiting for her evidence and so is the Health Department,” Mr Bollen said. A member of Parliament had said that the “rampant and uncontrolled use of. 2,4,5-T can be likened to an | aggravated assault, particularly on our women, moth-ers-to-be, and unborn child- ' ren.” i “Such a statement,” said] Mr Bollen, “is quite unjusti-i fiabl)' extravagant and un-l necessary. The use of 2,4,5-T‘ is not rampant. It is carefully planned and controlled under; strict safety and application; guidelines. Nor does its ap-l plication resemble anything' like physical assault.” Mr Bollen said the risk of j any kind of hazard from the i use of 2,4,5-T was infinites!- j mal. “We are so conscious of

-lour safety record as manu--I'facturers that we have stated i<categorically that we will 11 withdraw 2,4,5-T from the I market immediately there is • any consclusive proof that is • it injurious to human health 1 when used as instructed and ; for the purpose for which it is intended. “With the greatest respect ’ to the authors of the many ■ recent statements, I suggest ’ I that none has gone about the ‘jtask of gathering his inforJ mation with any respect for /scientific objectivity,” Mr pßollen said..